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Sierra Vista (Spanish: Mountain View) is a city in Southeast Arizona and the commercial hub of the region, making it a convenient base from which to explore the area. It is perhaps best known for historic Fort Huachuca, established in 1877 during the Apache Wars. Although still an active U.S. Army military base, its two military museums and historic cemetery are open to the general public.

The landscape around the city is typical for the Southwestern United States, and the nearby mountains and canyons can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. Because it is a major stopover point on avian migration routes, the area is popular with avid birdwatchers and naturalists, and is known as the "Hummingbird Capital of America".

Understand

Get in

Map
31°29′36″N 110°15′59″W
Map of Sierra Vista

Sierra Vista is 75 miles (121 km) from Tucson, the nearest major transport hub.

By plane

The Sierra Vista Municipal Airport (401 Giulio Cesare Ave, tel. +1 520-458-5775) does not currently serve commercial flights, although in the past service was available to Tucson and to Phoenix.

By shuttle bus

The following shuttle bus companies offer transportation to and from Tucson International Airport.

By car

Take I-10 heading south of Tucson or west from Silver City, NM, then head south on Hwy 90.

Get around

By rental car

By bus

  • 2 Vista Transit Center, 2050 E Wilcox Dr, ☏ +1 520-417-4888, . The public bus operates normal routes Monday-Friday, with limited service on Saturdays. A route map and schedule is available for download. Single trip: $1.75 (adults), $.75 (seniors/students/disabled), $2 (curbside service); monthly pass: $40 (adults), $24 (concessions); book of 20 tickets: $25 (adults), $15 (concessions), $40 (curbside service). 

By bicycle

The city is very bicycle-friendly with a well-developed network of bike paths and bike lanes. A map of bike and multi-use paths can be downloaded here.

See

Main Gate of Fort Huachuca
Apache pictographs in Garden Canyon

For travelers interested in military and local history, Sierra Vista offers some museums and sites. In addition to this, the views to and from the nearby mountain ranges are fantastic and many of the city's best attractions are actually located outside the city itself.

  • Fort Huachuca (Main Gate at the west end of Fry Blvd; visitors must show ID and proof of auto registration and insurance). An active military installation, the fort played a pivotal role in the Apache Wars of the late 19th century. Note: international visitors are required to arrange for an official escort prior to their visit, and should contact the Sierra Vista public information office (tel. +1 520-458-3315, pio@sierravistaaz.gov) at least three weeks in advance. Free. 
    • 1 Fort Huachuca Museum, 41401 Grierson Ave, ☏ +1 520-533-4946. M-Sa 9AM-4PM. Has a small gift shop. Free. 
    • US Army Intelligence Museum, Bldg 41411 (next to the Fort Huachuca Museum), ☏ +1 520-533-1127. M-Sa 9AM-4PM. Free. 
    • 2 Old Post Cemetery. Has the graves of US Army Cavalry and Buffalo Soldiers, who fought in the Apache Wars, as well as several Apache scouts and their wives. Gravestones marked 'Unknown' are for victims of Apache attacks who were too badly mutilated to identify. 
    • 3 Reservoir Hill Overlook, Reservoir Hill Rd. Has good views over the Fort and the neighboring Whetstone Mountains. 
    • 4 Garden Canyon, Garden Canyon Rd. Daylight hours. A lovely place for hiking, picnicking, and birdwatching. Follow the road up the canyon to see Apache (ca. 1700 CE) and Hohokam (ca. 400-1250 CE) pictographs in two different sites. The pictographs are protected behind fences, so they're easy to find. 
  • 6 Arizona Folklore Preserve, 56 E Folklore Trail (from Hwy 92, take Ramsey Canyon Rd west 3.3 miles), ☏ +1 520-417-6960, +1 520-378-6165. Doors open at 1PM, show starts at 2PM. The Arizona Folklore Preserve features outstanding musicians in concert every Saturday and Sunday. $15 (adults). 

Do

Seasonal 300-ft Carr Falls in the Huachuca Mountains
Hummingbird at Ramsey Canyon Preserve

Outdoor activities

  • 1 Huachuca Astronomy Club, 1140 N Colombo Ave (University of Arizona South), ☏ +1 520-366-0049. Enjoy sharing the boundless dark skies of Sierra Vista. The Huachuca Astronomy Club hosts public events, both at the Patterson Observatory (operated by the University of Arizona) and at other outdoor locations. Free. (updated Mar 2015)
  • Huachuca Mountains. The Huachuca Mountains are part of the Coronado National Forest, and have many great trails to challenge both the novice and expert hiker. The guide book Trails of the Huachucas by Leonard Taylor is an excellent resource, available from Amazon or from Hastings Books on Fry Blvd. The Monday Hikers and Tuesday Hikers clubs (tel. +1 520-417-6960) meet weekly, hiking locations vary. 
    • 2 Sierra Vista Ranger District, 4070 S Ave Saracino, Hereford (off of Hwy 92), ☏ +1 520-378-0311. Sells hiking maps for $10, and has updated trail and camping information. 
    • 3 Ramsey Canyon Preserve, 27 E Ramsey Canyon Rd, ☏ +1 520-378-2785. Th-M 8AM-5PM. More than 170 species of birds have been found here, including 14 species of hummingbirds. The best time to visit is between April and September. $6; $3 for members and Cochise County residents. 
    • 4 Brown Canyon Ranch (off of Ramsey Canyon Rd). Daily dawn to dusk. A historic century-old ranch in the foothills of the Huachuca Mountains, with a few easy hiking trails. Free. 
  • Cycling. The region has many excellent routes and trails for both road and mountain bikes. Bicycles can be rented from M&M Cycling (1301 E Fry Blvd, tel. +1 520-458-1316), and from Sun'n Spokes (156 E Fry Blvd, tel. +1 520-458-0685). 
  • 6 Buffalo Corral Riding Stables (Fort Huachuca), ☏ +1 520-533-5220. 9AM-4PM Th-Su. Has horses to rent to individuals or groups by the hour. Also offers guided horseback riding excursions as well as riding lessons. 
  • 7 Hang gliding, Carr Canyon Rd, S Hwy 92 (Huachuca Mountains). Carr Reef, the large cliff face overlooking Carr Canyon, is a popular jumpoff point for hang gliders. 
  • 8 Sierra Vista Aquatic Center, 2900 Martin Luther King Jr Parkway, ☏ +1 520-417-4800. Hours vary by season. 'The Cove' is a 36,500 sq-ft facility hosting a wave pool, water therapy pool, diving pool, and water slides. Good for hot summer days. $6 (adults), $4 (kids). 

Festivals and events

Cochise College Rodeo
  • 10 Cochise College Rodeo, Wren Arena (off of Canelo Rd on Ft Huachuca; visitors must show ID and proof of auto registration and insurance), ☏ +1 520-417-6960. 1st full weekend in March: on Saturday gates open at 12PM and rodeo begins at 1PM, on Sunday rodeo begins at 10:30AM. An annual two-day event showcasing bronc and bull riding, steer wrestling and roping, and barrel racing. $8 at the gate, $7 advanced purchase (Murr Community Center, Safeway, and Cochise College campuses), free (active military personnel, children under 5). (updated Feb 2015)

Buy

  • 1 Crafted Luxuries, 108 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 520-439-4487. 10AM-5PM. Custom made jewelry, candles, artwork and special order gift items. 
  • 2 The Mall at Sierra Vista, 2200 El Mercado Loop (The Mall at Sierra Vista), ☏ +1 520-452-0011. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 12PM-6PM. Sierra Vista's only mall, anchored by Dillards and Sears, with a Cinemark Cinema. 
  • 3 Hastings Entertainment, 3758 E Fry Blvd, ☏ +1 520-459-8130, fax: +1 520-459-0325. Su-Th 9AM-10PM, F-Sa 9AM-11PM. Carries a decent selection of new and used books, including regional titles and guides. Also carries a range of magazines, as well as music and DVDs. 
  • 4 Lion's Club Swap Meet, 5801 E Hwy 90, ☏ +1 520-378-1399. Sa 6AM-dusk, Su 6AM-3PM. A good place to find curiosities and collectibles, with food vendors as well. The best time to come is Saturday morning. 

Eat

The Brown Canyon Ranch against the backdrop of the Huachuca Mountains

The local restaurant scene includes American diners, Mexican restaurants, pizza places and some places with Asian food but also a surprising number of German restaurants and cafés.

Budget

  • 1 Angelika's German Imports, 1630 E Fry Blvd, ☏ +1 520-458-5150. T-Th 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Has a good deli counter, with great potato salad. Also has a good selection of imported German groceries and other products. $5-10. 
  • 2 Bread Basket, 355 West Wilcox Dr, ☏ +1 520-458-8580. M-F 6AM-5PM, lunch served from 11AM-2PM. German bakery with great soups and salads, sandwiches, schnitzels, breads, and pastries. Eat in or take away; very popular for lunch. $2-9. 
  • 3 The Landmark Cafe, 400 W Fry Blvd, ☏ +1 520-459-4624. Sa-Tu 6AM-2PM, W-F 6AM-8PM. This well-established family restaurant is especially known for large breakfasts. $5-10. (updated Mar 2015)
  • 4 Rodolfo's Taco Shop, 862 E Fry Blvd (on the SE corner of Fry Blvd and 7th St), ☏ +1 520-439-4000. Cheap, fast, authentic Mexican food, featuring tacos, burritos, and carne asada. $3-10. 

Mid-range

The Mesquite Tree Restaurant
  • 5 Country House Restaurant, 4373 S Hwy 92, ☏ +1 520-378-4400. Offers reliable American classic diner food. $11-30. 
  • 6 The German Cafe, 1805 Paseo San Luis, ☏ +1 520-456-1705. M 11AM-8PM, T-Fr 11AM-9PM, Sa 12PM-9PM. Excellent, authentic German food. Reservations recommended. $10-15. 
  • 7 La Casita, 465 E Fry Blvd, ☏ +1 520-226-4305. A busy place known for excellent margaritas and Mexican food. $3-14. 
  • 8 The Mesquite Tree, 6398 S Hwy 92 (10 minutes south of Sierra Vista, by Carr Canyon Rd), ☏ +1 520-378-2758. T-Sa 5PM-9PM, Su 5PM-8PM. Popular for prime-ribs and steaks. Reservations recommended, particularly on weekends. $13-25. 
  • 9 Pizzeria Mimosa, 4755 E Neapolitan Way, Hereford (directly off of S Hwy 92, 10 miles south of Sierra Vista), ☏ +1 520-378-0022, . Su-Th 11AM-9PM, Fr-Sa 11AM-9:30PM. Offers Neapolitan pizzas fired in a traditional wood oven. $11-30. 
  • 10 Ricardo's Mexican Restaurant, 7196 S Hwy 92, Hereford (10 miles south of Sierra Vista), ☏ +1 520-378-3220. M-Sa 4PM-9PM. A long-established restaurant which was rebuilt in 2012 after burning down in a wildfire the previous year. They offer Sonoran style Mexican food with good margaritas. $11-30. 
  • 11 Tanuki Sushi Bar & Garden, 1221 E Fry Blvd, ☏ +1 520-459-6853. M-Th 11AM-2:30PM, 5PM-9PM; F 11AM-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM; Sa 5PM-9:30PM. For being in a spot a long distance from the sea, they offer some surprisingly excellent sushi. Very popular, and rated 'Best sushi in AZ' by Arizona Highways. Take out available. $6-20. 
  • 12 Texas Roadhouse, 2075 El Mercado Loop, ☏ +1 520-459-7400. 4PM-10PM. A national chain which offers steaks and fall-off-the-bone ribs. $9-25. 
  • 13 Vinny's New York Pizza, 1977 S Frontage Rd, ☏ +1 520-459-2315. 11AM-9PM. The most popular pizza place in Sierra Vista. $7-17. 

Grocery stores

  • 14 Food City, 85 S Hwy 92, ☏ +1 520-439-6080. Daily 6AM-11PM. Carries Mexican food items and produce, with a take-away deli. 
  • 15 Fry's Food, 4351 E Hwy 90, ☏ +1 520-458-0989. Has a deli section with take-out options, including soups and salads. 
  • 16 Safeway, 2190 E Fry Blvd, ☏ +1 520-459-4204. Daily 5AM-12AM. 
  • 17 Walmart Supercenter, 500 N Hwy 90 Byp, ☏ +1 520-458-8790. Daily 24 hrs. 

Drink

  • 1 Café Sierra, 2600 E Tacoma St (in the entrance of the public library), ☏ +1 520-458-2929. T-Th 10AM-7PM, F-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su-M 12PM-5PM. Good locally-roasted coffee, also with an assortment of sandwiches and snacks. Free wi-fi available. 
  • 2 Rendezvous Nightclub, 40 Avenida Escuela, ☏ +1 520-458-2902. Open W-S 8PM-2AM, closed Su-T 

Sleep

Path in the Ramsey Canyon Preserve

Budget

Camping

  • 1 Ramsey Vista Campground, 4070 South Avenida Saracino, Hereford (on a steep mountain road with switchbacks.), ☏ +1 520-378-0311. 8 dry tent campsites, with water and toilets available. Trailers under 12' permitted. Reservations can be made online. $10/night. 
  • 2 Reef Townsite Campground. Located on the site of the old mining town of Reef, with many relics of the old town still visible. Great views, toilets available, no water. Trailers under 12' permitted; longer trailers cannot navigate the steep switchbacks up the mountain. Reservations can be made online. $10/night. 

Hotels

  • 3 Suburban Extended Stay, 1850 E Wilcox Dr, ☏ +1 520-458-0540. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 12PM. This hotel offers free high-speed internet access, free coffee and an exercise room. Fully equipped kitchens in every room. Pet friendly. Special entertainment packages available for guests: golf, swimming, date nights, movie nights, etc. $49-$64/night. 
  • 4 Windemere Hotel & Conference Center, 2047 S Hwy 92, ☏ +1 520-459-5900, toll-free: +1 800-825-4656, fax: +1 520-458-1347, . Check-in: 4PM, although earlier checkins can be accommodated. Swimming pool, pets permitted. Includes one free happy hour drink at the onsite bar, as well as continental breakfast. Free wi-fi. While earlier online reviews of this hotel have in general been positive, reviews from 2014 are for the most part negative describing the hotel as run-down and filthy. $69-$79. 

Mid-range

  • 6 Lazy Dog Ranch, 3123 N Thistle Rd (drive west of Sierra Vista on Charleston Rd, turn right on E Escapule Rd), ☏ +1 520-458-5583, . Located within the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area. Two suites available, with pool. No smoking indoors, pets accepted. $125/night, $10/night (pets). 

Splurge

Connect

  • 2 Sierra Vista Public Library, 2600 E Tacoma St, ☏ +1 520-458-4225. T-Th 10AM-7PM, Fr-S 10AM-6PM, Su-M 12PM-5PM. Computers available, free wi-fi access everywhere in the building during opening hours. 
  • The Mall at Sierra Vista, 2200 El Mercado Loop (The Mall at Sierra Vista), ☏ +1 520-452-0011. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 12PM-6PM. Free wi-fi is available throughout the mall (see listing above under 'Buy'). 

Cope

News

Healthcare

Go next

Head east on Charleston Rd toward Tombstone, and along the way explore the old ghost towns of Charleston and Millville. Or head east on Hwy 90 towards Bisbee, or south on Hwy 92 and visit Coronado National Memorial. Drive north on Hwy 90 and visit Kartchner Caverns State Park, and then continue on towards Tucson.


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