Fort Bowie was a 19th-century outpost of the United States Army located in southeastern Arizona near the present day town of Willcox. What remains of the buildings and site are now protected as Fort Bowie National Historic Site.

Fort Bowie was established by the California Volunteers in 1862 after a series of engagements between the California Column and the Chiricahua Apaches. The most violent of which was the Battle of Apache Pass in July 1862. The fort was named in honor of Colonel George Washington Bowie commander of the 5th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry who first established the fort.

The first Fort Bowie resembled a temporary camp rather than a permanent army post. In 1868, a second, more substantial Fort Bowie was built which included adobe barracks, houses, corrals, a trading post, and a hospital.

The second Fort Bowie was built on a plateau about 500 yards (460 m) to the east of the first site. For more than 30 years Fort Bowie and Apache Pass were the focal point of military operations eventually culminating in the surrender of Geronimo in 1886 and the banishment of the Chiricahuas to Florida and Alabama.

The story of Apache Pass and the events that led to the establishment of Fort Bowie are told on a 3-mile round trip hike from the trailhead on Apache Pass Road to the visitor center and Second Fort Ruins. Considered by most to be a moderate hike, the just under 200 foot elevation gain, uneven terrain and semi-arid desert environment can prove to be a tad too much for some park visitors.

Personally, I did not consider the three mile hike to be moderate and was so glad that I did it early in the morning on the day I visited the fort.

Be aware, that if you are disabled in any way, you may drive around on an alternative access by looking for the ADA accessible icon signs from Apache Pass Road.

Apache leader Goyalkla, or as he was known to non-Native Americans, Geronimo, formally surrenders on 04 September 1886 after the US Army 4th Cavalry relentlessly pursues him and his band of warriors throughout southern Arizona. Geronimo was the last Native American war chief to officially lay down arms.

Awake at five fifty and after visiting the restroom, I begin driving first west on state highway 186, then north on a dirt road to the trail head for the one and a half mile walk in to the Fort Bowie National Historic Site.

I begin walking on the trail before seven and choose to take the Overlook Ridge trail first to get to the visitors center. It climbs steeply from Siphon Canyon up to the ridge on many switchbacks and then traverses the ridge with information displays and views down into the Apache Spring valley.

At almost two miles, I arrive at the visitors center just after eight am, go directly to the restroom and then to the front of the center finding it not open yet.

I sit on the bench for about a quarter hour until the ranger arrives to open the center. After purchasing my patch and stamping the park map, I ask about the junior ranger guide and he gives me a copy. Then, I begin working on the guide but need to walk through the fort ruins to find many of the answers to the questions in the junior ranger guide book.