Coronado Memorial

(nr Miracle Valley AZ)
The Visitor Center at Coronado National Memorial was small. However, the video about Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s expedition to find the Seven Cities of Cibola was excellent. There was a small garden of desert plants outside, and down the road a picnic area.

Montezuma Peak in Coronado Memorial

I drove up to Montezuma Pass Overlook on the winding gravel road with tight switchbacks that was not recommended for vehicles over 24 feet. I hiked to the top of Coronado Peak, stopping a couple of times at the convenient benches to admire the view. Expansive vistas of San Rafael Valley to the west, Mexico to the south, and San Pedro Valley to the east were impressive.

San Rafael Valley

San Pedro Valley

I considered hiking the trail to Coronado Cave, but wasn’t into spelunking. Instead, I headed east to explore another place with art galleries and other interesting sights. On the way, I stopped at Jimmy’s to savor their famous Chicago style hotdogs with an ice cold root beer.

Jimmy’s for lunch

Site: Coronado National Memorial
Scene: Mountains, valleys, trails