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Montezuma Pass: Coronado National Memorial
Back Road Scenic Travel
Back road to Montezuma Pass
through Montezuma Canyon
Coronado National Memorial & Forest
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Montezuma Pass is located on a twisting, gravel road that connects Coronado National Memorial on the southeast end to highway 83 leading to Sonoita on the northwest end. A 4 wheel drive, high clearance vehicle is required for this trip. DO NOT take this road if it is raining, due to flash flood areas.
If you wish to see this area, but are not quite up to the full trip, climb to Montezuma Pass from the Coronado Memorial, and then return to the memorial. To see the other end, drive the mostly paved highway 83 from Sonoita to Parker Lake (a distance of 24 miles one way). The area between Parker Lake and the pass is the most difficult, especially if there
is any water over the road. We made the trip in a Hyundai Sonata, but we did have some rather difficult areas to get through and I would not recommend taking the trip unless in a 4x4 vehicle. The roads had very sharp turns and sheer drop offs.
On the west side of the pass, areas of the road had been damaged by recent rains. We made the trip in September 2007, and heavy monsoon rains came just as we came up to Sonoita. A guardian angel had led us through.
The scenery was spectacular leading up to the pass, with views of the switch backs we had just traveled. As the elevation dropped to the west, the terrain turned to beautiful grasslands and flowering meadows.
Follow East Montezuma Canyon Road west from the center. The first 1.5 miles from the visitor's center is paved. The road then turns to gravel and climbs quickly for the next 2 miles to the pass (elevation 6,575 ft). Various hikes can be taken from the pass.
From the pass, take Forest Road # 61 to Parker Canyon Lake. Highway 83 to Sonoita starts just after the lake. The east boundary of the Coronado National Forest is just west of the pass. The entire drive from the visitor's center to Sonoita took approximately 2.5 hours. We had traveled 47 miles.
WARNINGS: If you are caught in a flash flood area when there is water in the washes (dips in the road) DO NOT CROSS flooded areas. Stay in a high area and wait until the water subsides.
DO NOT take this trip without a good, detailed map of the area.
BRING WATER Extra food is a good idea as well.
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Stop in at the Coronado Memorial and Visitor's Center for maps and information regarding road conditions. The center is home to a museum featuring the life of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado.
Artifacts and reproductions are on exhibit. Coronado's expedition of 1540 - 1542 took him up through Mexico to the Grand Canyon in what is now Arizona and as far north and east as present day Salina, Kansas.
He was in search of the seven cities of gold, which were never found1.
If you have time, take the .75 mile Cave Trail that is just outside the museum. Bring a flashlight and good walking shoes if you wish to crawl back into the cave.
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leaving visitor center
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road up to pass
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Huachuca Mountains looking east from pass
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San Rafael Valley looking west from pass
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water and cows on road
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flooded meadow near Sonoita
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Above: water over road near Sonoita
Right: Beautiful meadow near Sonoita
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Information Sources
1. "Coronado." Brochure. nps.gov/coro: National Park Service Website
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Special Tips
Traveling with children, pets or special needs
 Accessibility
A large family style, private, accessible restroom is located in the visitor's center at Coronado National Memorial.
There is also a primitive accessible restroom at the pass. It is not large.
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 Traveling with children
Watch children very carefully. The roads contain no guard rails. The museum and Cave Trail at the Memorial visitor's center are wonderful places for children to explore.
Be prepared: bring food, supplies and water for your children and yourselves.
See BORDER DANGER warning above. This is a beautiful area, but, due to the fact that our border is not secure, there is
smuggling, drug running and other illegal activity in the area. High speed chases can occur.
Click here for National Park Service safety information.
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 Traveling with pets
Pets are NOT ALLOWED on trails within the park or memorial (this is the usual rule for all national parks and memorials). Leashed pets are allowed only on paved roads or in the picnic area. Watch pets at all times due to steep drop offs along the sides of roads. Bring food and water for your pet.
NEVER leave a pet unattended in a vehicle. ALWAYS clean up after your pet.
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Directions & Resources
From Sierra Vista (northwest of Bisbee and Southeast of Tucson) take highway 92 south. Turn right (west) on Coronado National Memorial Road.
Resources:
nps.gov/coro: National Park Service Website
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