Hiking Arizona’s Lutz Canyon

I finally conquered my nemesis hiking trail.  After three times trying to climb to the top of Ash Canyon, I finally made it to Miller peak.  The first time I was just not ready for the altitude or the climb. I made it to the lower Lutz mine and not much farther.  The Trail sign says 3.5 miles to the crest trail and it is the one of most challenging  3.5 miles you will ever hike.  Lutz canyon trail starts at an elevation of 5800 feet and at the top where it intercepts the crest trail is at 8625 feet.  Lutz trail is 3.5 miles with a gain of 2825 ft in elevation.  Miller peak is at 9466 feet. 

My second attempt I almost made to the upper Black Bear mine, before I just got overheated.  This is a hot trail with not much shade and no water.  It is best to start in the early morning before it gets too hot and to allow time to make it all the way to Miller Peak.  The Monument fire has burned out most of the large pines, so not much shade anymore.  It was summertime for my second attempt and I did have a Black Bear sighting.   I was walking back out and I had a lot of bear sign on the way up.  The bear sign was droppings (poop)  and large rocks rolled over.  The bear was just sitting on the trail like a German Shepard on his haunches watching me.  He was about 70 yards down the trail and we just watched each other for a couple minutes and he decided to go off the trail.  I was told after the hike that bears come down to lower elevations in the summertime.  

There is a lot of mining history in Ash Canyon Gold, Tungsten and some gold placers too.  The first landmark is the old mill and creek crossing.  The mill took less than a half hour to reach.  Still some remnants of the old mill at the creek crossing.  The trail gets much steeper and rockier on your way to the Lower Mine. Keep your heart rate down in this stretch, don’t wear yourself out here.  There are some easy switchbacks coming up to catch your breath.  Make sure to catch your breath on these easy switchbacks, because it gets steep again after the lower Lutz mine.  It takes about an hour to get to Lutz mine which has its entrance closed.  You will see the mine tailings first and you might walk right past the grown over mine entrance.   Continuing on the trail past Lutz mine and the trail will make a hard right.  If you miss the right turn the gully goes up to some old prospects.  It is a hard scramble to get back on the trail if you go up the gully.  It is better to come back down and find the trail.  Once you make the hard right be on the lookout for a large engine and compressor.  These pieces of old mining equipment are quite large and impressive be sure not to miss them.  Past the mining equipment it gets steep again with more switchbacks.  The trail slowly winds back and forth until you end up at the Black Bear mine which took me about 2 hours and I spent another 30 minutes looking around.  You don’t have to scramble up to the Black Bear mine as the trail will take you there.  The views for Black Bear mine are spectacular and a must photo op.    The Black Bear mine entrance is still intact and goes in the mountain quite far.   I did not spend allot time in the mine as I wanted to make it to the top.   The mine floor is littered with trash left by migrants.  The trash in the Black Bear mine is heartbreaking and it is in Miller wilderness area too. I don’t see and easy way to clean it up either.  Lutz trail continues right in front of the mine cutting across the mine tailings.  Finding the trail past the Black Bear mine is not easy and neither is the footing, so everyone needs to be careful here.  I hit the “runners wall” up from here and started to fell a little sick.  The top of the trail cuts through some scrubby netleaf oak and manzanita trees. The trail is very rocky, but this is the last push to the crest trail.  Don’t give up here the climb is almost over. Once on top make a right on the crest trail the walking will be much easier.  Once on top of the ridge and on the Crest trail there are trees and it is much cooler.  Miller peak is less than a mile and half.  It is about .7 miles on the crest trail and .5 to Miller peak.  The Crest trail starts out verily flat and then starts climbing through the bluffs.  I was surprised that the crest trail is narrow with not many places to camp.  The Miller Peak spur trail is wider with a trail through the forest.  I met quite a few hikers going up to Miller peak.  I think most people drive up Carr Canyon to Ramsey Campground and hike the Carr peak trail and cut down the ridge to Miller peak. 

It was a challenging hike and I am glad I finally made it up to Miller peak.  The view from Miller peak made it all worthwhile.  So that is my next challenge Carr peak to Miller peak.  Look for the Carr Peak to Miller Peak blog coming soon.