RIDING THE DRAGOONS
The enchanting Dragoon Mountains, located in southeastern Arizona’s Coronado National Forest, is a land of startling contrasts and variety. It’s one of 12 scattered ranges, known as sky islands, that rise dramatically from the desert floor. A visitor may have the opportunity to experience all four seasons in a single day’s journey, from a hot desert dotted with saguaro cacti to mountain pine trees dusted with snow.
The national forest’s 1,780,000 acres, which range from 3,000 to 10,720 in elevation, nurtures biologically diverse plant communities. Some species in this region might also be found in Mexico; others in Canada.
Spanish explorer Don Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and his expedition were the first nonnative people to explore the region. They were searching for the legendary Seven Golden Cities; instead, they discovered a vast, empty country of grassy hills and rugged mountains.
Natural Beauty
The Dragoon Mountains are located just east of Tombstone, Arizona. We embarked on this trip with our living-quarters trailer and our two smooth-gaited horses: Kent’s horse, Cody, and Charlene’s horse, Jake. We were looking forward to riding and camping in the Dragoons with our friends Arlo and Michelle Slack.
From Benson, travel south on Arizona State Route 80. Just before Tombstone, turn left (east) on the
