Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

A colorful sign with a nod to its history welcomes people to Ft. Huachuca, AZ

Fort Huachuca, AZ

The Army sent us to Ft. Huachuca not once, but twice.

When people asked where we were headed, I’d excitedly say “Ft. Huachuca, Arizona”.

“Fort what?,” they’d ask with a puzzled look on their face. “Where’s that?!”

I got it. It’s not the most widely known military installation. The post sits about 15 miles from the border of Mexico in the sparsely populated Cochise County. That’s about an hour and a half southeast of Tucson and right next door to Sierra Vista. It’s nestled at the base of the towering Huachuca Mountains.

Then there’s the name. Ft. Huachuca’s not easy to pronounce. But I figured out a solution. Pretend you’ve sneezed. Wa-CHOO-kuh.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

Monsoon showers trigger a burst of green across the formerly brown desert.

The Chirachua-Apaches named the mountains Huachuca. That means “place of thunder”. Experience a monsoon thunderstorm loudly proclaiming its arrival over the mountains and the “why” becomes clear.

I loved this post. Around 18,000 active duty military, civilians and family members make Ft. Huachuca and Sierra Vista home. As I mentioned, we were stationed there twice, about 10 years apart.

A Unique Place

Part of what I loved was the unique geography in the region. The Sonoran and Chihuahua deserts merge near here. Plus “sky islands” , isolated mountain ranges, rise up out of the “sea” (i.e. desert), creating unique habitats for all kinds of mammals, birds and amphibians. The Huachucas and Whetstone mountains, just up the road, are two such sky islands that are definitely worth exploring.

The Huachuca Mountains stretch 25 miles north and west from the border of Mexico. These mountain peaks are not slouches. Miller Peak reaches highest at 9,466 feet and Huachuca Peak comes in fourth highest at 8,410 feet.

Thanks to the mountains, acclimating to Ft. Huachuca might take a few days. The post sits at 4,633 feet above sea level in the high desert region. That may not seem like a big deal, but some people coming from a lower level area may need a day or two to adjust to the higher altitude. Drink lots of water, rest and avoid alcohol for that time. Once the headaches, nausea or dizziness ends, you’re ready to resume normal activities.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

A rare snow covers the Huachuca Mountains in Southeastern Arizona.

The mountains also influence the weather on post. Summers are hot, but thanks to that higher elevation, cooler than Tucson or Phoenix. Around the beginning of July, monsoon season starts. Humidity increases and each afternoon there’s a good chance that thunderstorms will hit with an occasional flash flood. Once this season starts, the surrounding desert bursts with color and life. Winters are generally mild, although we did experience snow on the mountains and an ice storm once.

The Huachuca Mountains create perfect conditions for a wide range of wildlife too. We regularly saw bears, coyotes, javelina, coatimundi, pronghorns, several types of deer and all sorts of colorful birds that are rarely found anywhere else in the U.S.

Daily Life in the High Desert

The first time we were stationed at Ft. Huachuca, we lived off post. There weren’t many options when a Border Patrol class and my husband’s class were both looking for housing. Thankfully, Sierra Vista added lots of new houses since then.

The second time, we lived on post and had a great experience. We had easy access to Huachuca Canyon for walking trails. From our back porch we also enjoyed watching pilots practice touch and goes at Libby Army Airfield.

Upon our return, we immediately noticed that Sierra Vista had grown a great deal since our last assignment. A Walmart Supercenter, Lowes and Target were built along with Chilis and other chain restaurants.

But I still drove to Tucson regularly for Costco, Trader Joes and other favorites. I joked that we needed to hitch the wagon and head to town for supplies. If you’re a fan of the big city, plan on many trips to Tucson or Phoenix.

Get Out and Explore

Once you’re settled in a house, get out and explore. The history, geography and culture at Ft. Huachuca may be very different from other parts of the U.S. Keep an open mind and try new activities. There are lots of things to love about living in this piece of Cochise County.

I’d start on post with the Ft. Huachuca Museum to learn about the post’s place in America’s Old West history and beyond.

Denise Sloan/PSC Adventures

The entire post is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Army created Ft. Huachuca in 1877 to guard southeastern Arizona settlers and trade routes from attacks by the Apache Indians. Soldiers also helped secure the border with Mexico. Later the famed 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers also operated out of Ft. Huachuca from 1913-1933. The entire post is on the National Historic Register.

The MI Library also provides a self-guided walking tour for the old part of post. True history aficionados shouldn’t miss the annual Historic Tour of Homes hosted by the Ft. Huachuca Community Spouses Club every December. Visitors get to take a peek inside many of the buildings from the self-guided tour.

Hugh Beebower/PCS Adventures

A broad-billed hummingbird sips nectar from cigar plant blossom.

Sierra Vista is known as the “Hummingbird Capital of the U.S.” because 15 different types of these tiny dynamos can be found in the area, including Ft. Huachuca. In the spring and fall, you can volunteer to help with the Hummingbird Monitoring Network’s multi-year study and banding of hummingbirds. All of the activity takes place outside the Public Affairs Office on Carnahan Street.

Once you’ve explored the historic part of post, head over to the CW 2 Christopher G. Nason Military Intelligence Library to learn a bit about collecting intelligence. The library houses the MI Museum, also called the MI Soldier Heritage Learning Center.

Next up, Buffalo Corral Riding Stables to trek the Huachucas from a unique vantage point. The corral offer trail rides, riding lessons and even boarding if you have a horse.

You can also find fun at the Desert Lanes Bowling Center, Arts & Crafts Center, Ghost Town Paintball and Garden Canyon RV Park at the Sportsman Center and Mountain View Golf Course on post. The Apache Flats RV Resort is also a highly rated MWR recreation area.

Hiking the Huachucas

The Huachuca Mountains offer fantastic hiking trails that we really loved. Two of my favorites on post were Huachuca Canyon and Garden Canyon.

We often walked our dogs from our home on post, through the historic section on Grierson Road to Huachuca Canyon Road. We’d go all the way down to the parking area at the end of the dirt road and then head home. But you can hike further past the stream. It wasn’t uncommon to see Gould’s turkeys, deer, coatimundi and bears on the way to and from this canyon.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

A beautiful sunrise observed from Reservoir Hill lights up the San Pedro Valley.

I’ll add another stop here that isn’t a canyon. On your way out of Huachuca Canyon, look for Reservoir Hill Road and veer right. A steep climb is rewarded with a fantastic view of the San Pedro Valley, stretching well beyond Ft. Huachuca. It’s also a great place to watch the sun rise or have a picnic.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

A creek that flows year round helped gardens flourish in this canyon.

Just southeast of Huachuca Canyon, Garden Canyon got its name because the frontier wives who lived at Ft. Huachuca planted gardens here. The reliable creek that ran down from the mountains provided year-round water.

The drive to Garden Canyon is beautiful and you may see pronghorns, deer and other wildlife along the way. The stream still runs past the Lower and Upper Garden Canyon areas. MWR offers camping and picnic areas at Lower Garden Canyon. Upper Garden Canyon used to have picnic tables and playground. I’m not sure if the area is still being maintained.

A gravel road used to run up Garden Canyon, but severe flooding has often washed out the road during storms. So check with range control to make sure the canyon is open to vehicles and visitors. If the road was closed to vehicles but open to hikers, we parked near the Upper Garden Canyon area and hoofed it up the canyon.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

Fifty three pictographs are visible in Garden Canyon.

One of the surprises about two miles up the Garden Canyon trail are 53 pictographs, some thousands of years old to more recent ones drawn in the 1700’s.

Many different hiking trails hook in to the Garden Canyon trail. Some are marked well and others aren’t. I’d highly recommend getting maps and a guide book like “Trails of the Huachucas” by Leonard Taylor just to make sure you get home safely.

Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures

At certain spots on the Garden Canyon trail you can see far across the San Pedro Valley.

Also, both of these canyons are rugged with little to no cell reception. Be prepared with water, snacks and a first aid kit. Let someone know where you’re headed and when you expect to be back. And keep your head on a swivel for black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, javelina and all sorts of snakes and human smugglers.

Ft. Huachuca offers plenty of entertainment if you love the outdoors and history. Join me next week to find out about Sierra Vista and lots of 40-minute-or-less road trips.