The Hummingbird Capital: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista, Arizona, known as the hummingbird capital of the United States, is home to 15 different hummingbird species and more than 350 bird species that pass through the area. It is a favorite destination for birders who travel from near and far to spot rare birds like the Lucifer Hummingbird and the Elegant Trogon.
But Sierra Vista offers so much more than incredible bird watching. The city, the Huachuca Mountains, and the surrounding area are filled with hiking trails, scenic drives, and unique history.
Sierra Vista sits at the base of the Huachuca Mountains (pronounced wha-choo-ka), one of southern Arizona’s many Sky Islands. Just east of the city is the San Pedro River Valley, along with the historic towns of Bisbee and Tombstone. Sierra Vista is also home to Fort Huachuca, a U.S. Army installation that began as a camp in 1877. called it home. Specifically, the Army camp came to be during the Apache Wars because the area had a natural spring and protection at the base of the mountain range. Today, visitors can still see how this location’s geography made it such a strategic and valuable site.
Today, Sierra Vista is the county seat of Cochise County and is located just under three hours southeast of Phoenix and about an hour and fifteen minutes southeast of Tucson.
Exploring the Huachuca Mountains Near Sierra Vista
The Huachuca Mountains are one of Arizona’s most prominent sky islands, rising over 9,400 feet above sea level—more than 5,000 feet higher than the town of Sierra Vista below. This dramatic change in elevation creates a variety of climates and environments, from desert grasslands at the base to pine and fir forests near the summit. Each biome supports unique vegetation and wildlife, making the range incredibly biodiverse. Just like islands in the ocean are surrounded by water, desert sky islands are isolated mountain ranges surrounded by desert and grassland, creating special habitats found nowhere else.
Coronado National Forest and Nearby Canyons
Much of the Huachuca Mountains lies within Coronado National Forest, which is home to numerous trails, including the Crest Trail that forms part of the first passage of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. In addition, the Miller Peak Wilderness offers an added level of protection for the area’s natural life. Here, no motorized equipment, including drones, is allowed to preserve the ecosystem.
Furthermore, several scenic canyons sit at the base of the Huachuca Mountains, including Miller Canyon, Carr Canyon, Ash Canyon, and Ramsey Canyon. These areas feature a mix of public and private land, each offering unique hiking opportunities. For those looking to camp, there are also two campgrounds near Carr Peak. The drive through Carr Canyon is beautiful, but the road narrows into steep switchbacks as it climbs the mountain. High clearance is required, and four-wheel drive is highly recommended. Because of this, drivers should use caution and patience, as the road is narrow and open to two-way traffic. At the top, you’ll find Reef Townsite Campground, and about a mile farther is Ramsey Vista Campground, both offering stunning views and access to alpine trails.
Parker Canyon Lake
Parker Canyon Lake, located on the west side of the Huachuca Mountains, is about an hour and 15 minutes from Sierra Vista. This scenic 130-acre lake is a popular spot for boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing. You can rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, or small motorboats from the marina. When we visited, we rented a small motorboat and explored the lake—and were lucky enough to spot a bald eagle during our cruise.
The Coronado National Forest requires an $8 per vehicle daily fee or an appropriate Interagency Pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass. Make sure to display your pass, as the Forest Service does check vehicles. A payment kiosk is available at the lake for convenience. Parker Canyon Lake is regularly stocked with fish, and anyone 10 years or older must have an Arizona Game & Fish fishing license to cast a line.
Coronado National Memorial
At the south end of the Huachuca Mountains is Coronado National Memorial, which is managed and operated by the National Park Service. This historic site was established to interpret the Coronado Expedition, an event that changed the lives and cultures of the indigenous peoples of the region—many of whom had lived here for centuries.
Things to do:
- Coronado Cave is a large 600 foot long and in more places about 70 feet wide cavern. It is 1/2 mile to the entrance of the cave with over 500 ft in elevation gain. Pets are not allowed in the cave or on the cave trail. It is recommended to bring at least two light sources, extra batteries, and gloves. A phone source does not count as a lightsource. It is pitch black in the back of the cave! Please remember to Leave No Trace. Do not scratch, paint, or place any form of graffiti in or around the cave. For more information visit Cornondo’s website here.
- Coronado Peak Trail climbs the trailhead at Montezuma Pass to Coronado Peak. From the top, you can see Mexico and the San Pedro River. It is .8 miles out and back with 300 ft in elevation gain
- Montezuma Pass is a scenic overlook that is accessed by an unpaved winding mountain road. The views are beautiful!
The Nature Conservancy: Ramsey Canyon
Ramsey Canyon in Sierra Vista is arguably one of the most popular locations within the Huachuca Mountains. The canyon was donated to The Nature Conservancy and is open to the public for visitation. It’s important to note that the Ramsey Canyon does follow specific opening and closing hours. There is a fee to visit. More details are available on The Nature Conservancy website.
Within the canyon you can do the nature walk with a self guided pamphlet. We found it to be very interesting and quite relaxing. Additionally, you can hike the Hamburg Trail and connect to many others. The trail is quite challenging in the beginning and enters the Miller Peak Wilderness. However, the views are incredible and once over the ridge and deeper into the wilderness, its easy to forget you’re in the Sonoran Desert. It feels like the pine forests above the Mogollon Rim and in northern parts of the country.
Sky Islands Summit Challenge
Every year since 2018, over the Memorial Day Weekend, the city of Sierra Vista has put on an event called the Sky Islands Summit Challenge. The ultimate challenge is to summit three of the peaks within the Huachuca Mountains: Miller Peak (9,465 feet), Carr Peak (9,236 feet), and Pat Scott (8,517 feet). However, they offer additional options to summit only one peak (Carr Peak) or two of the peaks (Carr Peak and Miller Peak). We opted for the double peak challenge as we felt we weren’t quite ready to do all three in one day.
The event is well organized by the city with shuttle service to the trailheads and back. On trail there are medical professionals there to make sure hikers are ok. Additionally, the courses are very well marked with flags of different colors indicating which route is which. And although we brought enough water, there was water available at the peaks brought up by those working the event. Sign up for the following year starts in July after the event. You can sign up for the 2025 event here.
Our Stay Near Sierra Vista
During our trip over Memorial Day Weekend in 2024, we stayed at Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast and it was absolutely amazing! The B&B is in Hereford, about 15-20 minutes southeast of Sierra Vista. We loved the small inn with just 10 rooms and countless birds. Nestled along the banks of the San Pedro River, the area is frequented by many birds, especially hummingbirds. On the grounds are multiple bird feeders and we spent a lot of time just observing and grabbing some photos.
The property also neighbors the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and there are trails there that take you along the river. In addition to the great hospitality provided by the staff of Casa de San Pedro B&B, the breakfast was fantastic! We hope to come back and visit again!
Other Things To Do Near Sierra Vista
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Kartcher Caverns State Park is 30 minutes from Sierra Vista. Here you can take a cave tour of one of the best preserved caves in the United States, hike, and camp. Check out our full blog on the state park here.
Bisbee
The historic mining town of Bisbee is only 30 minutes east of Sierra Vista. Here you can take a ghost tour, tour the inside of an old mine, take a Jeep tour, visit the abandoned town of Lowell and so much more. We spent a weekend here in October and have a reel recap of our weekend.
Tombstone
The legendary Wild West town of Tombstone is only 27 minutes from Sierra Vista! Here you can see a reenactment of the famous shoot out of the O.K. Corral, visit a the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, and visit the famous or infamous Bird Cage Theatre. For our detailed itinerary check out our reel on it here.
