Trail Running Shoes Prescott AZ

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: Arizona
Location: Coconino National Forest
Length: One-Way: 2.9 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 4500 feet
Elevation Change: 500 feet
Best Season: Year-Round
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Moderate

Description: Wide and nearly level, Long Canyon Trail provides easy access into Sedona‘s scenic red rock backcountry. For the first mile or so, the route follows an old jeep trail up an ephemeral streambed. Though this drainage is usually dry, it still supports a community of riparian or water-loving vegetation. Along the trail you’ll even find a number of cypress trees, Arizona cypress, which are easily recognizable by their shaggy bark and round, gum ball-size seeds. Providing a scenic setting for this unique habitat are a sampling of the picturesque buttes and cliffs for which the Sedona area is so famous. Steamboat Rock, Wilson Mountain, Maroon Mountain and a number of unnamed cliffs, spires, windows and arches are visible from this trail. The trail ends at a red sandstone cliff where there are a few small Indian ruins and some primitive rock pictographs.

Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking

Info:
State: Arizona
Location: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Length: One-Way: 3.5 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 6700 feet
Maximum Elevation: 7200 feet
Best Season: March to December
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Moderate

Description: The Blue Ridge Cave Trail offers a variety of points of interest in a relatively short distance. From the trailhead on porter Mountain Road (Forest Road 45), one will experience a riparian environment along Porter Creek and Scott Reservoir before climbing to higher elevations. Parts of the trail are quite rough due to the volcanic origin of the rocks and soil. Just beyond the mid-point of the trail is the Blue Ridge Cave, a lava tube which was probably discovered by sheepherders prior to 1910. The first trail to the cave was marked by a group of local Boy Scouts around 1920 and it has been visited regularly since that time. It is also know as the “ice cave”, probably because of the constant flow of cool air (around 52 degrees F) leaving the cave. It is probable that the entrance to the cave, which is simply a hole in level ground, was created by a cave-in. The cave has been fenced off and locked for protection and preservation by the Forest Service.

Activities: Mountain Biking

Info:
State: Arizona
Location: Tonto National Forest
Length: One-Way: 4.8 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 6720 feet
Maximum Elevation: 7120 feet
Elevation Change: 400 feet
Best Season: Spring to Fall
Usage: Light

Description: The Dan’s Trail is surrounded by beautiful Ponderosa Pine and fir forest. The trail offers excellent mountain biking. This trail is an old logging road connecting with other roads. Pay attention to trail markers. Visitors can hike or ride directly from Valentine Ridge Campground following Forest Road 18 and Valentine Trail (#551). This trail has been adopted by the Mountain Bike Association of Arizona. From Forest Road 109, Dan’s Ridge follows a ridge south for two miles with a descent of 400 feet elevation. It meets with Forest Road 512 at an arroyo bottom then turns north to climb along another ridge. After one mile, it turns to the east and descends to another arroyo. It then follows north up a third ridge to return to Forest Road 109 at a point 1.5 miles east of the start. A loop can be made by returning on Forest Road 109.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: Arizona
Location: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Length: One-Way: 1 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Best Season: Year-Round
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Heavy

Description: This trail is very popular and is visited annually by thousands of people from around the world. The trail follows relatively level terrain to the very edge of the Mogollon Rim. There are excellent scenic vistas along the trail. A hike along this self-guided interpretive trail gives visitors a great appreciation of the characteristics of the Mogollon Rim and its uniqueness as the dividing line between the Colorado Plateau and the Gila-Salt River watersheds. It is likely more kinds of trees, bushes and shrubs can be seen growing side- by-side along this trail than any other area on the district. Pacific willow and Bebb’s willow, together with a wide variety of water plants and sedges can be found growing along an irrigation ditch which has an interesting history relating to pioneers in the area.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: Arizona
Location: Tonto National Forest
Length: One-Way: 3 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Best Season: Spring to Fall
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Light

Description: The Geronimo Trail (#240) is another beautiful trail in the Rim Area and is a classic pine forest hike. This trail is mainly a staging point for many of the other trailheads that share the same region. This is a little used area known for its beauty and scenic vistas. The trail leads up from the base of the Mogollan Rim for a short distance through tall Ponderosa pines presenting you with some great views of the rim and surrounding country. The Geronimo Trail meets up with the Highline Trail, which can be used for further exploration along the base of the rim. The trail is not the easiest to follow, so just watch for the main trail and for where it connects up with the Highline Trail. This trail is not as crowded as some others in the area and is best hiked during the late spring to early fall months. Temperatures in mid summer can get a bit warm so be prepared with an appropriate supply of water.