Sunset at Montezuma Pass, looking east down East Montezuma Canyon towards the San Pedro Valley
The Huachuca Mountains passage is a spectacular start to the Arizona Trail. The passage is fully contained within Coronado National Memorial and Coronado National Forest. The Arizona Trail begins here at Border Monument 102, the southern terminus of the trail. From Montezuma Pass and many other vistas in the Huachuca Mountains, you can gaze east to the beautiful San Pedro Valley and west towards the San Rafael Valley and the Patagonia Mountains. You will also peer west onto the Canelo Hills and the Santa Rita Mountains, your future destinations, from the western slopes of the Huachuca Mountains. In this passage, the Arizona Trail passes through the Miller Peak Wilderness for well over half of the passage and reaches elevations (9000+ feet) that you will not reach again until you get to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Prepare for snow here if you start in March or April.
Passage Length:
Highlights:
    Spectacular views into Mexico, the San Pedro Valley, and the San Rafael Valley
    Outstanding ridgeline hiking on the Crest Trail
    Passing by old mine shafts
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Directions to Trailheads:
    Southern Trailhead - From Sierra Vista, go south on AZ highway 92. After approximately 13 miles, turn right onto Coronado Memorial Road, a.k.a. E. Montezuma Canyon Drive. After approximately 8 miles you will reach Montezuma Pass where there is a paved parking lot. From the parking lot, follow the Montezuma Pass Trail southeast for 0.8 miles to the Yakai Ridge Trail. Head south on the Yakai Ridge Trail for 1.0 miles to Border Monument 102, the southern trailhead and southern terminus of the Arizona Trail.
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    Northern Trailhead - From Sonoita, go south on AZ highway 83. Just before reaching Parker Canyon Lake, turn left onto FR 48. After approximately 0.5 miles turn right onto FR 194. Follow FR 194 for approximately 0.5 miles to the trailhead. There is a dirt parking lot and an Arizona Trail kiosk at the trailhead.
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General Information:
    There is no camping within Coronado National Memorial. Cattle grazing occurs along certain portions of this passage, and as a result you will pass through cattle gates. Please close the gates after passing through them.
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Supplies and Services:
    The trail does not pass directly through any towns in this passage. The nearest town is Hereford (zip code 85615), approximately 19 miles from Montezuma Pass. Hereford has a post office, gas, and a small grocery store. The nearest town with all services is Sierra Vista (zip code 85613), approximately 25 miles from Montezuma Pass.
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Flora and Fauna:
Permits Needed:
Trail Completed and Signed?
Elevation Range:
    Range: 5500' - 9100'
    Change: 6200' gain, 6300' loss
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Potential Water Sources:
    Montezuma Pass (water fountain turned on in summer only)
    Tub Spring
    Sunnyside Canyon (pools)
    Scotia Canyon (pools)
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USGS 7.5" Maps:
Other Useful Maps:
    Hiker's Map of the Huachuca Mountains
    USFS Coronado NF - Sierra Vista and Nogales Ranger Districts
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Trail Description:
    Note: You will have to hike from Montezuma Pass down to the international border to begin the trail. This trail description begins once you reach the border at Border Monument 102.

         From the international border, at Border Monument 102, follow the Yakai Ridge Trail for 1.0 mile to a junction with the Montezuma Pass Trail and the Joe's Canyon Trail. There is a sign at this junction indicating that it is 0.75 miles to Montezuma Pass. Head left onto the Montezuma Pass Trail. At mile 1.6 the Montezuma Pass Trial reaches another junction, this time with the Coronado Peak Trail. There is a sign here indicating this junction. Taking a left will take you up to Coronado Peak in 0.3 miles. The Arizona Trail stays right and 0.2 miles past this junction you will reach Montezuma Pass. At Montezuma Pass there are restrooms, trashcans, and water (only available in summer). There is also is sign here displaying route of the entire Arizona Trail.

         Across the parking lot and across E. Montezuma Canyon Drive is the beginning of the Crest Trail (Trail #103). The Arizona Trail follows the Crest Trail north from Montezuma Pass. Follow the Crest Trail for 0.5 miles to a fence that marks the Coronado National Forest boundary. To the left here, there is an excellent campsite in the national forest. Stay in Coronado National Memorial and follow the Arizona Trail right, up the slopes of the Huachucas. You will pass old mine shafts at miles 3.3, 3.5, and 3.7. DO NOT ENTER THE MINE SHAFTS. At mile 3.8 you will cross the boundary of Coronado National Memorial and Coronado National Forest at the top of a ridge. There is a sign here indicating that you are entering Coronado National Forest and the Miller Peak Wilderness. The sign indicates that you are at an elevation of 7750 feet, and indicates the direction of the Crest Trail, to the west. Just beyond this boundary you will pass through and area of forest that has clearly been burned by fire. You will pass the junction with the Lutz Canyon Trail (Trail #104) at mile 6.0. Just beyond this junction you will pass sign indicating that Bond Spring is 0.5 miles to the south of the trail. At mile 6.6 you will reach a junction with the Miller Peak Trail. There is a sign here indicating this junction and an Arizona Trail symbol carved into the signpost. This junction is at approximately 9100', and is the highest elevation the Arizona Trail will be at until you reach the north rim of the Grand Canyon. The Miller Peak Trail heads off to the right (east) and goes for 0.5 miles to the summit of Miller Peak (9466'). This is a worthwhile side trip, as there is no peak higher and further south in the United States than Miller Peak.

         The Arizona Trail continues straight (northwest) at this junction, continuing to follow the Crest Trail. After passing the junction with the Miller Peak Trail you will pass through some beautiful aspen groves on the north slopes of the Huachucas. At mile 8.3 you will arrive at Tub Spring and the junction with the Miller Canyon Trail (Trail #106). Tub Spring is literally a bathtub with a pipe coming out of the ground flowing into the bathtub. There is no camping within 200' of Tub Spring. Just beyond the tub stay left on the Crest Trail where the Miller Canyon Trail splits right. At mile 8.6 you will pass the junction with the Carr Peak Trail (Trail #107), and at mile 9.1 you will pass the junction with the Oversight Canyon Trail (Trail #112). You will soon reach Bear Saddle, a major trail junction at mile 9.5. At Bear Saddle the Ida Canyon Trail (Trail #110) and the Hamburg Trail (Trail #122) split off to the south and north, respectively. Bear Spring is 0.5 miles down the Ida Canyon Trail from Bear Saddle. The Arizona Trail continues to follow the Crest Trail west around Granite Peak. At mile 11.4 you reach the junction with the Sunnyside Canyon Trail (Trail #117). The ridge is bare of trees here and offers great views the south and west, including a glimpse of Parker Canyon Lake to the west. At this trail junction, the Arizona Trail leaves the Crest Trail and turns left onto the Sunnyside Canyon Trail.

         Shortly after joining the Sunnyside Canyon Trail, a barbed wire fence parallels the trail to the left for approximately 0.2 miles, and then fades away where the trail begins to descend into Sunnyside Canyon. The canyon slopes afford great views of Parker Canyon Lake, the Canelo Hills, and the Santa Rita Mountains. Pass the junctions with the Eureka Canyon Trail at mile 12.5 and a trail leading to the Copper Glance Mine at mile 13.3. At mile 13.6 the Sunnyside Canyon Trail passes a well-used campsite where there is an old dry well. There is an old logging road running through this campsite, and the Sunnyside Canyon Trail generally follows this old logging road to the Miller Peak Wilderness boundary, at mile 14.1. There may be pools of water in Sunnyside Creek along this stretch of trail. Shortly before reaching the wilderness boundary, the trail passes through the center of an old corral that now stands as barbed wire fence held up by wooden posts. There is a sign indicating the Miller Peak Wilderness boundary shortly after passing the corral.

         The trail follows the dirt road for 0.1 mile past the wilderness boundary, where it turns right off the road at a sign indicating this turn-off, and crosses Sunnyside Creek. The trail soon leaves Sunnyside Canyon and ascends the western banks of the canyon. At mile 14.6 the trail crosses FR 228 and passes through a large dirt parking lot. There are Arizona Trail signs guiding you across the parking lot. The trail soon descends into Scotia Canyon and crosses Scotia Creek by a beat-up old Arizona Trail sign at mile 14.8 that may or may not still be there at the time of hiking. The trail parallels and periodically crosses Scotia Creek, and there may be occasional pools of water in the creek. The trail is flat in Scotia Canyon, a nice break from the rugged ascents and descents of the Huachucas. At mile 15.5 the trail passes an old windmill and water storage tank on the left. These structures are enclosed by barbed wire fence, and there is no water available at this tank. Just beyond the windmill the trail turns right at a trail sign and heads up a small hill. At the top of the hill you will encounter barbed wire fence to the right of the trail. The trail follows the fence back down to Scotia Creek and soon after entering the creek bed the trail leaves the fence and continues to follow Scotia Creek. At mile 15.7 the trail once again leaves Scotia Creek and follows some level land before descending once again into the creek bed 0.2 miles later. The trail soon joins an old forest service road on the left of the creek. The trail crosses Scotia Creek and then leaves the road (which continues to parallel the creek). There is a trail sign here indicating where the trail leaves the road on the right. Just after exiting Scotia Creek the trail passes a metal spigot coming up out of the ground in the middle of the forest, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. The water is not turned on and the spigot is not a water source. The trail soon descends again to meet Scotia Creek. Over much of this section of the trail through Scotia Canyon buried black pipe periodically surfaces along the trail, a good indication that you are on the trail. At mile 16.3 the trail reaches another dirt road. There is an Arizona Trail sign here. Take a right on the road and you will soon meet a junction with another dirt road coming in from the right. Stay left on road that you are on and follow the road back down to Scotia Creek. There may be large pools of water in this section of the creek. The trail follows the dirt road through some lovely piņon-juniper forest. At mile 17.2 the trail reaches a gate in a barbed wire fence. At this fence the trail turns left off the road and does not pass through the gate. After taking a left at the fence, the trail crosses Scotia Creek and ascends the opposite bank, where there is an Arizona Trail sign. Take a right at the sign. The trail rolls up and down over hills and washes with the fence paralleling the trail to the right.

         At mile 17.8 you will pass a land survey monument put up by the US Forest Service on the ground beside a thick wooden post. There are also two trees in the vicinity that are US Forest Service bearing trees, and are marked as such by yellow signs nailed to the trees. Turn around at this survey marker and you will get an outstanding view of the Huachuca Mountains from which you came. Continue to parallel the fence past the survey monument for 0.1 more miles until you reach another gate in a fence. Pass through the gate and follow the trail marked by rock cairns, which no longer parallels the fence. At mile 18.2 the Arizona Trail crosses FR 48 and travels down a gentle slope until reaching another fence. Cross a large creek bed and continue to follow the trail to the right of the fence. The trail will shortly join a little used dirt road, which also parallels the fence. The trail soon leaves the dirt road and ascends a hill, where the trail is marked by rock cairns. After reaching the top of the hill the trail begins to move away from the fence with the fence becoming farther and farther away on the left. The trail here is well marked with large rock cairns. It ascends a gently sloping hill for approximately 0.4 miles through almost pure stands of juniper and beautiful golden grass until is crosses a dirt road. From this dirt road you can see nearly the entire Huachuca Range behind you. After crossing the dirt road, the trail descends into a small gully, follows it downstream for a bit, and then ascends the opposite side of the gully, where it reaches a small corral made of wooden posts and metal fencing at mile 19.1. The trail goes around the corral and through a gate in barbed wire fence. From the corral it is a short walk uphill to a junction with FR 194 and just beyond the road is a gravel parking lot and an Arizona Trail kiosk, indicating the end of the Huachuca Mountains passage and the beginning of the Canelo Hills East passage.
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Passage Map:
Elevation Profile:
Annual Weather:
    Taken at Coronado National Memorial, 5240 feet

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Contacts:
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