Brushy Canyon Trail #355, AZ

Turtle Mountain Trail #219 offers a primitive route to the summit of soaring Monte Vista Peak out of Sycamore Canyon. You can combine it with the Monte Vista Trail #221 and Brushy Canyon Trail, in the appropriately named Brushy Canyon, to form a loop through this high and scenic region of the southern Chiricahuas. The Turtle Mountain Trail is exceptionally steep in several places, especially where it climbs up and over the rocky rim of Sycamore Canyon. At times you may find yourself feeling that its name comes as much from the pace one sets in traveling it as it derives from the shape of nearby Turtle Mountain.


After you climb out of Sycamore's inner gorge, scramble to a steep saddle, and curve around the northwestern shoulder of Turtle Mountain, 9,357 foot Monte Vista Peak comes into view and stays there for the rest of the journey to its summit. When you reach the summit, you will have a view of a panorama that stretches well into Mexico and encompasses much of southeastern Arizona and a healthy portion of southwestern New Mexico.To turn your journey into a round trip, you can return the way you came or drop down the Monte Vista Trail into North Fork Canyon. That way, you'll get to enjoy one last look at all those fabulous views. From the Monte Vista Trail end, travel down North Fork Road about one-half mile to Brushy Canyon Trailhead. The Brushy Canyon Trail goes up and over a divide into Brushy Canyon on its way back to the Turtle Mountain Trailhead in Sycamore Canyon.

2008-06-13 HAZ_Hikebot