Majestic Mountains: Prescott Is Surround On All Sides
When people think of Arizona, they typically think of desert landscapes, cacti, sprawling views of never-ending sunsets. And while you can get most of this in Prescott, Arizona, no doubt, what you’ll also see in abundance are mountain ranges—in nearly every direction.
The city of Prescott, located in the middle of Arizona about 100 miles north, and slightly east of Phoenix, sits at 5,367 feet elevation and is bordered by the Prescott National Forest.
Consisting of 1.25 million acres to explore, Prescott National Forest has it all. There are areas to hike, bike, rock climb, camp, horseback ride, and all sorts of water sports. This is due to the fact that Prescott National Forest encompasses not just lakes and mountains, but a variety of elevations as well.
The lowest elevation consists of vegetation most commonly associated with the Sonoran Desert. As you get higher this desert landscape turns into pinion pine and juniper trees. At the highest elevation you will encounter Ponderosa Pines.
The Prescott National Forest borders many other Arizona forests including the Kaibab, Coconino, and the Tonto. The city of Prescott sits in the middle of the Prescott National Forest. On the west side of the city, the mountain ranges include Juniper, Santa Maria, Sierra Prieta, and the Bradshaw Mountains. On the east side there are the Black Hills, Mingus Mountain, Black Mesa, and the headwaters of the Verde River.
There’s endless terrain to explore in Prescott National Forest, but we picked out a handful of mountain ranges and hikes that are definitely worth exploring.
West
Juniper Mountains: Recreational opportunities include: hiking, mountain biking, dispersed camping, horse riding, and OHV trail riding. Multiple trails totalling 15 miles in length cross the wilderness.
Our Favorite Trail: Juniper Mesa Trail, 6.3 miles long, is the main trail through the wilderness. It begins at Juniper Springs, on the east side of the mesa and ends where it meets Oaks and Willows Trail.
Sierra Prieta Mountain Range: The Sierra Prieta is a 14-mile long mountain range in the mountainous region west of Prescott, with prominent Thumb Butte (6,514 feet), a volcanic plug, on the city's west perimeter.
Our Favorite Trail: Thumb Butte Trail 33. Enjoy this 2.5 mile loop trail that’s generally considered a moderately challenging route. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, trail running, and walking; the trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
Bradshaw Mountains: Located approximately 5 miles south of Prescott, Arizona, between the Agua Fria River on the east, and the Hassayampa River on the west, the range is 40 miles long, and almost 25 miles wide.
Our Favorite Trail: Groom Creek Loop Trail #307 is one of the most attractive trails in the Prescott National Forest, offering a rewarding hike through the area’s forested high country. This trail passes through idyllic stands of ponderosa pine and Gambel oak as it climbs to the top of Spruce Mountain. Explore this 9.80 mile loop trail which takes an average of five hours to complete.
East
Mingus Mountain: Located in the cool pines of central Arizona, Mingus Mountain offers a wide range of recreational opportunities including: picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, fishing, hunting, hang gliding, and paragliding. From the mountain, there are views of the Verde Valley, Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and the towns of Cottonwood, Jerome, and Clarkdale.
Our Favorite Trail: The North Mingus Loop Trail is a 4.20 mile loop trail near Cottonwood, Arizona. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes about two-and-a-half hours to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.