The Round Valley and Coronado Trail

Named by Basque settlers in the late 1800s, the "Valle Redondo," or Round Valley, is a circular, high-mountain basin on the backside of the massive 10,912-foot Escudilla Mountain. This area once served as a unique Old West haven for the lawless—it was a great place to conceal stolen cattle and hide out for a while. Butch Cassidy, the Clantons, and the Smith gang all spent time here. Home to sister cities Springerville and Eager, the Round Valley is the ideal start to any journey of the Coronado Trail, a historic 120-mile switchback highway that starts in pine forests and ends with the cacti of the Sonoran Desert in Clifton. Along the way, you'll find quaint towns, charming inns, and plenty of reasons to marvel at what Mother Nature created.