Apache Peak, the highest point in Arizona’s Whetstone Mountains, rises 7,714 feet in the Coronado National Forest near Benson, Kartchner Caverns State Park, Interstate 10, and State Route 90. Known locally as a hiking destination, it offers a moderately strenuous climb to the summit from French Joe Canyon on the east or Empire Ranch on the west. The round trip covers about 12.6 miles and gains roughly 4,160 feet in elevation. Along the way, hikers face loose rock and dense desert vegetation, including grass, cactus, succulents, and small trees.