Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Exit 340 off I-10. From the west: Turn left; left again at 2nd light onto Virginia Ave, just beyond Super 8.
From the east: Turn right; take immediate left onto Virginia Avenue.
Willcox, Arizona, is popular for hiking because of its proximity to the Chiricahua National Monument hiking trails. With numerous trails and miles of unique rock formations, the area is a must-see and offers something for hikers of all experience levels. Whether you are from out of town or are a local, there is always something new to discover. Willcox offers hiking options that can keep you busy for an afternoon or an entire week.
Consider these popular hiking trails near Chiricahua and in the surrounding Willcox area!
Preparation is key for any hiking trip, especially as a beginner. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when hitting the trails:
Here are 10 of the best hiking trails in Willcox, Arizona:
The trail to Inspiration Point is about 5.2 miles out and back and is generally considered a moderate to hard hike. The elevation of this trail ranges from about 6,300 feet to nearly 7,000 feet. The Inspiration Point trail offers dramatic scenic views of the surrounding ravine and standing rock formations. The parking lot to access many of these hiking trails, including Inspiration Point, is about 10 miles off of AZ-186 East of Willcox.
The trail to the Echo Canyon Grottoes is an easy one-mile out and back. This hike takes you through grottoes, or caverns, between rock formations and offers great opportunities to explore the rock formations. The elevation gain on this trail is only 78 feet, reaching nearly 6,800 feet at the highest point. Parking for this trail can be found near the end of Bonita Canyon Drive on the East side of Sugar Loaf Mountain.
If you are looking for a way to see several Chiricahua attractions in one hike, consider trekking the 8.7-mile Big Loop trail. The Big Loop is moderate to challenging and very popular. You will reach an elevation of 7,050 feet at the highest point along this trail. This trail offers a variety of scenic views, rock formations and forest-like sections. Park at the Echo Canyon Trailhead parking lot.
The Echo Canyon Loop trail connects parts of the Ed Riggs and Hailstone trails, looping four miles back to the trailhead. This trail is ranked moderate in difficulty and is another popular area. You will hike down into the canyon and gain nearly 600 feet in elevation as you loop out. The Echo Canyon Loop offers great views of hoodoos and other rock formations. The trailhead is a little under an hour from Willcox.
Starting at the Bonita Canyon Campground, the Silver Spur Meadow Trail is an easy 2.6 miles out and back. Unlike many other trails in the area, this trail is dog-friendly and offers many opportunities to see wildlife. The elevation gain on this trail is only about 130 feet.
The Lower Rhyolite Canyon trail is 3.9 miles out and back. The trail is pretty popular as it is moderately challenging and offers unique views of the rock cliff walls. The trail has a steady incline and decline, gaining 750 feet over the course of the hike. You can start and end this trail at the Visitor's Center.
This point-to-point trail is four miles from the Echo Canyon trailhead to the Visitor Center. Starting from Echo Canyon, the trail is mostly downhill and is moderately challenging. You will start the hike at an elevation of 6,770 feet and end it at 5,390 feet.
After parking near Muleshoe Ranch West of Willcox, the Hookers Hot Spring Canyon trail takes you nearly seven miles out and back. The trail is ideal for hiking, is moderately difficult, and you will experience an elevation gain of 564 feet. It follows a flowing creek and offers a balance of wooded trails and rock formations. Wildlife is commonly spotted here, and the area is peaceful.
If you are looking for more of a challenge, consider the seven-mile Mormon Ridge Trail and Canyon Loop. Park at Sycamore Campground and begin the hike to enjoy views of the surrounding mountains and Sulphur Springs Valley. The Mormon Canyon Trail follows the river and loops hikers back to the campground. This trail is challenging, and you will reach elevations of 8,800 feet.
The Heart of Rocks trail is a moderate 6.9-mile trek that's mostly out and back, aside from a small loop about halfway. Start the trail from the Echo Canyon Trailhead. The elevation gain is over 1,500 feet, and you will hike a few different connecting trails. Be sure to stop and admire the Big Balanced Rock and Massai Point, among other unique rock formations.
If you are interested in exploring the Chiricahua National Monument and the surrounding area, consider making the KOA Holiday Willcox / Cochise location your base camp. The campground is conveniently less than 45 minutes from the monument and nearby hiking trails. There are plenty of other attractions and landmarks to see in the area, plus many on-site amenities to make your stay enjoyable. From the cafe and pool to outdoor activities and fire pits, Kampgrounds of America has amenities to help you relax after a day of hiking.
Whether you need a place to crash after hiking or want to spend the day at the campground pool, reserve a campsite at the KOA Holiday campground in Willcox, Arizona!
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