AZT - Passage 1 - Huachuca Mountains

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• Arizona Trail (AZT)

The first passage of the AZT can be accessed from Montezuma Pass. Begin on the hiker-only trail to the southernmost start point of the AZT by running the Coronado Peak Trail to Joes Canyon Trail to the Yaqui Ridge Trail, which drops down to the Mexican border, ending at an international boundary marker.

From this official start point, the trail returns to Montezuma Pass, heading from the Coronado National Memorial to the Miller Peak Wilderness on the Crest Trail (#103). This initial section is a grueling climb of over 3000' of elevation in just over 6 miles. The trail ascends past a junction with the Lutz Canyon Trail (#104) and hits the Miller Peak Spur Trail (#105) soon after.

Continuing past the spur, the trail travels along a ridgeline to Tub (Bathtub) Spring. Here, the trail turns hard left and heads uphill at the signed Miller Canyon (#106)/Crest Trail junction. The trail turns left again, continuing uphill at the signed Carr Peak (#107)/Crest Trail junction.

Follow the trail past the Oversite Canyon Trail (#112) junction and past Bear Saddle and Granite Peak. At the intersection with the Sunnyside Canyon Trail (#117), near Pat Scott Peak, turn left. The trail descends into Sunnyside Canyon, passing the Copper Glance Trail junction, toward the wilderness boundary.

Here, it briefly joins a dirt access road (FR 4758) and then turns right onto the Scotia Canyon Trail (#127), where there is a posted AZT sign. Heading along the Scotia Canyon Trail, this passage of the AZT crosses FR 4759, then turns south into Scotia Canyon and meanders down to FR 48. Finally, after crossing FR 48, the trail turns to the west and reaches the Parker Canyon Lake Trailhead on FR 194. Look for a parking lot to the north along FR 194, overlooking Parker Canyon Lake.