You have to checkout Parker Canyon Lake. It’s at the end of the Arizona Scenic Highway 83, 6.6 miles north of US Mexico Boarder.
I especially love going to Parker Canyon Lake because it’s not too crowded yet is not completely secluded. Scott is always there working at the marina to welcome you to the lake. Make sure to tell him I say hi when you go down. He has boats you can rent to paddle or troll around the lake as well as just about anything in the store you might have forgot back home.
The drive down is one of the most beautiful this country has to offer. You make your way south from Sonita on a winding road. It’s not very far to the lake but warrants slow driving as you soak in the sights of Huachuca Mountains to the East. You climb higher and higher as you get closer to the lake. Mountains start to crest the horizon in 360 degrees. It is a sight you must see in person to fully appreciate.
On this trip we stayed overnight at the lake. The forest service has areas for both tent camping and RVs. I was surprised that the spaces were in short supply given how remote the lake is. Everybody was exceptionally friendly, and it was a very peaceful place to camp. Our site had the customary forest service cement picnic table and metal fire ring.
We cooked on my camp stove till we couldn’t eat anymore and sat by the warm fire. Afterwards we hiked on the road under the stars with the sound of the lake below us. It’s amazing how quiet it is at Parker Canyon Lake. The canyon is far from any large metro areas. This lends to virtually no light or noise pollution.
The next morning we packed up and headed over to the marina and grabbed a bite to eat. The adventure wasn’t over yet though. I had something special in store for the trip. We headed over to Bisbee and Tombstone. I used an extra special shortcut to get there.
Arizona Scenic Highway 83 ends at Parker Canyon Lake. The road turns to a dirt forest road which in a short distance leads to, “Montezuma Canyon Road”. Most people would double back onto the pavement of Highway 83, but not us, we headed East over the mountains.
This ride isn’t for the faint of heart. Over the course of 15 miles the road approaches the south end of the Huachuca mountains and begins it’s ascent up a narrow one lane road. There are occasional pull off’s for people to pass as you climb up the pass to 6500 FT.
At the top is a rest area with parking spaces and a bathroom. I discovered this place in my Buick. Yes I drove a car up there a few years back to start hiking the Arizona Trail. We began the decent down the East side of the pass and onto the next leg of our adventure.
