Car Camping in the Prescott Area? Fall Colors?

[paulhubbard]

Thinking of car-camping (2wd pickup) somewhere to chase down the fall colors, but not wanting to freeze (AKA Flagstaff area). Can anyone tell me if there are good spots around the Prescott area where the fall colors may be happening? Grapevine Springs looks nice, but I've never goofed around in the woods around Prescott. Maybe up around the Lynx lake area? Thumb butte area?

Any words of [good/bad/otherwise] wisdom would be appreciated, Thanks!

[maxpower]

I live in Prescott, and I guess perhaps I'm just accustomed to the foliage colors in New England where I previously lived for 62 years. There is a little bit of color around here but not enough to really be all that obvious. Maybe my senses haven't re-adjusted yet!

Some of the smaller leaves were a bit on the yellow-ish side when I climbed up around Granite Mountain last week. I also did a hike up around Thumb Butte a few days ago but it seems to be mostly green from the non-deciduous growth more than anything else. Like I said though, I may be a poor judge of the amount of color, only from the New Hampshire overload! I will try to keep an eye out...when do you think you might be coming up this way? There's a chance I may go for another Thumb Butte hike tomorrow.

[paulhubbard]

Camping this coming weekend (10/23 - 10/24), just not sure where yet. What about the Mingus area?

[maxpower]

Mingus might be a better shot, especially for car camping. Take 89-A from Prescott to the summit, turn right on the dirt road (large blacktop parking area on the left of it), follow that to the height of land. Plenty of open car camping areas if you take a right turn onto FR-413. I've done some mtn biking up there and there is a ton of area to explore. Most of the roads are easily passable for 2WD.

[chumley]

Of course, if you're up on Mingus, you might as well go to Flagstaff. 7,500 feet will probably be chillier than you want!

[Jim]

Paul, aren't you from Flag? Not wanting to freeze, HA! It hasn't even started to get cold this year and we've barely had any freezes.

[paulhubbard]

Hey Jim, yeah I'm from Flag, but after 20+ years in the "Surface of the Sun", my blood's gotten thin. On top of that I lost my cold weather gear long ago, I don't even own a good parka any more much less anything that even resembles long underwear!

As far as Mingus goes, I was thinking maybe somewhere below the summit, probably on the Prescott side, then drive to the summit for hiking. Just don't know if there will be any fall colors there, and I'm unfamiliar with the backcountry around the west side of Mingus.

[paulhubbard]

Looking like we'll probably go back to the Rim Country - Camp below the rim (avoiding colder temps, yeah I'm a wuss), goof around on top during the days. Some of the recent shots from the rim look pretty colorful now.

[Nighthiker]

Brother came back from camping at Canyon Point (Casita travel trailer) and he hiked Horton and visited Tonto Creek. Some trees have already turned color. Wished he visited See Canyon thinking about visiting soon.

[chumley]

I don't know where your "wuss-level" cuts off at, but I often find it to be chillier below the rim than up above on the edge. Once you move north of the rim a bit then it cools off more. But cold air sinks at night into drainages and valleys, so camping on the edge of the rim, or on a hill/ridge versus along a stream or in a valley makes a huge difference locally. I'm talking what can often be 10-15 degrees.

Looks like the Payson area 5,000-6,000k should be in the upper 30s at night this weekend while up higher will only be a few degrees cooler in the mid-30s.

One of the coldest nights I've ever spent camping was along Webber Creek in October (17°F ). Something about that drainage tucked in along Milk Ranch Point just holds cold air like a bowl of ice cream. Only two miles away, and 2,500 feet higher at Baker Butte, it was a balmy 30°F degrees, despite the change in elevation!

My experience also has been that the eastern side of the rim (near Forest Lakes) tends to be a bit warmer than the western side (near Clints Well). But I have no actual data to support that!

[paulhubbard]

cold air sinks at night into drainages and valleys, so camping on the edge of the rim, or on a hill/ridge versus along a stream or in a valley makes a huge difference locally. I'm talking what can often be 10-15 degrees.

Thanks, I honestly didn't think of that... Now it's a total toss-up Do we setup camp at Christopher Creek, Tonto, or up top??
Maybe I'll set up the tent in my back yard and drive up to the rim! (No, I'm not THAT much of a wuss) Besides, chillier temps means more snuggle time with the girlfriend!

[chumley]

Of course, if its breezy or windy, then that whole inversion thing doesn't work. Its very dependent on current weather conditions. And this weekend is still looking a bit unsettled.