Middlemarch Road - Tombstone to Dragoon/Cochise Stronghold

[ttubb]

Does anyone have any experience with this road? FR345 and/or FR687? Thanks, Terry

 

[Wilma83]

It's a pretty easy road from what I remember. Wash boarded as I recall but easy camping in vicinity to tombstone and great rock formations!

 

[Stepmurr]

Middlemarch doesn't actually go to Cochise Stronghold - that is on a dead end road.

Middlemarch does go to Pearce (really neat little town) and then you go north a ways on Highway 191 to the turnoff to the stronghold.

345 is really easy as long at it is dry - it might be more interesting when muddy. I took the short 345A and it went to the top of a mountain pass that was really neat.

I did not go on 687 but took a photo of the sign at the start of it.

Here are some photos I took last year.

 

[Stepmurr]

More photos

 

[Stepmurr]

Mo Pics

View from Soren Pass

The road continued on but was really only wide enough for a Polaris. I went about half a mile and chickened out and went back up to Soren Pass.

Camping along 345A

Western portion of Middlemarch is smooth & wide

Sign at start of 687.

 

[Stepmurr]

Road out to Tombstone

 

[ttubb]

Thanks very much for the info and photos! Terry

 

[Jim S.]

Terry,
Good camping opportunities along 687. Several spots south of Council Rocks. Beautiful area.
Jim

 

[splitshot]

Is China Camp still accessible? It has been years, but I remember that as a fun road.

 

[OverLand Cruisers]

I wouldn't drive down to China Camp, the road is questionable (major wash outs) and turning around may not be an option. That is unless you really love backing up narrow trails with steep cliffs.

A pal went in there last year and regretted it. Best on foot or moto.

The road to the top of Soren Pass (345A) has been improved (sadly) but all "maintenance" down to China Camp has long since been given up on.

 

[splitshot]

I wouldn't drive down to China Camp, the road is questionable (major wash outs) and turning around may not be an option. That is unless you really love backing up narrow trails with steep cliffs.

A pal went in there last year and regretted it. Best on foot or moto.

The road to the top of Soren Pass (345A) has been improved (sadly) but all "maintenance" down to China Camp has long since been given up on.

Bummer

 

[Stepmurr]

I wouldn't drive down to China Camp, the road is questionable (major wash outs) and turning around may not be an option. That is unless you really love backing up narrow trails with steep cliffs.

A pal went in there last year and regretted it. Best on foot or moto.

The road to the top of Soren Pass (345A) has been improved (sadly) but all "maintenance" down to China Camp has long since been given up on.

If China Camp is down the narrow road from Soren Pass then I agree the road is so narrow you could not get one vehicle around another. I chickened out after a half mile and had to do this to turn around:

 

[OverLand Cruisers]

If China Camp is down the narrow road from Soren Pass then I agree the road is so narrow you could not get one vehicle around another. I chickened out after a half mile and had to do this to turn around:
View attachment 1384676

Yup, that's the one!