Crest Trail #270C
Crest Trail #270C is a long-distance segment of the Crest Trail system in the Chiricahua Wilderness (Coronado National Forest). It runs from Junction Saddle down to a final three-way junction near Sentinel Peak, where a short spur leads to the summit of Sentinel Peak. The mapped segment is a little over 4 miles one-way in the 8,770–9,500 ft elevation band.
Route character stays mostly on the south face of the ridge for long stretches—contouring through repeated “bowls” and saddles—before the last section turns into a climb over Sentinel Peak’s talus slopes with several switchbacks.
Water availability along the crest segment is inconsistent. Ojo Agua Fria and Headquarters Spring are described as camping-era sources, but Headquarters Spring is reported not to be flowing into its box for several years and Ojo Agua Fria’s flow isn’t confirmed as reliable; Eagle Spring is flagged as the more dependable option in the area.
Trail tread is strongly shaped by exposure and past fire impacts. Much of the segment is open enough to get major wind on the ridge, and the worst remaining tread is noted on the ridge stretch beyond the South Fork Trail junction; narrow, grass-influenced tread and occasional faint/competing old alignments can slow navigation when visibility is poor.
Key navigation/decision points: at the signed junction with Price Canyon Trail, the route transitions into the final drainage toward the South Fork Trail junction; and near PK Spring Saddle the trail swings south and begins the last push toward Sentinel Peak. There’s also a note about a faint path that can be followed by walkers wanting to summit Finnicum Peak, but it’s framed as a remnant rather than the through-trail.
For conditions and maintenance, this specific segment has seen recent trail work and re-tread in multiple sections. A tree-down hazard and narrow-tread areas are reported for July 2025 timeframe, including a downed tree about half a mile southeast of Juniper Saddle and recent retread work between Aspen Saddle and the South Fork Trail junction; beyond South Fork, conditions are described as not recently surveyed.
If you’re planning the hike, scout the committed features on-site (tread width, drainage/poached edges, and the known areas of narrow tread or tree-down) and pay attention to water reliability—then reassess again after wet weather, since muddy/silty spring infrastructure and slimy spring conditions are specifically called out for nearby sources.
More information: Crest Trail #270C (Junction Saddle to Sentinel Peak), wild stew field crew: Retreading the Chiricahuas' Crest Trail, Sentinel Peak • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs