On November 9 I hiked Carr Peak and Miller Peak in the Huachuca Mountains above Sierra Vista, Arizona. Miller Peak at 9466 feet is the highest peak in the Huachuca Mountains and the third highest peak in Southern Arizona. Miller Peak is also an “ultra prominence” peak with 5006 feet of prominence. Carr Peak is the second highest peak in the Huachuca Mountains. Both peaks are accessible from the Carr Peak Trailhead at the Ramsay Vista Campground at the end of Carr Canyon Road.
The previous late afternoon I drove from Tucson through Sierra Vista and up the Carr Canyon Road to Ramsay Vista Campground. Although I met several cars coming down the road I found the campground empty. After circling the canyon I selected site #1 for the evening. Here I set up my tent and cooked dinner by headlamp, noticing a visitor’s eyes shining in my headlamp light. I did not approach the animal, but I suspect it was a ringtail.
Before retiring to the tent I spent time scanning the starry sky. I enjoyed viewing the Milky Way and identifying constellations, and viewed the Pleiades and the Andromeda Galaxy with my binoculars. The evening was breezy as expected from the forecast.
The morning of November 9 I found and followed the Carr Peak Trail to the summit of Carr Peak. At the junction with the spur trail leading to the summit I spotted two whitetail deer beside the trail. The deer were bedded down until my approach. One was disturbed with my presence and walked away. The other stood watching me and occasionally scratching itself.
The Carr Peak summit provided nice views across Sierra Vista towards mountain ranges to the north. I have visited some of these ranges but many I have yet to visit. The Ramsay Vista Campground was visible on a plateau below me.
I descended back down the spur trail and traversed for about a mile west to the Huachuca Crest Trail. At the junction I spotted and waved at what I think was a border patrol agent. I continued south on the Crest Trail expecting that I might meet immigrants, but saw none.
The Crest Trail led to the Miller Peak Trail which I followed to the summit of Miller Peak. Miller Peak provided good views to the south, complementing those from Carr Peak.
I returned to the campground the same route, skipping the spur trail to the summit of Carr Peak. Below Carr Peak another hiker overtook me who had just spent 3 hours “activating” Carr Peak for the organization Summits on the Air. Activating summits seems a fun way to combine hiking with amateur radio.
I relaxed back at my campsite at Ramsay Vista Campground that evening over dinner. I had the campsite to myself again. The night was windy but my tent was well staked and I slept well. It had been a fun and successful day sampling the Huachuca Mountain high peaks.
Hello,
I ran across your post while looking up the names of the two most prominent peaks in the Huachuca Mountains. Your pictures were great! I’ve only been up to Carr Peak about ten years ago. It was too late in the day to go to Miller Peak and return before dark. I’m too old to make it up there anymore, but I regret not getting to Miller Peak. Your post sounds like you do a lot of hiking and camping. I envy your energy. Thanks for your post. I really enjoyed it.