Arizona · Hiking · Near Whetstone

Brown Canyon

Brown CanyonPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
8.3 mi
round trip
1,228 ft
climb
6,511 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Sep–May
best months

Is Brown Canyon open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sierra Vista Ranger District. It doesn't name Brown Canyon, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Sierra Vista Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Brown Canyon is a moderate out-and-back hike in Arizona's Coronado National Forest, within the Sierra Vista Ranger District. The trail runs about 8.3 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,228 feet, from a low point of about 5,015 feet to a high of about 6,511 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surface, not accessible, and bikes are not allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 75°F and October highs around 77°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 13 and 14 a month. That station sits roughly 1,270 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up high run cooler. The Barchas Ranch Trail 1 and Barchas Ranch Trail 6 both start about 0.1 mile away, and Brown Canyon Ranch is about 0.6 mile off. For an overnight stay, Reef Townsite Campground is about 3.1 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Reef Townsite Group Area

    Campground

    Sites open the weekend of Nov 20 on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    The Fortoune Cookie

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi
  • If it rains

    O.K. Corral

    Museum

    Museum · 22 mi from Whetstone

    Livery and horse corral in Tombstone, Arizona (1879-1888)

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Whetstone

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep–May

    Best time to visit Brown Canyon

    Best months: September–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      58° / 33°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      62° / 35°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      68° / 39°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      75° / 45°

      2 wet

    5. May

      83° / 52°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      92° / 60°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 63°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 61°

      14 wet

    9. Sep

      84° / 58°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      77° / 50°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      67° / 40°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      58° / 34°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Coronado Nmem, AZ, 9.2 mi away at 5,242 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

BARCHAS RANCH TRAIL 1Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

BARCHAS RANCH TRAIL 1

Next door

1.58-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 157 ft elevation gain

Scheelite Canyon TrailPhoto: sloalan, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Scheelite Canyon Trail

~6 min drive

4.08-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,841 ft elevation gain

Crest Trail #103Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Crest Trail #103

~6 min drive

20.91-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 894 ft gain.

HIKE

Sunnyside Canyon Trail #117

~10 min drive

9.08-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 2,573 ft elevation gain.

Barchas Ranch Trail 6Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Barchas Ranch Trail 6

Next door

1.28-mile out-and-back trail at Barchas Ranch in Arizona with 2 feet of elevation gain.

Huachuca Peak Trail #121Photo: ToddMorris, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Huachuca Peak Trail #121

~9 min drive

2.84-mile out-and-back hike to 8,375 ft in Arizona

Pat Scott Trail #123Photo: ToddMorris, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pat Scott Trail #123

~6 min drive

3.85-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 1,643 ft gain.

Brown Canyon RanchPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Brown Canyon Ranch

~1 min drive

1.02-mile out-and-back trail at Brown Canyon Ranch in Arizona with 16 ft of elevation gain.

Ida Canyon Trail #110Photo: StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ida Canyon Trail #110

~11 min drive

6.98-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 1,980 ft gain.

PerimeterPhoto: StellarD, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Perimeter

~7 min drive

11.81-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 578 ft elevation gain.