When and How Not to Visit Fort Bowie NHS

Yesterday, Dad and I went to Fort Bowie National Historic Site.  I had been wanting to specifically go on July 28, 2012 for months because it was the 150th Anniversary of the Fort and getting the National Park stamp on that day counted to get a special 150th Civil War Anniversary certificate with the National Park Travelers Club.  Unlike usual, I totally winged it and all I looked up was the address of where the park stamp is located (the visitor's center).

We arrive and it is just a parking lot and you have to hike a mile and a half to get to the fort and visitor center.  Not that big of a deal normally, but it is July and it was already hot at 10 a.m. and it was only likely to get hotter.  Plus, we brought no water, no food, and I was wearing new shoes.  Despite seriously considering giving up on it, we trekked on.

The hike was not really that bad, but it was hot.  Of course, we get there and there are at least ten other visitors that certainly did not hike in, as we were the only ones in the parking lot.  Yes, we did see there was a number to call to find out how to access it if you cannot walk the trail, but we took it seriously as something not to abuse.  Apparently, they do not really care, although you do not get the real experience if you do not do the trail and see the sites that relate to and really lead up to the creation of the fort.  It was worth it overall, but I would have rather just drove up and got the stamp for the day and come back in the fall or spring when the weather is nicer to really experience the site.