Miller Peak/Huachuca Mtns

Hike Name: Miller Peak/Huachuca Mtns Location: south AZ Length: 10 Submitted by: RedRoxx44 Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Arizona trail reviews Arizona national parks Arizona state parks
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Description
Miller Peak is the high point of the Huachuca mountains, at 9,466 the highest most southerly peak in the US; it's 4 air miles from Mexico. Using the crest trail from Montezuma pass it's 10.6 miles RT, with about 3,000 feet gain, 3000 feet loss.

WARNING-- this is a risky hike solo; I informally hooked up with another hiker about a mile from the peak, this is illegal immigrant central. I was either minutes or hours away from a moderate size group, from the foot prints and fresh trash, that had come over in the night. Some sleet and fresh snow had fallen so the signs were pretty plain. The crest trail is well beaten out from all the traffic.

That said, this is a great hike because you climb steeply up to a ridgeline and have great views for 90% of this hike. You look over into Sonora, and to the other adjacent ranges, the mule mountains, Chiricahuas beyond that, Santa Ritas, Rincons and others. The first part of the trail is typical Yucca, cholla, pinyon juniper stuff, you wind by some open mine adits, well used from the amount of trash in them. One had a fair amount of water in it about 10 feet from the entrance. In less than two miles you get on top and having already had some fair views, now get some great ones on both sides of the range. Larger trees, pine and some oak, abound, then higher up some scrawny Aspen. Sleet and ice on the ridgeline made for some fun spots on the trail, but the coated trees and vegetation was beautiful. The big cloudships made the sky very interesting and for some unreal vistas.
You pass a cut off to Bond Spring, then start to climb through some rock outcroppings. Here I met up with Jeff from Wisconsin, stationed out here 6 months in Sierra Vista. He has been really enjoying his time out here, hiking whenever he can. He is an instructor at the Fort of some kind (Hushhush). Anyway we both agreed given the signs of travelers, we would complete the hike to the peak together.

At the cutoff to Miller from the Crest trail there were no new footprints. A few old ones, and thank goodness, there was so much snow the trail was nowhere to be seen. Its a short trek up, but as the clouds decided to hug the peak, having a visual wasn't too good. We found the evidence of the old fire look out, concrete slab, and signed in at the peak register. No views for us today on top, I've read it is spectacular 360 degrees. I'll go back another time. ( I found out at the Coronado Monument ranger station the Huachucas have a C-A-V-E!! An undeveloped limestone one they let amatuer cavers go in.)

Looking over the peak register indicated moderate visitation, Miller Peak can be accessed many ways, from Lutz Canyon trail, Miller canyon trail, Joe's canyon trail and from Carr peak next door. Jeff entertained me with stories of Friday nights in Bisbee, watching the hippies while enjoying a cold one at the bar; and at Tombstone, enjoying the same thing, but watching all the bikers. Yes, Cochise county has an interesting past and apparently present history.
On our way down, we met some backpackers starting their through trek of the Arizona Trail. We wished them well, and issued the standard warnings re the other informal hikers ahead. I would not like to camp at night just off this trail. You would need to pick a carefully concealed spot well off the trail and not easily discovered.

I enjoyed this hike and picked up a new book at the monument station I am looking forward to reading " Cities of Gold" by Douglas Preston--he retraces the trailblazing 1540-1541 expedition of Spanish explorer Fransisco Vasquez De Coronado, by horseback and hiking. Most people may know this author by his fiction "Relic" and "Riptide".
The most depressing thing about this trip was all the trash on the trail. I picked up some in a small bag I had, but you would need about 5 huge bags to haul out what I saw.

However, I liked Sierra Vista, a neat looking little town in a wonderful valley. You can't have it all, I guess.

Directions to Hike
From Tucson head east on I-10 and exit to Sierra Vista, drive south 13 miles on hwy 92 then turn right on Forest Rd 61 or the Coronado National Memorial Road. Follow this 8.5 miles to the large parking area atop Montezuma Pass. The trail departs to the north. The road is graded dirt a short distance.

Contact Information
Coronado National Forest
Sierra Vista Ranger District
5990 South Hwy 92
Hereford, Az 85615
520-378-0311

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