Things To Do in Coronado Trail

Coronado may not have found the gold he was looking for in this part of Arizona, but in the fall, when the aspens turn color, the mountainsides around here are dazzlingly gold. There are only a few places in Arizona where the fall color is worth a drive, and this is one of them. It’s one of the most popular times of year in this area.

Alpine, at the northern end of the Coronado Trail, is the main base for today’s explorers, who tend to be outdoor types in search of uncrowded trails and streams where the trout are biting. Located near the New Mexico state line, Alpine offers a few basic lodges and restaurants, plus easy access to the region’s many trails.

Picturesquely set in a wide grassy valley at 8,030 feet, Alpine certainly lives up to its name. Alpine is surrounded by the Apache and Sitgreaves National Forests, which together have miles of trails and numerous campgrounds. In spring, wildflowers abound and the trout fishing is excellent. In summer, there’s hiking and mountain biking on forest trails. In autumn, the aspens in the Golden Bowl on the mountainside above Alpine turn a brilliant yellow, and in winter, visitors come for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice-fishing.

South of Alpine 23 miles along U.S. 191, Hannagan Meadows is another good stop along the trail, summer or winter. Here you’ll find excellent hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country ski trails. Hannagan Meadows also provides access to the Blue Range Primitive Area, which is popular with hikers and offers fine trout fishing.