Heliograph Trail #328A

During General Nelson Miles’ mid-1880’s campaign against the Apaches led by Geronimo, a U.S. Signal Corps officer named Colonel William A. Glassford established an innovative signal system. Atop mountain peaks throughout southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, soldiers manned stations using mirrors, or heliographs, to flash messages across great distances. Heliograph Peak, as one of the highest mountains in southeast Arizona, served as one of the peaks in that system. Miles cornered Geronimo in 1886 and had him sent into exile in Florida. As a reward for their efforts, the Apache scouts that had helped defeat Geronimo were sent into exile along with him. Shortly thereafter, the heliograph system was abandoned along with a number of forts used in the Apache campaign.

Today, this same high promontory serves as an important link in another communication system– a series of lookouts that are used to spot and help control forest fires. The 100-foot steel tower atop Heliograph Peak is staffed during the critical fire season, which normally lasts from May 1 to July 31. The mountaintop is also a popular place for sightseers to visit as they enjoy one of the most wide ranging views in the Southwest. A number of mountain ranges both inside and outside the boundaries of the Coronado National Forest may be seen from this perspective, including the Galiuros, Dos Cabezas, White Mountains, Gilas, Rincons and Santa Catalinas.

Heliograph Trail branches off the Arcadia Trail #328 about a mile from Shannon Campground and leads to the top of this historic peak. If you would rather not return by that same route, you can put together a loop by following the Arcadia and Heliograph trails to the summit then returning by way of the Heliograph Road, which is closed to public motor vehicles. A short trip along the Swift Trail (AZ 366) back to Shannon Campground completes this four-mile loop.