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| Total Length | 6 miles |
| Highest Elevation: | 9250 feet |
| Lowest Elevation: | 7200 feet |
| Elevation Change: | 2050 feet |
| Difficulty Rating: | B- |
| Best Seasons: | Spring Summer Fall |
| Hiking Time: | 4 hours |
| Dogs: | Dogs allowed |
This hike starts at one of the highest trailheads in the region, so you can really escape the heat. The views from the trail are amazing.
Directions to Trailhead
•The last few miles to the trailhead are a rough dirt road. It can be done in a passenger car, but a high clearance vehicle is preferable.
•From the intersection of Tanque Verde and Grant/Kolb, head south on Kolb all the way down to I-10. Get on I-10 east and go for about 35 miles.
•From I-10 take exit 302 for Highway 90 South to Kartchner Caverns and Sierra Vista.
•Stay on 90 all the way to Sierra Vista, making no turns.
•When Highway 90 takes off to the left (in the outskirts of Sierra Vista), go straight on Buffalo Trail Road. As an alternative, you can turn left and stay on Highway 90 as it loops around town; you will end up in the same place, it's just a bit longer.
•Keep going south on Buffalo Trail Road along the west edge of town for a number of miles.
•Turn right on Highway 92 at a stoplight and go south for just under 4 miles.
•Turn right on Carr Canyon Road (FR 368). The Mesquite Tree Restaurant is on this corner on the right side of the highway.
•Carr Canyon Road becomes gravel after a few miles, and then becomes very narrow and rough. It climbs steeply up the side of the mountain for a number of miles.
•Turn left into a small parking lot when you see a Forest Service sign for Reef Townsite campground. This is the trailhead.
Trail Description
Old Sawmill Spring Trail, FS #126
(Reef Townsite to Carr Peak Trail)
The Reef Townsite trailhead, with Carr Peak in the background.
A typical view along this trail.
The unsigned trail junction with the Carr Peak Trail. Memorize this spot on the way up so you can spot it on the way down.
| Length: 0.7 miles | Hiking Time: 0.3 hours |
| Highest point: 7700 feet | Lowest point: 7200 feet |
| Trail goes uphill | |
When the trail leaves the parking lot it is basically a rocky dirt road.
Early on there is a wide trail/road taking off to the left; keep going straight.
After about 15 minutes there is an unsigned trail junction near a manzanita bush. Bear left here.
After another 5 minutes you come to the end of this segment at an unsigned junction with the Carr Peak Trail. See picture.
Turn left on the unsigned Carr Peak Trail.
Carr Peak Trail, FS #107
(Old Sawmill Spring Trail to Carr Peak Spur)
A view of a peak to the north through the pines.
The Ft. Huachuca tethered balloon. I have been told it holds a radar system to detect planes flying over the border.
Inside a stand of aspen.
Miller Peak off in the distance.
Looking down to the northeast.
| Length: 2.0 miles | Hiking Time: 1.2 hours |
| Highest point: 9200 feet | Lowest point: 7700 feet |
| Trail goes uphill | |
From the unsigned junction with the Old Sawmill Spring Trail the Carr Peak Trail climbs up towards Carr Peak through varied vegetation.
Parts of the trail were severely burned back in the 70's, but stands of aspens are coming back. There are also some stands of pine along the way.
As the trail approaches Carr Peak it bears towards the left and contours around the southern flank of Carr Peak a few hundred feet below the summit. Here you can see the remains of a relatively recent fire (probably 2002) that took out one of the few stands of unburned pine in this area.
The trail comes to a signed junction with a side trail that continues up a short distance to Carr Peak.
Turn right on the Carr Peak Spur
Carr Peak Spur, FS #108
(Carr Peak Trail to Carr Peak)
A stand of recently burned pine. Notice that some of the tops are still green. I don't know if the trees will survive or not with that much burned.
The summit of Carr Peak.
What the scenery is 95% of the time when you go hiking.
| Length: 0.3 miles | Hiking Time: 0.2 hours |
| Highest point: 9250 feet | Lowest point: 9150 feet |
| Trail goes uphill | |
Go up through recently burned pine forest (2002?) until you reach the peak, which was marked with a cairn and a pole in 2003.
The summit is open and has great views in all directions. It is a good place to sit and have lunch, or just relax for a while.
Winter Hikes - Spring Hikes - Summer Hikes - Fall Hikes
Notes - Hiking Tips - Recommended Books and Maps