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Carr Peak is the third-highest mountain in Cochise County, Arizona (after
Carr Peak Trail is conveniently accessible from both the Reef Townsite Campground and Ramsey Vista Campground on scenic Carr Canyon Road. The main trailhead is located at the edge of a parking area just outside Ramsey Vista Campground. Other means of access are provided by a short spur that comes directly out of the Ramsey Vista Campground, and the Old Sawmill Spring Trail from the parking lot across FR 368 from the Reef Townsite Campground.
Much of the climb from the trailhead to the summit is through an area that has been burned by at least three wildfires, one in 1977 that scorched much of the upper reaches of the mountain range, a smaller one in 1991, and the Monument Fire in 2011. These areas of disturbance are well on their way to healing naturally as various shrubs, trees and wildflowers return to reclaim them. In places where a short time ago only ashes, burnt snags and bare dirt could be found, healthy communities of young aspens are already putting on brilliant displays of fall colors.
The trail offers good views of the upper reaches of Carr Peak and of Miller Peak across Miller Canyon. To get to the top of Carr Peak, you'll need to follow the short but steep Carr Peak Spur. The main trail continues on to a connection with the Crest Trail, which offers access not only to Miller Peak, but to the rest of the Huachuca Mountains trail network.
Chiricahua Peak
Chiricahua Peak is the name of a peak located in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, located about north of the United States–Mexico border. It is the highest summit in the Chiricahua Mountains and the highest point in Cochise C ...
and Miller Peak) and is the second-highest mountain in the Huachuca Mountains
The Huachuca Mountains are part of the Sierra Vista Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest in Cochise County in southeastern Arizona, approximately south-southeast of Tucson and southwest of the city of Sierra Vista. Included in this ar ...
. It rises about south of Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 Census, the population of the city is 45,308, and is the 27th most populous city in Arizona. The city is part of the Sierra Vista-Douglas Metropolitan Are ...
. The summit is in the Miller Peak Wilderness on the Coronado National Forest
The Coronado National Forest is a United States National Forest that includes an area of about 1.78 million acres (7,200 km2) spread throughout mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.
It is located in parts of C ...
and about south of the Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US.
Founded in 1951, The Natu ...
's Ramsey Canyon Preserve. The area is well known among birders
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, by ...
because of the variety of hummingbird species (as many as 15) seen in the area as well as the dozens of southwestern specialties such as Apache pine
''Pinus engelmannii'', commonly known as the Apache pine, is a tree of Northern Mexico, in the Sierra Madre Occidental with its range extending a short distance into the United States in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. This pine ...
, Chihuahua pine
''Pinus leiophylla'', commonly known as Chihuahua pine, smooth-leaf pine,''Pinus leiophylla'' was originally described and published in ''Linnaea'' 6:354. 1831. and yellow pine (in Mexico, tlacocote and ocote chino), is a tree with a range prima ...
, ridge-nosed rattlesnake, lesser long-nosed bat and elegant trogon
The elegant trogon (''Trogon elegans''), also known as the coppery-tailed trogon, is a near passerine bird in the trogon family.
Taxonomy
''T. elegans'' has five recognized subspecies, including the nominate subspecies:
*''T. e. elegans'' Gould ...
.
Carr Peak Trail #107
This trail is not only easy to get to, but it provides a relatively moderate hike to some of the best views in the Huachucas. In the process it also offers access to two of the highest points in southeastern Arizona, Carr Peak and (via the Crest Trail #103) Miller Peak. For these reasons, this combination of trails provides some of the most popular hiking on the Sierra Vista District.
Carr Peak Trail is conveniently accessible from both the Reef Townsite Campground and Ramsey Vista Campground on scenic Carr Canyon Road. The main trailhead is located at the edge of a parking area just outside Ramsey Vista Campground. Other means of access are provided by a short spur that comes directly out of the Ramsey Vista Campground, and the Old Sawmill Spring Trail from the parking lot across FR 368 from the Reef Townsite Campground.
Much of the climb from the trailhead to the summit is through an area that has been burned by at least three wildfires, one in 1977 that scorched much of the upper reaches of the mountain range, a smaller one in 1991, and the Monument Fire in 2011. These areas of disturbance are well on their way to healing naturally as various shrubs, trees and wildflowers return to reclaim them. In places where a short time ago only ashes, burnt snags and bare dirt could be found, healthy communities of young aspens are already putting on brilliant displays of fall colors.
The trail offers good views of the upper reaches of Carr Peak and of Miller Peak across Miller Canyon. To get to the top of Carr Peak, you'll need to follow the short but steep Carr Peak Spur. The main trail continues on to a connection with the Crest Trail, which offers access not only to Miller Peak, but to the rest of the Huachuca Mountains trail network.
See also
*List of mountains and hills of Arizona by height
The following is a list of the mountains and hills of Arizona, ordered by height.
Entries in bold indicate the peak is the highest point in its respective county.
Entries with a ''†'' indicate the peak has a low topographic prominence and may b ...
References
{{Mountains of Arizona Landforms of Cochise County, ArizonaCarr Peak
Carr Peak is the third-highest mountain in Cochise County, Arizona (after Chiricahua Peak
Chiricahua Peak is the name of a peak located in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, located about north of the United States–Mexico bo ...
Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona