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Arizona Hiking Trails
Arizona Hiking Trails
Granite Mountain Trail | Granite Basin Recreational Area | Prescott National Forest
Granite Mountain Trail | Granite Basin Recreational Area | Prescott National Forest
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Granite Mountain Trail TR 261 | Granite Basin Recreational Area | Prescott National Forest
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PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST
Granite Basin Recreational Area
Granite Mountain Trail - TR 261
TRAILHEADS (TH)
Metate Trailhead - FR 374
ACCESS POINTS
Clark Springs TR 40
Upper Pasture TR 39
Little Granite Mountain TR 37
Trail use: moderate
Trail difficulty: moderate to difficult
Trail length: 8+ miles (roundtrip)
Estimated hiking time: 6+ hours
Season of Use: year round (subject to weather conditions)
Elevation change: +1500 feet
More trail info:
• USDA Forest Service
• Maps & Info
• Granite Mountain Wilderness
For closures or specific information: Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District, (928) 771-4700
Things to be aware of: Fee parking, some areas of trail offer little to no shade so may be sunny hot in warmer weather, this is a hike in and hike out trail, if you add a "looper" into the day you will be going well over the 8+ miles or ending up miles away in another area of the park.
Regional area of Granite Mountain Trail : in the Granite Basin Recreational Area of the Prescott National Forest, near Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Yavapai County, Arizona.
Granite Basin Recreational Area
Granite Mountain Trail - TR 261
TRAILHEADS (TH)
Metate Trailhead - FR 374
ACCESS POINTS
Clark Springs TR 40
Upper Pasture TR 39
Little Granite Mountain TR 37
Trail use: moderate
Trail difficulty: moderate to difficult
Trail length: 8+ miles (roundtrip)
Estimated hiking time: 6+ hours
Season of Use: year round (subject to weather conditions)
Elevation change: +1500 feet
More trail info:
• USDA Forest Service
• Maps & Info
• Granite Mountain Wilderness
For closures or specific information: Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District, (928) 771-4700
Things to be aware of: Fee parking, some areas of trail offer little to no shade so may be sunny hot in warmer weather, this is a hike in and hike out trail, if you add a "looper" into the day you will be going well over the 8+ miles or ending up miles away in another area of the park.
Regional area of Granite Mountain Trail : in the Granite Basin Recreational Area of the Prescott National Forest, near Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Yavapai County, Arizona.
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My trail rating: 5
My Trail Review:
I parked in the Metate Trailhead, paid my parking fee and picked up a Park Brochure. Checked my water and headed to the trail entrances on the south west side of the lot. You will need to take a connector type trail that spurs off into a few others before you get to a sign in box and the gate that formally begins the Granite Mountain Trail.
I have to say that this trail rates at the top of my Arizona hiking enjoyment. I have thought of it often since I last hiked it and recommend it to those in good health who are coming into the area and want to nail down a predictable fine hiking experience on the first outing. It has very good variety of views and trail mix from the lower elevations with it's lush high desert fauna and little critters scampering around to the slow steady sunny treeless climb into the Pine forest and final vista where you can see for miles and miles into the beautiful valleys surrounding both sides of the Granite Mountain Trail.
The trail and the park are well maintained and marked. Granite Mountain Trail is longer and more difficult than most novices will want to try and do all in one day so I saw very few folks on the trail and only one up in the higher elevations. It was an excellent day for getting out in nature and just being quiet and enjoying it. I brought along a lunch and sat up in the rocks enjoying the vista views down into the Prescott area below.
There had been some recent precipitation and several of the cactus fauna were in bloom. You will find some photos of those from todays hike in the gallery.
Enjoy the Hike!
Max and Silver
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MAP AND DIRECTION TIPS
From downtown Prescott take Montezuma North - it turns into Whipple and then into Iron Springs Road. Stay on Iron Springs Road all the way out of Prescott. Watch on your right for Forest Road 374, turn right into the Granite Basin Recreational Area on Forest Road 374. You will drive back into the area on this 2 lane blacktop for some ways then just before the Granite Basin Lake parking area you will see a fee parking area on your right. Trail maps are normally by fee box.
MAP AND DIRECTION TIPS
From downtown Prescott take Montezuma North - it turns into Whipple and then into Iron Springs Road. Stay on Iron Springs Road all the way out of Prescott. Watch on your right for Forest Road 374, turn right into the Granite Basin Recreational Area on Forest Road 374. You will drive back into the area on this 2 lane blacktop for some ways then just before the Granite Basin Lake parking area you will see a fee parking area on your right. Trail maps are normally by fee box.
This RimSurfer Arizona hiking trail photo gallery review features the Prescott area Granite Mountain Trail of the Granite Basin Recreational Area and in the Prescott National Forest of Arizona.
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