#hikeprescott

[hikeofthemonth]

October 2023 Mangum Dental Hike-of-the-Month Piglet Loop at Thumb Butte Prescott, Arizona

Distance: 3.9 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation: 367 feet

Parking: Trailhead is at the main Thumb Butte Parking Area just off Thumb Butte Road. There are restrooms, water, and a $5 National Forest Fee, or you can use your National Parks Pass.

Directions: Take Gurley West from the Courthouse Plaza for 1.5 miles. The road changes to Thumb Butte Road and continues for an additional 2.0 miles. Pass the painted crosswalk at the base of Thumb Butte and turn right into the parking area.

Summary

This hike provides some of the best views of Thumb Butte of any in the Prescott area. There are also views of Granite Mountain and a glance at the San Fransisco Peaks. Start on Trail #315, Water Tower, located directly next to the campground host trailer at the northeast end of the parking area. The trail starts a gradual uphill, keep an eye out to the right for the water tower. After 0.9 miles, take a right when the trail meets the #317, Ridgetop Trail. After 0.1 miles, the #317 ends at a gate leading to a neighborhood and Trailhead Drive. Turn left onto trail #328, Piglet Trail. This connecting trail was added in 2017 by the "Over the Hill Gang." This section is 0.6 miles downhill to connect to the #316 Pine Lakes Trail. Most of the previous trail was semi-exposed, but take a right on the #316 and hike in the shaded canyon, now hiking slightly uphill. This hike has only moderate elevation gain with plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting. Hike on #316 for 0.8 miles and turn left on trail #317, Ridge Top. This stretch is 1.2 miles heading south and has the best views of the iconic Thumb Butte, which looks over this trail area like a sentinal tower. This area is semi-exposed and climbs gently until it intersects the southern portion of the #316 Pine Lakes Trail. Turn right and hike downhill about 0.2 miles to the parking area. The highlights of this hike include the views, birds and wildlife, and excellently maintained trails. Sometimes, this area can be moderately busy with hikers and mountain bike riders. The views of Thumb Butte give the advantage of hiking this trail counter-clockwise.

Mangum Dental is a family dental practice established in Prescott, Arizona, in 1978. We work diligently to earn your trust with a smile. More information about Dr. Brett Mangum and Dr. Jim Ransdell can be found at www.mangumdental.com. Also, find our hike of the month archives on our website.

Other trails Willy Nilly Link to Hiking Spree Map

[hikeofthemonth]

November 2019 Mangum Dental Hike-of-the-Month #4 Grapevine Creek Trail, Mayer Arizona 

Distance: 5.8 miles

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Elevation Gain: 771 feet (4961′ to 5,806′)

Parking: Along road (Forest Road 87A) with no facilities and no fee.

Directions: From the Maverick gas station in Dewey (Intersection of Hwy 69 and Fain Road) drive South toward Mayer for 10 miles.  Look for a large American Flag flying near the highway.  Turn right onto Forest Road 87A.  Drive about 2 miles on this road.  Some will want to park here as the road begins to get rocky, the hike description is from this point on the dirt road.  Those with high clearance 4WD will be able to drive to the actual trailhead.

Summary

Many have driven through Mayer hundreds of times and never realized this hidden gem to the west of Highway 69.  The Grapevine Creek boasts 12 perennial springs that gives rise to a riparian ecosystem with diverse plants and vital wildlife activity.  While hiking it is obvious to see the effects of the June 2017 Goodwin Fire.  However, some of the beautiful creek area was spared.  The trail appears to be lightly used and marked by many cairns. 

This description of the hike begins about 2 miles off Highway 69 as Forest Road 87A narrows and becomes rocky.  There is adequate area for parking on the south side of the road (some will drive to the trail head).  Hike along Forest Road 87A crossing some creek beds.  After a half mile the evidence of the Goodwin Fire can be seen with the standing burnt trees.  At about 0.8 mile mark, go through a gate and continue down the dirt and sometimes sandy road.  The Grapevine Creek can be seen off to the left, paralleling the road.  At 1.5 miles from the parking area the road will cross the creek to a wide open area used by campers.  Stay along the east side of the creek a short distance and the trailhead will become evident and with a brown carsonite marker with the #4 and an arrow.  The trail begins by crossing back over the creek which was dry in September 2019. The cairns were helpful as the trail is not always distinct.  As the trail heads further west, there is water in the creek.  The plant life begins to change to a more riparian habitat with associate wildlife including deer, squirrel, and multiple species of birds including Western Scrub Jay, Spotted Towhee, Red Tailed Hawk.  After hiking along the creek for about 1.5 miles the trail began to diverge from the creek.  I returned to the creek to enjoy the miracle of water in these normally arid hills.  At this point I turned around and headed back along the same path.  In the future, I plan to explore further up the creek to hopefully find the springs origins.  

Find out more at www.mangumdental.com

[hikeofthemonth]

October 2019 Mangum Dental Hike-of-the-Month

#264 West Spruce Mountain Trail

Distance: 9.2 miles 

Difficulty: Moderate due to distance and elevation gain

Elevation Gain: 2,795 ft (Starts at 5174′ and ends at 6802′, highest point 7054′)

Parking: Free parking at the north and south ends of the trail.  No services.

Directions: From the intersection of Iron Springs and Williamson Valley Road, head west on Iron Springs Road for 6.6 miles.  Turn left on Dosie Pit Road.  Head south on Dosie Pit Road for 2.8 miles.  The trail head is marked with a brown carsonite trail maker with the numbers #264.

Summary: 

The story of this hike began after school on a Friday afternoon in August.  Two of my teenage children and I decided we would backpack this trail for an overnight adventure.  We set out excited, determined, and undaunted.  The trail seemed to be lightly traveled with bush overgrowth, but we pressed forward, excited to be outside.  After a mile we reached the dry Iron Springs Wash.  We mistakenly thought that the path had become increasingly less distinct, however we had traveled off the trail for an hour before we realized that we were not where we intended to be (a man is never lost).  We bushwhacked the rest of the way up to the top of a hill for a better look around.  It was getting dark and we intended to meet the rest of the family near West Spruce Mountain.  We were in trouble.  The terrain was steep and the hiking was extremely slow going.  We finally found the trail, but the sun was setting. We decided to head back to the car, arriving well after dark.  We were defeated.  We met up with the other family at a park for dinner and relegated to sleeping back home on the trampoline.  

The morning came early.  I awoke with the words of Edwin Markham in my head, “Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out.”  The warrior emerged and I dressed with the same cloths as the night before and headed back to Dosie Pit Road, determined “to take the trail or die.”  It was now easy to see that we missed the switchback up out of the creek.  The trail had plenty of bush overgrowth and for the first 3 miles there was  thick low-lying bushes with very few trees.  The trail was fully exposed.  As the trail rose over Spruce Canyon, the canyon appeared rugged and intimidating.  The layers of ridges and ravines were like roast beef folded and stacked on a sandwich.  The trail was steadily uphill from mile 1.0 to 3.5 as it approached the east side then wrapped to the south of Sugarloaf Mountain.  At 3.7 miles the trail reaches Jeep Trail 47B.  I turned left and hiked on the jeep trail and hike for the next 1.4 miles mostly uphill.  The forest changes from low-lying brush to pine forest as the road approached the top of West Spruce Mountain.  There was a wire gate at the 5.1 mile and after the gate, the West Spruce Trail  picks up on the right side.  The elevation here is 7,000 feet and the high mountain hiking is refreshing.  Trail 300 intersects at 5.9 miles and is marked by a pile of rocks, but no signs.  I stayed straight on #264. The rest of the hike continues south of Porter Mountain, along the Sierra Prieta Ridge, south of Willams Peak and ends at Forest Road 373 north of the Sierra Prieta overlook. The stunning views to the south west overlook Skull Valley and the multiple layers of blue mountains that fades with increased distance.  

This is a tale of two trails connected by a jeep trail.  While the southern part of this trial is more well-traveled and suitable for hiking, other options are trail running, mountain biking, and horseback riding.  The northern portion is overgrown, rockier, and would be more difficult for mountain biking or horseback riding.  The highlights of this hike include the views, solitude, and diversity of landscape. As my ride arrived to pick me up, I felt successful “to shake the glory out.”  

[prescottrealestatephotos]

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