Shaw House
We stayed in the Shaw House. It had all the kitchen utensils you could need, and offered a great place to stay if you were interested in hiking the stronghold - can't get much closer than this. The front part in the photo above is the porch. As with most Forest service cabins, the building seems to be a hodgepodge of different rooms that were constructed in stages.
More views of the Shaw House
Hiking the Stronghold
The hiking trail goes from the East Cochise Stronghold Campground, over the "Stronghold Divide" and down into the West Stronghold Canyon. This trail was originally an Indian trail and is approximately 4 miles long, one way. It is also an equestrian trail, so you will likely see horses being ridden on the trial.
The trail starts along the east side of the canyon, above the entrance to it, straddling just above it, allowing a view of the entrance to the canyon, but still plenty of places to not be seen by those in the entrance.
You turn into the canyon and start running into some vertical boulders
2 mile marker
Note the valley below
3 mile marker
This is the most impressive part of the hike -- the mountain to the right is pretty impressive when you are hiking this trail, and when thinking about this place as a stronghold, it looks to be an great place for an impregnable last stand.
Approaching trail end, looking west, towards the western slope of the stronghold, and onto the western valley below.
At one time there were 1000 Apaches living in the stronghold, 250 of them being 'warriors'. One can understand why this was such a good location for a stronghold. The Dragoon mountains rise out of flatlands, so once you get high enough, you can see for at least 20 miles all around you. Anyone approaching would be seen far away. Cochise's men did regularly attack those it considered enemies and/or partake in opportunities to plunder, very often with surprise and success. Defensively, within the 'stronghold' area there are multiple springs with fresh water, available game, and flanking trails. Anyone coming in could be closely watched and pounced on at any time.
