Prescott National Forest

Prescott National Forest is located near Prescott city in Arizona, USA. Half of the forest is situated west of Prescott city (in the Bradshaw, Sierra Prieta, Juniper, and Santa Maria Mountains). The other half is located east of Prescott city (the headwaters of the Verde River, Black Mesa, Mingus Mountain, and the Black Hills). This forest is called “Where the Desert Meets the Pines”. Prescott National Forest has come up as a year-round destination for recreational visitors. They come here to hike, fish, camp, ride, picnic, and do many other outdoor activities.

Places to Visit Nearby

Sharlot Hall Museum
Yavapai County Courthouse Square
Watson Lake
Lynx Lake Recreation Area
Heritage Park Zoo
Whiskey Row
Phippen Museum
Goldwater Lake
The Palace Restaurant and Saloon
Prescott Frontier Days (World’s Oldest Rodeo)
Smoki Museum
Constellation Trails
Van Gogh’s Ear Gallery, and many more

Things to Do in Prescott National Forest

Prescott National Forest is a popular destination for recreational tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. It has come up as a preferred year-round destination for camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and riding. In Prescott National Forest, you can also enjoy bicycling, scenic driving, horse riding and camping, outdoor learning, water activities (boating, swimming, and tubing), climbing, OHV riding and camping, nature viewing, resting and relaxing at cabins, and other activities (such as target shooting and hang gliding).

Best Hikes

Prescott National Forest, famous for its hiking trails, has 450-miles of non-motorized trails. You can find a suitable hiking trail from around 250 trails in the 3 ranger districts: Bradshaw Ranger District, Chino Valley Ranger District, and Verde Ranger District.

The top-rated and most popular trails in Prescott National Forest are:

Lynx Lake Loop Trail

This 2.6 mi (4.2 km) long hiking trail is one of the most popular trails in the Prescott NF. It will take you over 1 hour to complete this trail in the Bradshaw Ranger District. The best time to visit Lynx Lake Loop Trail is from March to September.

Thumb Butte Trail 33

This 2.5 mi (4 km) long hiking trail is one of the most popular trails in the Prescott national forest. It will take you around one and half hours to complete this moderately challenging trail in Yavapai County’s Bradshaw Ranger District. For wildlife conservation, this trail is closed from time to time. So, check the status before visiting.

Spruce Mountain via Groom Creek Loop

This loop trail of 9.8 mi (15.8 km) is a moderately challenging trail that helps you enjoy the view of beautiful wildflowers. It’ll take you around five hours to complete the trail. The best time to visit Spruce Mountain via Groom Creek Loop is from March to November.

Granite Mountain Trail

Granite Mountain Trail near Arizona’s Prescott is 7.9 mi (12.7 km) long. It will take you around four and a half hours to complete the trail. This moderately challenging trail features a river and remains accessible all year round for hiking.

Goldwater Lakes Trail

This easy to hike trail near Arizona’s Prescott is 8 mi (13 km) long and will take you around four hours to complete. Goldwater Lakes Trail features a lake and remains accessible throughout the year. It offers multiple activity options.

Other major Prescott National Forest trails are:

Bradshaw Ranger District Trails
- Castle Creek Wilderness
  - Algonquin Trail #225
  - Castle Creek Trail #239
  - East Fort Trail #31
  - Horsethief Canyon Trail #30
  - Horsethief Recreation Trail #201
  - Jim Creek Trail #235
  - Twin Peaks Trail #240
  - Willow Creek Trail #236
- Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin)
  - Arrastra Creek Trail #275
  - Battle Flat Trail #389
  - Blind Indian Connection Trail #9211
  - Bradshaw Trail #216
  - Bullroad Trail #202
  - Collins Trail #282
  - Elouise Trail #306
  - Horse Mountain Trail #212
  - Horsethief Lookout Trail #203
  - Keegan Trail #91
  - Kentuck Springs Trailhead
  - Kentuck Trail #217
  - Minni Trail #9238
  - Old Bodie Mine Road Trail #319
  - Pine Creek Trail #289
  - Pine Flat Connector Trail #9275
  - Tip Top Trail #234
  - Towers Mountain Trail #131
  - Tuscumbia Trail #215
  - Wagoner Trail #213
- Granite Basin Recreation Area
  - Balancing Rock Trail #349
  - Cayuse Loop
  - Clark Spring Trail #40
  - Hokaygon Trail #341
  - Metate Trailhead
  - Mint Wash Connector Trail #352
  - Surprise Spring Trail #350
  - West Lake Trail #351
- Granite Mountain Wilderness
  - Balancing Rock Trail #349
  - Cayuse Loop
  - Clark Spring Trail #40
  - Hokaygon Trail #341
  - Metate Trailhead
  - Mint Wash Connector Trail #352
  - Surprise Spring Trail #350
  - West Lake Trail #351
- Granite Mountain Wilderness
  - Baby Granite Loop
  - Granite Mountain Trail #261
  - Tin Trough Springs Trail #308
- Granite Mountain via Williamson Valley Road
  - Almosta Trail #622
  - Jim Higgs Trail #1937
  - Mint Wash Trail #345
  - North Granite Trail #671
  - Williamson Valley Trailhead
  - Willow Trail #347
- Groom Creek Area
  - Blind Indian Trail #211
  - Dandrea Trail #285
  - Dolphin Trail #85
  - E Cross L Trail #281
  - Golden Eagle Trail #280
  - Goldwater Lakes Trail #396
  - Groom Creek Equestrian Trail #307 Trailhead
  - Groom Creek Loop Trail #307
  - Horsecamp Loop Trail #383
  - Isabella Trail #377
  - Kendall Camp Trail #65
  - Ponderosa Trail #382
  - Venezia Trail #381
  - Watershed Trail #299
  - Wolf Creek Loop Trail #384
  - Yankee Doodle Trail #284
- Iron Springs
  - Alto Coop Trail #619
  - Aspen Creek Trail #48
  - Little Granite Mountain Trail #37
  - Little Granite Trailhead / Day Use Area
- Iron Springs/Jerome Canyon
  - Box Culvert Trail #620
  - Cedar Springs Trail #41
  - Cold Springs Trail #393
  - Granite Tank Trail #9406
  - High Valley Ranch Trail #391
  - Javelina Trail #332
  - Porter Spur Trail #300
  - Sierra Prietta Trail #366
  - Toohey Trick Tank Trail #9440
  - Upper Pasture Trail #38
  - West Spruce Trail #264
  - White Rock Spring Trail #39
  - Wood Trap Trail
- Lynx Lake Recreation Area
  - Boy Scout Trail #126
  - Highlands Trail #442
  - Homestead Trail #305
  - Johns Tank Trail #94
  - Lynx Creek Ruin Trailhead
  - Lynx Recreation Trail #311
  - Lynx Ruins Trail #301
  - Ranch (62) Trailhead
  - Ranch Trail #62
  - Salida Connection Trail #9263
  - Salida Gulch Trail #95
  - Salida Trail #93
  - Seven Mile Gulch Trail #9854
  - Smith Ravine Trail #297
- Poland Junction
  - Buckhorn Trail #130
  - Cat Walk Trail #9438
  - Chalk Springs Trail #89
  - Charcoal Gulch Trail #9419
  - Crystal Springs Trail #9435
  - Daniels Ridge Trail #9219
  - Little Wolf Creek Trail #304
  - Little Wolf Trail #9434
  - Nemo Spring Trail #9405
- Prescott Circle Trail
- Prescott Valley, South
  - Prospectors Trail #42
  - Red Mountain Trail #43
  - White Horse Tank Trail #354
- Prescott to Wickenberg via White Spar Road
  - Banning Creek Trail #81
  - Schoolhouse Gulch Trail #67
  - White Spar Loop Trails #371, #372, #373 & #374
- Thumb Butte
  - Butte Connection Trail #323
  - Butte Creek Trail #321
  - Circle Connection Trail #322
  - Garden Grove Trail #392
  - Miller Creek Trail #367
  - North Thumb Butte Trails #315, #316, #317 & #318
  - Rancho Vista Trail #387
  - Thumb Butte Bypass Trail #326
  - Thumb Butte Trail #33
- Wilhoit
  - Buzzard Trail #129
  - Cherry Creek Trail #214
  - Climax Trail #274
  - East Copper Trail #260
  - Glen Oaks Trail #118
  - Orofino Trail #107
  - Wolverton Mountain Trail #9415
Chino Valley Ranger District Trails
- Apache Creek Wilderness
  - Apache Creek Loop
  - Apache Creek Trail #9905
- Camp Wood Area
  - 7 Up To Hyde Mountain Trail #5
  - Adra Loop Trail #9044
  - Bt Butte Trail #133
  - Cold Water Trail #21
  - Connel Mountain Trail #9921
  - Cottonwood Mountain Trail #8
  - Cutoff Trail #22
  - Dead Steer Basin Trail #9908
  - Grapevine Springs Trail #9825
  - Hyde Mountain Trail #6
  - Merritt Spring Trail #9
  - Prospect Point Trail #9097
  - Shivers Trail #9879
  - Shivers Trap Trail #10
  - Stinson Tank Trail #9836
  - Stringtown Trail #9917
  - Bug Hollow Trail #548
  - Mescal Trail #547
  - Powerline Trail #549
  - Upper Mescal Trail #550
- Juniper Mesa Wilderness
  - Juniper Mesa Trail #20
- Juniper Mountains
  - Bull Springs Trail #100
  - Juniper Springs Trail #2
  - Oaks And Willows Trail #3
  - Old Military Trail #1
  - Spur Gulch Trail #9942
  - Burro Trail #9041
  - Duff Springs Trail #9016
  - Powerline Two Trail #990
- Perkinsville – Hickey Mountain
  - Atchison-river Trail #9011
  - Black Mesa Trail #9036
  - Coyote Trail #101
  - Government Canyon Trail #73
  - Hell Point Trail #9012
  - Martin Canyon Trail #103
  - Mc Canyon Point Trail #9013
  - River Trail #517
  - Secret Trail #58
  - Sycamore Canyon Trail
  - Sycamore Trail #9033
  - Trestle River Trail #9007
- Seepage Mountain
  - Brushy Tank Trail #9913
  - Cabin Springs Trail #9874
  - Cement Troughs Trail #918
  - Coop Tank Trail #667
  - Section 23 Tank Trail #9878
  - Short Cut Trail #9915
- Sheridan Mountain/Smith Mesa
  - Alligator Spring Trail #9926
  - Anderson Trail #55
  - Bullwater Trail #24
  - Burke Spring Trail #35
  - Cedar Mesa Trail #13
  - Cottonwood Spring Trail #664
  - Elbow Springs Trail #9941
  - Queens Tank Trail #9898
  - Sheridan Mountain Trail #11
  - Smith Mesa Corral Trail #665
  - South Benches Trail #56
  - Tailhoit Mesa Trail #666
Verde Ranger District Trails
- Arnold Mesa Trails
  - Box T Trail #511
  - Cottonwood Trail #9709
  - Squaw Peak Trail #518
  - Tomkins Trail #513
- Camp Verde Area Trails
  - Black Canyon Trail #114
  - Camp Verde Trail #545
  - Copper Canyon Trailhead
  - Grief Hill Day Use Area / Trailhead
  - Grief Hill Trail #153
  - Lower Black Canyon Trail
  - River Trail #517
  - Ryal Canyon Trail #521
  - Sand Wash Trail #527
- Cedar Bench Wilderness
  - Chasm Creek Trail #164
  - Goat Springs Trail #542
  - Lower Cedar Bench Trail #540
- Cherry Area
  - Ash Creek Trail #9705
  - General Crook Trail #64
  - Grapevine Gulch Trail #9708
  - Medlar Springs Trail #9706
  - Sheep Trail #532
- Clarkdale Area
  - Sob Canyon Trail
- Dugas – Tule Mesa
  - Chalk Tank Trail #506
  - Cold Water Springs Trail #27
  - Double T Trail
  - Dripping Spring Trail #508
  - Hell Hole Trail #541
  - Oxbow Trail #163
  - Pasture Tank Trail #516
  - Salt Flat Trail #71
  - Short Cut Trail #166
  - Sycamore Trail #503
  - Yellow Jacket Trail #524
- Mingus Mountain
  - Ash Canyon Trail #539
  - Butterfly Trail #536
  - Coleman Trail #108
  - Gaddes Trail #110
  - Gaddes Two Trail #9037
  - Little Yeager Canyon Trail #533
  - Middle Trail #537
  - North Mingus Trail #105
  - Old Dump Trail #530
  - Quail Spring Ranch Trail #512
  - Rock Springs Trail #514
  - Silver Trail #516
  - View Point Trail #106
  - West Rim Trail #538
  - Yeager Cabin Trail #111
  - Yeager Canyon Trail #28
  - Yeager Mine Trail #501
- Pine Mountain Wilderness
  - Buck Basin Trail #158
  - Nelson Trail #159
  - Pine Flat Trail #165
  - Pine Mountain Trail #14
  - Tule Rim Trail #162
  - Verde Rim Trail #161
  - Willow Springs Trail #12
- Sycamore Canyon Wilderness
  - Deadman Pocket Trail #117
  - Henderson Trail #53
  - Packard Trail #66
  - R.R. Draw Trail #68
  - Sycamore Basin Trail #63
  - Yew Thicket Trail #52
- Woodchute Wilderness
  - Rick Tank Cutoff Trail #104
  - Woodchute Trail #102

Facts

Prescott National Forest is spread across 1.25 million (1,250,000) acres (1,953 sq mi or 5,058.6 sq km).
It was established in 1908.

Where is Prescott National Forest

Prescott National Forest is situated near Prescott city in north-central Arizona. Check this Arizona National Parks Map to locate Prescott National Forest on the Arizona Map.

Best Time To Visit

Hikers can visit Coconino National Forest round the year.

Visiting Hours

The district offices of Prescott National Forest remain open from Monday to Friday (8:30 am to 4:30 pm). You can access Prescott National Forest throughout the year.

Tickets

Annual Forest Pass (Sticker): US$40
Four Month Forest Pass: US$20
Day Forest Pass: US$5
Annual Interagency Pass: US$80
Senior Interagency Pass: US$10, US$80
Access Pass: Free
Volunteer Pass: Free

Prescott National Forest Map