Carr Peak via Old Sawmill Trail | Tuesday Hikers | Sierra Vista Arizona | Huachuca Mountains

Carr Peak, at just over 9,200’, is the second highest peak in Arizona’s Huachuca Mountains. This hike from the Reef Campground to Carr Peak with the Tuesday Hikers is 5.5 miles with about 2,000' of elevation gain. There are other hikes to the peak here:
   • Carr Peak 9,237' | 2nd Highest Peak i...   (via Ramsey Vista Campground)
   • Carr Peak Trail 2021 | 2nd Highest Pe...   (also via Ramsey Vista Campground) and    • Carr Peak via Miller Canyon Trail | T...   (via Miller Canyon).

0:00 Let's go!
0:53 Reef Campground
1:43 Sawmill Spring
2:07 Junction with Carr Peak Trail
3:38 Spur trail to Carr Peak
4:13 A bee dilemna

A few of the flowers along the way: a gazillion sunflowers, New Mexico yellow flax, wild geranium, Aspen fleabane, nodding wild onion, western wallflower, Mexican campion, and plains beebalm. This extra rainy monsoon has created quite the explosion of flowers!

DIRECTIONS to the trailhead: Drive south of Sierra Vista 7 miles on Arizona Hwy 92 to Carr Canyon Road (FR 368). Follow FR 368 about 5.5 miles to the Old Sawmill Spring Trailhead which is located at the parking area on the left outside the entrance to Reef Campground.

As I mention in this video, I recently did this hike with the Huachuca Hiking Club. The HHC hikes not just in the Huachucas and Santa Ritas but also the Rincons, Chiricahuas, Dragoons, Mustangs, Mules, Canelo Hills, as well as along the San Pedro River, and anywhere else in the area where there’s good hiking to be found. If you want to get on trails with an experienced and knowledgeable group of hikers, this is it! More information about the club is here: https://groups.io/g/HuachucaHikingClub

Leonard Taylor’s trail guide rates this trail as an A2 which means (A) It’s easy to follow, well-defined, probably signed, and (2) there’s some loose rock and rough surfaces, moderate grade. I like this way of rating hikes. Consider picking up “Trails of the Huachucas” if you hike in the area. In addition to directions to the trail and trail details, it provides historical and geographical information that adds to your knowledge of this area. It's a great guide! You can get it at the Sierra Vista Ranger District office off of Highway 92 just south of Sierra Vista, at Summit Hut in Tucson or on Amazon.

Links to more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coron...
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/bea...
Arizona National Scenic Trail: https://aztrail.org/

Carr Peak is within the Miller Peak Wilderness. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coron...

best hikes in Arizona
Sierra Vista Arizona
hikes near Fort Huachuca
hikes near Bisbee
hikes near Tucson
Reef Campground
Miller Peak Wilderness