HikeArizona.COM

Does anyone have any suggestions for a short hike in the Prescott area, around 4 miles round trip? I am heading up there Friday for the Whiskey Row Marathon (hence the need for short) and thought a nice hike would be a good way to warm up. Any thoughts much appreciated. Cindy

Granite Mountain rocks! (no pun intended) If you do the whole thing, it's pushing 7 miles, but you can hike to Blair Saddle and back, which is a little over 3. Most of the way you'll have a nice view of the mountain. If you have time, you might even head up a few of the switchbacks. It's an out & back, so you can go as far as you'd like and just head back the way you came.

Sounds like you might be talking short as in REALLY short. Since you also mentioned 'warm up' in your hike criteria, we'd suggest doing Thumb Butte backwards from the way most people do it. From the parking lot simply turn left, not right when you get up to the TH. You would then be doing the trail clockwise. The USFS interpretive signage and the trail paving, benches, etc. are arranged for people to hike it counterclockwise. That's also a very wonderful walk but not nearly the workout the other option offers. Thumb Butte also offers the advantage that it is very close to downtown so you won't spend a lot of time driving back to Whiskey Row after your 'warm up.' A marathon runner like you should be able to do the Thumb Butte Trail in 20-30 minutes. Remember, both Granite Mtn. and Thumb Butte are fee areas so be prepared to fork up your $2 upon arrival. Last time we were at Thumb Butte we got the idea that the 'site host' could be a rather knarly individual if provoked.

J&S in RR
PS--We had to come back and edit this one. Sometimes typos are just TOOO weird. Add one 'r' to Butte and what do you get?

Thanks for the suggestions. Thumb Butte will be closed due to the race. Could you give me general directions to Granite Mtn? I'm not familiar with the Prescott area. Any trails suitable for mountain biking would be great too. Does Granite Mtn fit that criteria? Thanks, Cindy :P

Take I-17 North to the St Rt 69 Prescott exit, turn left (north) When entering Prescott stay Left on SR89 which is Sheldon St. Follow Sheldon St. to the 'T' intersection at Montezuma St. and turn right. Montezuma turns into Whipple which turns into Iron Springs Rd. (St Rt 10). Continue on this road. At about the 3.5 mile mark turn right on FR 374( You will see the brown recreation sign marking the Granite Basin Day Use area including the Metate Trailhead.) Follow the road about 3 miles back to the trailhead parking area at the end of the loop road.

Cindy,
The Granite Mountain Trail is in a wilderness area and therefore is closed to mountain biking. The trailhead, however, is in the Granite Basin Recreation Area, and there are other trails in the recreation area that are open to mountain biking. At least one of them begins at the same trailhead as the Granite Mtn. Tr.

Thanks ! Granite Mtn it is. Hike on Fri. race on Sat. Sounds like it's gonna be a great weekend :!: :!: Cindy