Fort Bowie National Historic Site staff will celebrate the 2016 Centennial of the National Park Service on Saturday, September 3rd. We invite all to come experience Fort Bowie’s role in westward expansion and how the events in Apache Pass affected the lives of the Chiricahua Apaches, U.S. Army soldiers, as well as others.
Activities will begin at 11:00 am with a memorial ceremony at the Fort Bowie Cemetery by B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry (Memorial), from Fort Huachuca. Following the presentation, everyone will meet at the Visitor Center for light refreshments. At 1:00 pm a ranger led tour of the second Fort Bowie ruins will begin at the Visitor Center and last about an hour. The Eastern Arizona Amateur Radio Society will be on site with “National Parks on the Air” and broadcasting live around the world.
Visitors should be prepared to walk a moderate 3-mile roundtrip trail from the Apache Pass parking area to the cemetery and then to the visitor center and fort ruins. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch or snacks, water, sunscreen, hat, and raingear. The visitor center is open 8 am to 4 pm and includes the Western National Parks Association store, which will have a 15% off sale for the day.
Fort Bowie NHS is located off Apache Pass Road in Bowie, AZ. From Willcox, travel 24 miles east on Interstate 10 to the Bowie exit. From Bowie, travel 14 miles south on Apache Pass Road to the trailhead parking area. Apache Pass Road turns into a gravel road for approximately 1 mile before reaching the trailhead parking area. The trailhead parking area is located at 3500 South Apache Pass Road. Mobility impaired individuals should call for directions to use an administrative road.
For more information about visiting the park or our centennial celebrations, go to www.nps.gov/fobo or call the visitor center staff at 520-847-2500, ext. 25.