The Coronado National Forest covers over 1.7 million acres of striking contrasts, where sky islands rise dramatically from desert floors and rugged mountain ranges create cool, forested refuges above the arid lowlands. Named for Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, this forest is a mosaic of diverse ecosystems that stretch across 12 widely separated mountain ranges, including the Santa Catalina, Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Pinaleño Mountains.

With elevations ranging from 3,000 to over 10,700 feet (at Mount Graham, the highest point in the forest), Coronado offers everything from saguaro-dotted deserts and oak woodlands to pine forests, aspen groves, and alpine meadows. The range of climates and landscapes allows for year-round recreation, with cool mountain hiking in summer and desert exploration in winter.

This forest is a hotspot for biodiversity, home to over 600 species of animals and 3,000 species of plants—some found nowhere else on Earth. Visitors may spot coatimundis, Gould’s turkeys, black bears, javelina, Mexican spotted owls, and even jaguars and ocelots, which occasionally roam up from Mexico.

Recreation abounds with camping, hiking, birdwatching, scenic drives, mountain biking, rock climbing, and cave exploring. Popular spots include Mount Lemmon, Madera Canyon, Cave Creek Canyon, and Carr Canyon. Stargazers and science enthusiasts are drawn to the Mount Graham International Observatory, perched high in the Pinaleños.

Plan Your Visit

• Elevation Range: ~3,000 to 10,700 feet

• Seasons: Year-round; low desert areas best in fall–spring, high elevations great spring–fall

• Nearest Towns: Tucson, Sierra Vista, Douglas, Nogales, Safford

• Popular Areas: Mount Lemmon, Chiricahua Mountains, Madera Canyon, Mount Graham

• Camping: Both developed campgrounds and remote dispersed camping available

• Top Activities: Hiking, birding, wildlife watching, camping, scenic drives, astronomy, climbing, biking