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Historic by HAZ_Hikebot  A fine riparian area, plenty of evidence of the area's mining past and good views from the Huachuca Crest are some of the rewards you'll reap along this trail. After detouring around a piece of private property, the trail drops back into Miller Canyon to follow what was once an old mining road. The trail passes the remains of the townsite of Palmerlee and a number of abandoned mining digs as it slants steadily up the canyon. Down in the bed of Miller Creek, which usually has water in it year-round, you'll be able to see lengths of the old carbon steel pipe which were placed here in the nineteenth century to carry water to the boomtown of Tombstone. Along lower stretches of the trail, large old sycamore trees shade the streambed, and sunlight filters down through the limbs of tall Douglas-firs. There are a number of bigtooth maples along the streambed in this area, too, making it a colorful place to visit in mid to late October when the leaves of these trees paint the canyon in hues of orange, red and yellow. After crossing the stream several times, the trail switchbacks its way up the north side of the canyon into an area that was burned by a large forest fire in 1977. Here, you'll find good views down-canyon of the San Pedro Valley and the Mule Mountains around Bisbee while Miller Peak stands high above the canyon rim to the southwest. From this point, the trail continues to climb, visiting the stream a couple of more times and passing several more old mine sites before it intersects the Crest Trail #103 high in the Huachucas. Views of peaks and valley. Historic mining area. Fall colors. Access to Huachuca Crest. 3.3 miles of this trail are within the Miller Peak Wilderness. Purification of water is recommended prior to use. Impacted by the Monument fire and post fire rains, especially in the first mile from the trail head. In November 2011 CREC (Coconino Rural Environment Corps) started work from the junction of the Crest trail down, rebuilding about a mile of the trail. The trail maintenance has been completed as of April 2012, new signs have been installed. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Note This is a difficult hike. Arrive fit and prepared or this could get ugly. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Miller Canyon Trail #106
Lutz Miller Carr
Met up with Chumley, JJ & Carrie for a fun hike in the Huachucas. Chumley, JJ & myself met in Chandler and made the drive down and picked up Carrie in Tucson. From there we made the drive to the Lutz Canyon TH and started hiking around mid-morning.
The Lutz Canyon Trail makes a steady and solid climb as it heads for the crest trail. It was a relatively cool day for mid June after some rain fell the previous day. Along the climb up we stopped to explore a mine shaft that was littered with garbage left by migrants. From there we grinded up the final mile to the Crest Trail where we took a short break. After that we continued on and topped out on Miller Peak. We took a short lunch break here and enjoyed the views.
After Miller we continued north along the Crest Trail and took another short break by Bathtub Spring. We debated our options and decided to head for Carr Peak and I'm glad we did. The short detour took about an hour and this is another quality peak with excellent views! After Carr, we returned to Bathtub Spring and headed down Miller Canyon. The top part of this trail had some downed trees but it didn't last for long. Overall, this trail is in good condition. We eventually connected onto the Hunter Trail and were soon back on road. Once we hit the road, Chumley called an Uber. It took a few minutes to arrive but was well worth the wait. Chumley retrieved JJ's jeep and then played roundup. After that it was back to Tucson for dinner and then back to Phoenix.
This was a really great hike with a fun group! I really enjoy the Huachucas and hope to make an annual return. It's a hearty drive from Phoenix but well worth the time. Thanks JJ for driving and thanks Chumley for organizing!
The Lutz Canyon Trail makes a steady and solid climb as it heads for the crest trail. It was a relatively cool day for mid June after some rain fell the previous day. Along the climb up we stopped to explore a mine shaft that was littered with garbage left by migrants. From there we grinded up the final mile to the Crest Trail where we took a short break. After that we continued on and topped out on Miller Peak. We took a short lunch break here and enjoyed the views.
After Miller we continued north along the Crest Trail and took another short break by Bathtub Spring. We debated our options and decided to head for Carr Peak and I'm glad we did. The short detour took about an hour and this is another quality peak with excellent views! After Carr, we returned to Bathtub Spring and headed down Miller Canyon. The top part of this trail had some downed trees but it didn't last for long. Overall, this trail is in good condition. We eventually connected onto the Hunter Trail and were soon back on road. Once we hit the road, Chumley called an Uber. It took a few minutes to arrive but was well worth the wait. Chumley retrieved JJ's jeep and then played roundup. After that it was back to Tucson for dinner and then back to Phoenix.
This was a really great hike with a fun group! I really enjoy the Huachucas and hope to make an annual return. It's a hearty drive from Phoenix but well worth the time. Thanks JJ for driving and thanks Chumley for organizing!
2018-06-17 John9L
Miller Canyon Trail #106
Lutz Miller Carr
My first time in the Huahucas and this range exceeded my expectations! JJ, John, and Chumley picked me up in Tucson at 7:20 and we were on the trail at 9:02. The first ~4 miles up to the crest were a solid workout, especially with JJ setting the pace. Chloe, for one, was happy to reach the Crest Trail and be rewarded with lots of shade and a cool breeze. I was really impressed by the views from Miller Peak (I think I might actually prefer this peak to Wrightson! 
). The next few miles between Miller and Carr were my favorite of the day: aspen grove, Bathtub Spring, big views of Miller and Carr along the crest, and even some early wildflowers. We didn't hang out on the top of Carr for long, as we still had ~9-10 miles to go. The hike down Miller Canyon and Hunter Canyon was pleasant and quick, except for the last mile or so when Chloe started feeling the heat and needed to take a few shade breaks.
Big thanks to @JuanJaimeiii for driving and @chumley for planning the route and saving us a couple miles of hot road walking! And thanks to y'all for introducing me to an awesome new spot so close to Tucson. I'll definitely be planning a return trip to see those wildflowers!
). The next few miles between Miller and Carr were my favorite of the day: aspen grove, Bathtub Spring, big views of Miller and Carr along the crest, and even some early wildflowers. We didn't hang out on the top of Carr for long, as we still had ~9-10 miles to go. The hike down Miller Canyon and Hunter Canyon was pleasant and quick, except for the last mile or so when Chloe started feeling the heat and needed to take a few shade breaks. Big thanks to @JuanJaimeiii for driving and @chumley for planning the route and saving us a couple miles of hot road walking! And thanks to y'all for introducing me to an awesome new spot so close to Tucson. I'll definitely be planning a return trip to see those wildflowers!
2018-06-17 carriejane
Miller Canyon Trail #106
Sky Islands Summit Challenge
This was a hiking event organized by the City of Sierra Vista. Participants in this event had 3 options: hike to Carr Peak only; hike to Miller Peak and Carr Peak; or hike to Pat Scott Peak, Carr Peak, and Miller Peak. Miller Peak(9,466'), Carr Peak(9,220'), and Pat Scott Peak(8,700') are the 1st, 2nd, and 4th highest peaks, respectively, in the Huachuca Mountains. I naturally opted to hike to all 3 peaks.
This was a neat event, and at 19.6 miles and an AEG of 5,800', the hike was a buttkicker, at least for me. The hike started at the Ramsey Canyon Conservancy; went up the Hamburg Trail; then to the Pat Scott Canyon Trail; then off-trail to the summit of Pat Scott Peak; then on the Crest Trail to the Carr Peak trail to the Carr Peak spur trail which went to the summit of Carr Peak; then back to the Crest Trail to Bathtub Spring, and the route continued on the Crest Trail to the Miller Peak spur trail which went to the summit of Miller Peak; then back to Bathtub Spring, from which we went down the Miller Canyon Trail to the Miller Canyon TH, which completed the hike.
There were nice 360 degree views from the top of each of the 3 peaks.
This was a neat event, and at 19.6 miles and an AEG of 5,800', the hike was a buttkicker, at least for me. The hike started at the Ramsey Canyon Conservancy; went up the Hamburg Trail; then to the Pat Scott Canyon Trail; then off-trail to the summit of Pat Scott Peak; then on the Crest Trail to the Carr Peak trail to the Carr Peak spur trail which went to the summit of Carr Peak; then back to the Crest Trail to Bathtub Spring, and the route continued on the Crest Trail to the Miller Peak spur trail which went to the summit of Miller Peak; then back to Bathtub Spring, from which we went down the Miller Canyon Trail to the Miller Canyon TH, which completed the hike.
There were nice 360 degree views from the top of each of the 3 peaks.
2018-05-26 DixieFlyer
Miller Canyon Trail #106
Huachuca Autumn II
Day 3 of my Fall Foliage Tour in Southeastern Arizona...
Met up with a Photographer Friend and we Hiked up Miller Canyon Trail a little Ways checking to see what the Status of the Canyon was for Maples. We found a little Color, but it was Scarce and what there was, the Foliage was being Eaten by something and looked bad....We spent a couple of Hours in there and then Hiked out. And for anyone that's Interested, the Miller Canyon Trail Official GPS Route no longer Matches what the Trail actually does and there are more Trails branching off of that one that don't seem to be on HAZ....Just an FYI....
By then, the Sun was up fairly High and although we wanted to hit Ramsey, we wanted to wait for the better Afternoon Light before we went, so we chilled around Camp for awhile. I took a small Hike along the Creek where we were Camped in Miller and then Relaxed for a bit. I Posted a few of those Photos in my "Camping" Triplog/Photoset.
Hit Ramsey, but we got there later than we had planned and didn't realize that the Conservancy "closed" so early... 4:00 was pretty Early and the Light was Perfect right about that Time. We left, but decided to go back in the Morning for more Soft Light as the Colors in there were very Nice, although a lot of Maples were still Green in large Areas. I included the following Morning's Shoot of Ramsey in this Photoset as well....
Another Nice Autumn Day in the Huachucas....
Met up with a Photographer Friend and we Hiked up Miller Canyon Trail a little Ways checking to see what the Status of the Canyon was for Maples. We found a little Color, but it was Scarce and what there was, the Foliage was being Eaten by something and looked bad....We spent a couple of Hours in there and then Hiked out. And for anyone that's Interested, the Miller Canyon Trail Official GPS Route no longer Matches what the Trail actually does and there are more Trails branching off of that one that don't seem to be on HAZ....Just an FYI....
By then, the Sun was up fairly High and although we wanted to hit Ramsey, we wanted to wait for the better Afternoon Light before we went, so we chilled around Camp for awhile. I took a small Hike along the Creek where we were Camped in Miller and then Relaxed for a bit. I Posted a few of those Photos in my "Camping" Triplog/Photoset.
Hit Ramsey, but we got there later than we had planned and didn't realize that the Conservancy "closed" so early... 4:00 was pretty Early and the Light was Perfect right about that Time. We left, but decided to go back in the Morning for more Soft Light as the Colors in there were very Nice, although a lot of Maples were still Green in large Areas. I included the following Morning's Shoot of Ramsey in this Photoset as well....
Another Nice Autumn Day in the Huachucas....
2015-11-12 outdoor_lover
Miller Canyon Trail #106
Of all the canyons in the Huachuca Mountains, Miller is the closest to where I live. Strange that I haven't been up there yet. Maybe I was saving it for the right time... which happened to be early this morning. After my backpacking trip this jaunt up Miller Canyon was just what I needed. It stays nice and cool in the canyon. The sun finally peaked up over the ridge and into the canyon bottoms around 9am. The trail took a beating during tropical storm Odile (according to the wilderness USFS ranger we ran into) and the sections where it is washed out are boulder strewn and rough. Flagging tape on trees and bushes marks the trail through this area. A good amount of water is still flowing down the canyon and the leaves (sycamore and cottonwoods) are changing. The maple along the wash are past their peak already.
It was a beautiful morning hike complete with an abundance of birds (Arizona Woodpecker, Cassin's Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Red-napped Sapsucker were highlights) and great company.
It was a beautiful morning hike complete with an abundance of birds (Arizona Woodpecker, Cassin's Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Red-napped Sapsucker were highlights) and great company.
2014-10-23 BenTelly
