Arizona · Hiking · Near Whetstone

Middlemarch Canyon

4.9 mi
round trip
683 ft
climb
5,856 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov
best months

Is Middlemarch Canyon open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Coronado National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Coronado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Middlemarch Canyon is a hard hike of about 4.9 miles on the Douglas Ranger District of Coronado National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a one-way climb of about 683 feet, from a low point of about 5,143 feet to a high of about 5,856 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Sunsites, about 7.5 miles away, show April highs near 78°F and October highs near 80°F, while July and August average highs in the low 90s and bring the most wet days of the year. The trail is natural-surface and bikes are allowed. It is not an accessible route. Climbers will find the Cochise Trail Boulders and Cochise Stronghold campground about half a mile away. The Sky Islands Traverse hike and Shaw House campground are each within about a mile and a half.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Cochise Stronghold

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    O. K. Cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 15 mi
  • If it rains

    O.K. Corral

    Museum

    Museum · 15 mi from Whetstone

    Livery and horse corral in Tombstone, Arizona (1879-1888)

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Whetstone
  • Best time to go · Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Middlemarch Canyon

    Best months: February–April and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      60° / 29°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      64° / 32°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      70° / 37°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      78° / 42°

      2 wet

    5. May

      86° / 50°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      95° / 59°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 65°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 64°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      88° / 57°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      80° / 46°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      69° / 35°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      59° / 29°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pearce - Sunsites, AZ, 7.5 mi away at 4,350 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.