GARDEN CANYON - SIERRA VISTA
Level: Beginner to Intermediate (3-B)
Description: Garden Canyon, on the Fort Huachuca Military Post, is BEAUTIFUL. Any mop of the area will show the Canyon. If you want a longer ride, park farther down the canyon and ride on the lightly traveled paved road. You can make the round trip into around 15 miles easily.
When you reach the top of the canyon there is a cabin which is the start of Sawmill Canyon if you go to the left. You can ride another couple of miles up Sawmill if you want but it will become mostly hike a bike. There is also a trail to the right from the cabin which we are told leads to a good mountain bike ride but we have not taken that route yet.
Notice on the profile that there is about 1,700 ft of climb in just under 3 miles. Most of the rides in the Huachuca Mountains are fairly vertical. As you drive into Garden Canyon you will see many Jeep trails, most of which look pretty tough. It is a wonderful ride even though it is short.
Directions: Take I-10 East to AZ-90S toward Sierra Vista and turn right on AZ-90. AZ90 becomes Garden Avenue and Buffalo Soldier Trail. Once on the Post you can't miss it. It is about 3 miles of uphill from the end of the pavement (you can park here) on Jeep trail. Google Map
Garden Canyon has many picnic spots.
Rock faces for repelling.
This rock cliff is by one of the petraglyph sites.
