Whetstone Mountains - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Apache Peak, is the highest peak in the Whetstone Mountains in Cochise County, Arizona. The summit, located in the Coronado National Forest, is a popular local hiking destination. It is located near the Kartchner Caverns State Park, the city of Benson, Interstate 10, and Arizona State Route 90. The summit of Apache Peak can be gained by a couple of different trails, which both involve moderately strenuous hikes with loose rocks, dense shrub, grass, cactus, succulents, and some small trees.

The Coronado National Forest covers 1,780,000 acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. This Forest has eight Wilderness Areas, among which are some of the most biologically diverse in the nation. Views are spectacular from these mountains, and visitors may experience all four seasons during a single day's journey, wandering through the desert among giant saguaro cactus and colorful wildflowers in the morning.

Kartchner Caverns introduces visitors to the mysterious world of caves, which boasts the world’s longest stalactite formation. It is a massive limestone cave that’s home to many outstanding features, including remarkable minerals and formations as well as some winged friends.

The Mustang Mountains are a mountain range located in the southeast region of Arizona, are on the northwest side of Fort Huachuca. They are found at the southern end of the Whetstone Mountains.

Rune Wines is an off-grid winery and tasting room in beautiful Sonoita. Visit Arizona’s only off-grid solar-powered winery and tasting room in Sonoita, Arizona. They are one of the only Arizona wineries that sources grapes from the best vineyards across the state, so you can truly taste the terroir of Arizona at Rune.

The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area is a National Conservation Area of Arizona, located in the transitional zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Chihuahuan Desert. tMore han 45,000 acres of rolling grasslands and woodlands in Arizona’s Pima and Santa Cruz counties was protected as a National Conservation Area. The region’s rolling grasslands, oak-studded hills that connect several "sky island" mountain ranges, and lush riparian corridors attract both people and wildlife.