Explore Cochise

06/22/2026

Southern Arizona’s sky islands are unique because as the elevation changes, so do the surrounding ecosystems. The climate and biodiversity depend on the altitude!

As you ascend from base to summit, you’ll experience five unique biomes: desert (hot and dry); grassland (grassy plains and few trees); chaparral (a mix of forest, grassland and desert); deciduous forest (trees like sycamores and oaks); and coniferous forest (pine trees).

For more hiking and and outdoor information and ideas, head to ExploreCochise.com/hiking.

06/20/2026

🎂 Happy 146th birthday, Benson! 🎂

When the Southern Pacific Railroad needed a junction point to obtain ore from and ship freight to Southern Arizona’s mining communities like Bisbee and Tombstone, it selected the site of William Ohnesorgen’s stage depot near the San Pedro River. Benson — named for Judge William S. Benson, a friend of Southern Pacific’s president — was founded June 20, 1880, and quickly became a hub for the Southern Pacific, Sonoran, and El Paso and Southeastern railroads. Today, the town is a hub for Union Pacific and draws train enthusiasts hoping to snap pictures of locomotives like the historic Big Boy steam engine pictured here.

To learn more about the “Gateway to the San Pedro Valley,” head to ExploreCochise.com/benson.

06/17/2026

☀️🌡️🥵 For a break from the Sonoran Desert sun, head underground! A few ideas:

— Copper Queen Mine Tour: Don your hard hat and headlamp, hop on an original mine train and venture 1,500 feet into a mine that yielded more than 8 billion pounds of copper.

— Coronado Cave: Hike a short but steep trail in the Coronado National Memorial to reach this 600-foot cave south of Sierra Vista. Be on the lookout for stalagmites, stalactites and bats!

— Guided cave tours at Kartchner Caverns State Park near Benson: Trained guides lead tours that explore a half-mile through this “living cave” that also serves as a crucial nursery roost for bats.

06/16/2026

🌅 🎥 Step into cinematic history at sunset! 🎥 🌅

Iconic Westerns like “Tombstone,” “The Quick and the Dead” and more than 100 other movies and TV series were all filmed at Mescal Movie Set outside Benson, and this summer, the location will host one-hour tours of its 28-building frontier town on many Saturday evenings through September. (Tours sell out early, so reservations are recommended.)

For more ways to learn about and relive Cochise County’s wild Western past, head to ExploreCochise.com/western-heritage.

06/12/2026

06/10/2026

🎨🚗 Talk about a custom ride! 🚙🎨

Art Car World in Douglas is home to more than 30 mobile artworks created by “cartists,” including a VW Beetle whose body is entirely made of wrought iron, a 1971 Buick covered in 1,000 pounds of ceramic tile, and a station wagon that Bisbee artist Kate Pearson covered with thousands of pieces of pop culture memorabilia.

The museum, which is open Fridays through Sundays, is the brainchild of Douglas artist and filmmaker Harrod Blank, who also explored the art-car world in two documentaries, “Automorphosis” and “Wild Wheels.” In February, Art Car world was named one of 250 Places to Celebrate America by Smithsonian magazine!

To discover more events in the Douglas area, head to ExploreCochise.com/Douglas.

06/10/2026

06/09/2026

🪻A bit of Provence in Cochise County! 🪻

During the 2026 Lavender Festival at Rhumb Line Vineyard & Lavender Farm in Willcox, visitors can stroll through fragrant, lavender-lined vineyards in full bloom and observe how the flowers are harvested and distilled for use in aromatherapy and other products. The event, which begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, also features local food, wine and beer vendors, artisans and live music.

To discover more events in the Willcox area, head to ExploreCochise.com/Willcox.

06/05/2026

🐦✨ **SNEAK PEEK!** ✨🐦

**Southwest Wings Summer Festival**
📅 Aug 5–8, 2026 | 📍 Sierra Vista, AZ

⏰ **Registration opens April 1 at 9 AM (AZ time)**

Join us for the **35th annual celebration** of birds, nature & the incredible Sky Islands! 💛

🌿 FREE talks + bird walks
🛍️ Nature Expo
🦎 Live reptile experiences
🎁 Swag & prizes

🍽️ Keynote Dinner with **Peg Abbott** (Aug 6) on Arizona’s fabulous Sky Islands.
🌄 Epic guided birding field trips

✨ Plus: Early Bird Welcome Jamboree (Aug 4) for registered participants

🔎 Sneak peek now live on our website!

🌸 Spring Fling (May 6–9) still has a few spots left!

👇 What bird is on your must-see list this summer?

06/05/2026

🎣 🚣 ⛺ Head to the water this weekend!

Parker Canyon Lake — the mile-high, 130-acre lake tucked in the Canelo Hills of the Coronado National Forest — is a stellar destination for fishing, boating, shoreside camping and hiking, wildlife viewing and more. Grab your day pass at Recreation.gov and a fishing license at Arizona Game & Fish Department; boat rentals are first-come, first-served at Parker Canyon Lake & Marina.

To find more ideas and details about exploring Cochise County this summer, head to ExploreCochise.com/summer.