Cochise Stronghold Campground
This campground is in a magnificent, rugged canyon that served the famous Chiricahua Apache leader, Cochise, as a refuge against his enemies. As you enter the East Stronghold Canyon, you pass in the shadow of rocks that quite likely served the Apache warrior as perches for his lookouts. The haunting shapes into which the forces of nature have carved those rocks helps make a visit to this charismatic place an unforgettable experience. Eleven individual and two group campsites at Cochise Stronghold are shaded by oaks and surrounded by a diverse community of vegetation that includes plants of both the Upper Sonoran and Chihuahuan Desert.
More like this: first-come in Arizona · tent only in Arizona
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Campsites: Single site: $20. With Golden Age/Access or Interagency Senior/Access pass $10. Group site: $50 plus $10 per vehicle. Payable with cash or check. Day Use: Day use: $8 per vehicle. Weekly: $10 per vehicle. Buy a pass online, or purchase a pass on-site with cash or check. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | September 1 to May 31 |
| Forest | Coronado National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations. |
| Fees | Campsites: Single site: $20. With Golden Age/Access or Interagency Senior/Access pass $10. Group site: $50 plus $10 per vehicle. Payable with cash or check. Day Use: Day use: $8 per vehicle. Weekly: $10 per vehicle. Buy a pass online, or purchase a pass on-site with cash or check. |
| Rules | No hook-ups. Trailers limited to 16 feet. Limit 2 vehicles and 10 persons per site. 14-day stay limit per 60-day period. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 31.9225° N, 109.9686° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 57.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Cochise Stronghold Campground
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miCochise ↗4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miStronghold Nature ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.3 miCochise Horse Trail1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.8 miMiddlemarch Canyon2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miSlavin Gulch3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for Arizona
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- Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New MexicoMike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cochise Stronghold Campground?
No. Cochise Stronghold Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Cochise Stronghold Campground?
Campsites: Single site: $20. With Golden Age/Access or Interagency Senior/Access pass $10. Group site: $50 plus $10 per vehicle.
Source: Forest Service
Is Cochise Stronghold Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season September 1 to May 31.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Cochise Stronghold Campground?
Cochise Stronghold Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Cochise Stronghold Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bonita Canyon Campground (36.5 mi), Walnut Grove Campground (36.9 mi, first-come), and Sycamore Campground (37.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby