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Arizona Hiking Trails
Arizona Hiking Trails
North Mingus Mountain Trails | Prescott National Forest
North Mingus Mountain Trails | Prescott National Forest
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North Mingus Mountain Trail TR 503A | Mingus Mountain Recreational Area | Prescott National Forest
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PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST
North Mingus Mountain Trail TR 503A
TRAILHEADS (TH)
TR 503A Trail Head Parking Area
ACCESS POINTS
· TR 503A Trail Head
Trail use: heavy
Trail difficulty: easy to moderate
Trail length: about 2 miles one way (to view point only - about where trail heads NW to intersect with TR 500E)
Estimated hiking time: 2+ hours
Season of Use: year round (subject to weather conditions)
Elevation change: n/a
More trail info:
• USDA Forest Service
• Maps & Info
For closures or specific information: Prescott National Forest (928) 443-8000 - Chino Valley Ranger District
Things to be aware of: · see review
Regional area of North Mingus Mountain Trail TR 503A: in the Mingus Mountain Recreationa Area of the Prescott National Forest, near Jerome, Cottonwood, Yavapai County, Arizona.
North Mingus Mountain Trail TR 503A
TRAILHEADS (TH)
TR 503A Trail Head Parking Area
ACCESS POINTS
· TR 503A Trail Head
Trail use: heavy
Trail difficulty: easy to moderate
Trail length: about 2 miles one way (to view point only - about where trail heads NW to intersect with TR 500E)
Estimated hiking time: 2+ hours
Season of Use: year round (subject to weather conditions)
Elevation change: n/a
More trail info:
• USDA Forest Service
• Maps & Info
For closures or specific information: Prescott National Forest (928) 443-8000 - Chino Valley Ranger District
Things to be aware of: · see review
Regional area of North Mingus Mountain Trail TR 503A: in the Mingus Mountain Recreationa Area of the Prescott National Forest, near Jerome, Cottonwood, Yavapai County, Arizona.
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My trail rating: 2.5
My Trail Review:
This trail is just south of the Hwy 89A / FRS 338 / TR 547 Trailhead Parking area. You can see the Forest Service Web Sites pdf map for a detailed map of the trails of this Mingus Mountain Forest Service area. I took the trail up to the viewpoint which is a little beyond where it turns NW (not marked!) to go another 2.5 to 3 miles to intersect with TR 500E - see pdf map link above.
The pull off is hard to see and turn into so take it slow when you get in the general area so you don't miss it. It is also very narrow and rough so take it slow a few hundred feet up into it and you will see a couple small pull off areas to park. I would not recommend going up any further as there is almost no where to turn around for some ways up and the surface is very rocky with deep ruts for even a standard jeep.
The trail was well shaded in tall Ponderosa forest pine trees for about the first mile. The trail is a very rough jeep type trail with rustic small recently used campsites spurring off along the way in the Pine forest. We started out early on a cool September morning yet with a warm sun on us all the way. We only saw one camper and a couple of atv's along the way. It was a steady climb to the top where we reached the flat part of a small hill up there and could see a 360 degree view of the area from the Verde Valley below all the way to the San Francisco peaks today.
The trail was moist from the recent rains so we ran across some fresh deer and horse prints in the mud. We apparantly were being trailed by something up higher as Teddy several times signaled me he was alarmed and once I even heard stones falling down in the area he pointed up too. Could have be a mountain lion or small critter of some sort curious about what we were doing up there.
Enjoyable early morning hike. Trail is easy but no markings, stay alert in a few spots for slippery trail mix.
Enjoy the Hike!
Max and Teddy
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MAP AND DIRECTION TIPS
If coming from Jerome you go about 4 miles south on 89A - watch for the Prescott National Forest large wood sign with parking on your right, then go about another 1/4 mile watching closely for the first turn off to the right. It is a very narrow jeep type trail turn off. When I found it there was a standard brown forest service TR 503A trail marker just inside the turn off.
If you are coming from Prescott area take 89A north towards Jerome. You will pass the FSR 104 Recreational Area then about 3 miles further north watch for the Prescott National Forest large wood sign with parking on your left, turn around in the pull off parking area then go back south 1/4 mile watching closely for the first turn off to the right. It is a very narrow jeep type trail turn off. When I found it there was a standard brown forest service TR 503A trail marker just inside the turn off.
MAP AND DIRECTION TIPS
If coming from Jerome you go about 4 miles south on 89A - watch for the Prescott National Forest large wood sign with parking on your right, then go about another 1/4 mile watching closely for the first turn off to the right. It is a very narrow jeep type trail turn off. When I found it there was a standard brown forest service TR 503A trail marker just inside the turn off.
If you are coming from Prescott area take 89A north towards Jerome. You will pass the FSR 104 Recreational Area then about 3 miles further north watch for the Prescott National Forest large wood sign with parking on your left, turn around in the pull off parking area then go back south 1/4 mile watching closely for the first turn off to the right. It is a very narrow jeep type trail turn off. When I found it there was a standard brown forest service TR 503A trail marker just inside the turn off.
This RimSurfer Arizona hiking trail photo gallery review features the North Mingus Mountain Trail TR 547 in the Mingus Mountain Recreational Area of the Prescott National Forest of Arizona.
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