The best camping near Fort Bowie National Historic Site

The remnants of Fort Bowie in Arizona mark a clash of cultures. On one side, there was the U.S. Army trying to make the Wild West safe for settlers. On the other were the Chiricahua Apache tribe and their way of life. The struggle for control of this part of Arizona culminated in Geronimo's surrender in 1886.

Hike 1-1/2 miles from the visitor's center to what's left of the fort. You'll get a sense of the loneliness and isolation in this wild, open land. This isolation means on a good spring day, the park may see 100 visitors. When bad weather hits, there aren't any people except the Rangers. Expect to spend at least two hours seeing everything on the site.

There are several landmarks on the way to the fort ruins. See the ruins of a Butterfield Overland Mail Station, where stagecoaches dropped off mail and took a break. A small cemetery has around 25 marked graves. The stones are updated to modern designs, and a pamphlet describes the lives of those buried here.

Definitely check out the replica Apache dwelling. The short hut is made of sticks and grass. It has a wide, tall opening as a door. There's enough space inside to sleep several people.

The visitor's center and museum contain artifacts found on the site. You can also see historical photographs of what life was like at Fort Bowie. In 1894, just before it was abandoned, the place bustled with activity.