Dragoon Mountains

The Sheep's Head Viewpoint - Up Closer!

The Dragoon Mountains are a distinctive small range in Southeastern Arizona, Cochise County. The highest peak is 7,519 feet. The name originates from the 3rd U.S. Cavalry Dragoons who battled in the area. They established posts around 1856. The Chiricahua Apaches had roamed this area traditionally.1

Apache Warrior Chief Cochise, in particular, is known for holding camp here. Also his final hidden resting place. If you take the trail right out of the campground area at Cochise Stronghold to the summit, you’ll see why it was such a favored spot. We’ve taken that trail, not too strenuous a hike. Views of the valleys on either side of the Dragoons enabled the Apaches to see enemies approaching from miles away. We sure could see its advantage when we reached the top!

Tombstone Epitaph's Description of the Turquiose District in Southeastern Arizona.
Describing the Turquiose Mining District – From the Tombstone Epitaph – Sat., May 20, 1882 – Pg. 1

Many events of Old West historical note occurred in these boulderous ridges. One glaring was slaughters at the Dragoon Springs Butterfield Stage Station. A marker tells its story. It’s located about 1/2 mile from the current town of Dragoon.1

The people of Tombstone Arizona regularly heard reports of, or from, the Dragoon Mountains. 

Arizona Weekly Citizen reports that Gold has been found on Jan. 17, 1880
Some Gold Discovered – Arizona Citizen – Sat., Jan. 17, 1880 – Pg. 3
Tombstone Epitaph tells of Wyatt Earp searching for his brother's killer
From the Tombstone Epitaph – Mon., March 27, 1882 Pg. 1

Backroads Trip into The Dragoon Mountains

We were invited to preview a soon to-be new back roads travel tour by a local company – Tombstone Adventure Company. Our daughter and her husband were invited to go along with us (it was her birthday, so we kind of made it a birthday surprise for her!).

Have you ever looked at some landmark or remarkable, but inaccessible scene in the distance? And wished you could get a closer look? I know we have. We’re not often content to stay put (Example shown just below!). We want to get closer – to see more! That’s what our trip closer to a part of the Dragoon Mountains helped us do. Get to a place we hadn’t been before – though we’d often thought about. We’ll show you why – and how!

Adventure Jeep Tour Into the Yukon
On An Alaska Cruise – We Couldn’t Just Stay in Skagway

Looking Across at the Dragoons

We’ve always been fascinated by the Dragoon Mountains. They have a lot of old West and Native American history in the Arizona Territory. Cochise, the Apache leader, is even buried there. In a secret spot.

They have a unique look to them, with all their rocky surfaces. There are good hiking trails. Plus some historic sites, if you know where to seek them out. There are also great places to do rock climbing. For those who love that adventure, or want to try it!

When in Tombstone, we can look across the desert North of us and see the Dragoon Mountains. What’s really notable is one rock formation, called Sheep’s Head. To me, it appears like a resting sheep’s side view. Bill can never quite make it out. But then his eyesight isn’t that great!

SHEEP'S HEAD ROCK VIEW FROM 4TH ST. Tombstone Arizona
The Reclining Sheep – Can You See It??!!

It always made me curious. I wanted to get closer, see how that Dragoon Mountain formation was made. Did it look the same, close up? Or did it become totally obliterated?

I thought maybe we would get closer one day. Yet for years, never even had tried to see how. But then that changed. We found out about a business in the town of Tombstone. We want to tell you about our outstanding experience that fulfilled my wish!


Meet Tombstone Adventure Company

We met on our Tombstone Facebook Page. The Tombstone Adventure Company entrepreneur is Caprice. She is a versatile and experienced guide.

Caprice brought a new business idea to the Tombstone area. She’s providing multiple adventure options into the Dragoon Mountains. They’re all family-friendly, suitable for those aged eight and up. No experience needed, even for rock climbing! They provide everything you could possibly need!

All adventures go into Coronado National Forest, Dragoon Mountains areas. In fact, they’re the only local adventure guide and outfitter permitted by the U.S. Forest Service for rappelling, rock climbing and scenic hiking there.

Their guides are certified Wilderness First Responders, as well as being Certified Interpretive Guides. That gives you safety + a quality experience. So we were anxious to find out more details. What exactly was it about, for our personal needs. But also to get an idea of what anyone may experience, too. That way we could let our website visitors know about them, the value for when they’re visiting Tombstone.

Entering Coronado Forest, fire precautions, view of Sheep's Head Rock up close
Sheep’s Head Rock – On Our Way Into Coronado National Forest

Our Dragoon Mountains Invite

Caprice had plans for us to take an upcoming “Scenic Sunset Drive” so we could get an idea of what her newly formed company was providing. She said she’d like to invite Bill and I to go out with them on a Sunset Drive, to scout it out as they were getting more pre-launch marketing off the ground! We were right onto it. She was good with us bringing our daughter Shannon, and her husband, Fred – along too!

Caprice explained they could take us to areas where they do some of their rock adventure trips. Their experiences like the “Rappel” and the “Rock Climb.” Another they feature in the area was a guided hike called “Explore – The Sky Island.” It sounded like something Bill and I would love! Plus I thought the “Hike – The Stronghold” and the “Western Apache Heritage” both sounded like terrific ideas. They are both in the works right now!

So we planned it out, set a date. Off we went! We began with enough time to get to an exceptional spot before the sun was setting behind the mountains. Caprice led the way.

I rode with Caprice in one 4×4 Jeep. Bill, Shannon and Fred rode with her partner, Joshua in the other 4×4, AC Jeep. Caprice talked of the history, the mountains, the local terrain. And she pointed out notable locales. We stopped for photo-shots along the way.

And finally, I got to see Sheep’s Head Rock, closer-up! And how it changed along the way. A first-rate experience!

The Sheep's Head Viewpoint - Up Closer!
The Sheep’s Head Viewpoint Begins to Change Up Closer!

Traveling to A Sunset View

We traveled about 10 miles. Riding in the Jeep on this rough back roads travel. Because we were taking it slowly – it seemed longer than that! We really enjoyed the scenery along the way, anyway. So we didn’t mind. These great, new views of the Dragoon Mountains!

We watched the colors on the rocks change as the sun sank lower. Even more than we usually see when watching Arizona sunsets. Caprice pointed out how those colors came from the elements and growths on the rocks.

Along the way we saw cows with their calves grazing added to that Western ranch feel. It’s an open range area.

Hidden Rocky Area used as a dispersed  Campsite!
Looped Around – Discovered a Hidden Area Great for a Dispersed Campsite!

We arrived at a great spot for a Sunset View, and we all got out. I roamed around, investigating places for prime scenery shots.

Joshua explained about the rock climbing available in the area. Caprice told us how she wasn’t the expert on that (she is actually the well-experienced and knowledgeable hiking expert). But Joshua is an ace on helping even novices feel secure! He’s the one well-versed in rock climbing, so that’s good to know!

Travelers hiking around the base of a hill in the Dragoon Mountains near sunset
Caprice Explains the Area for Shannon, Fred & Bill

Arrival in Time for Sunset

I got quite a few beautiful pics there. I loved seeing all these places that I normally wouldn’t even get to, or know about! That’s what’s so great about going on a tour like this. Plus a guide adds so much more to the experience.

We think Tombstone Adventure Company has so much going for it. They are bringing a new option for the community. It helps guests traveling to Tombstone have choices to make their excursion more than a day-trip. This also brings another selection other than bar entertainment or the gunfight tours.

There are now ways to extend Tombstone into a true vacation destination. In town, it really takes more than one day to see all there is to see. But then, when you look at near-by things to do – you, or you and your family – can add so much more to your trip. Their tour activities are a great value! The best priced tours of the kind in the area. Plus they’re unique.

Sunset in the Dragoon Mountains
Bill Walks Toward the Jeeps as Sunset Nears The Sunset Colors Deepen

A Beautiful Arizona Sunset!

It is always a noteworthy sunset here in Arizona. We love them. For this trip preview, the sky was absolutely clear. Actually for a truly exceptional sunset, we would like some clouds for reflections. There is actually a scientific reason for the superb Arizona sunsets! Or any awesome sunsets. If you want to know more of why – Read It Here>.

But we so enjoyed the trip into the Dragoon Mountains. We hope you enjoyed your virtual trip, coming along with us here. We were glad to get this inside view of Tombstone Adventure Company. I’m sure we will be back for more! So even though they invited us on this sampling experience, to learn about their company – we know any of their actual tours will be well worth it. We’re not just saying it because they took us along. We can recommend them, for sure. They’re ready for you!! See more about scheduling a Trip on Our Tours Page>

View at Sunset of Tombstone Hills Against Huachuca Mtns Background
View South at Sunset of the Tombstone Hills Against Huachuca Mountains Background

That’s an example of something we like to show on our website. We regularly like to add more and more of what there is to do around Tombstone Arizona and the surrounding areas of Cochise County!

If you know of any more – if you’d like to suggest something, please Let Us Know!


References

1 Granger, B.H. (1983). Arizona’s names (X marks the place). Tucson AZ: The Falconer Publishing Co.


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