Extension of Trail 332, Prescott Circle Trail

by Ron Smith

This new trail segment is a portion of the Prescott Circle Trail and Prescott National Forest Trail 332 that originated one mile west of the Thumb Butte Recreation Area.   The latter trail ends on a portion of the old Santa Fe railroad grade at Iron Springs Road.   At this point, volunteer crews have constructed a new segment of Trail 332 that travels roughly northeast to join Trail 346 a quarter-mile east of the Cayuse day use area.

To reach this trailhead, drive west on Iron Springs Road from the junction of Willow Creek, Whipple, and Miller Creek Roads for 4.6 miles.   Watch on your left for a wide dirt road just a short distance below the crest of the highway hill.   Turn onto this road and park.   The trailhead and trail sign for Trail 332 is directly across on the north side of Iron Springs Road.

This hike is just less than 3 miles long, but is made easier by leaving a shuttle vehicle at the Cayuse Day Use area.

The trail, being newly built, has a good surface with few difficult places.   I hiked it with my wife and a friend in early September.   The first half-mile contours along a pine-covered, west-facing slope in a deep canyon.   At about 0.6 miles in the canyon bottom, the trail crosses a creek and then begins a more northeasterly course, and then there is a gradual transition to a more open landscape.   This has it own rewards, as August rains brought on a fair abundance of later summer flowers.   The overstory now is more alligator juniper and chaparral, but little patches of verbena and apache plume line the trail.   There were also aster-like flowers with purple rays and a disk of gold.

Now in more open country, there are panoramic views to the east of the Prescott Basin and the Bradshaw Mountains.   From here to Granite Basin road, the trail contours on a gradual ascent to the northeast around the base of a 1,500-foot hill that is almost entirely private property.   At about two miles, you reach the paved roadway to the Granite Basin Recreation Area and pass through a horse gate.   There are several of these along this trail that can be easily opened and closed without dismounting.   After crossing the pavement, follow the short dirt road towards a water tank and weather station.   As you reach the tank the trail passes through a horse gate and takes a sharp turn to the left (north) and climbs to a small ridge and a marvelous view of Granite Mountain.   It then continues its northeast course along a well-marked path.

At a distance of 2.4 miles, the maintained trail ends and only orange flags guide you to the junction with Trail 346. By the time you read this, volunteer crews may have even completed this section.   Regardless, the trail has been cleared of brush as is easy to follow.   The total distance to this point is 2.8 miles.   This is your gateway to the many trails within the Granite Basin area.   If you parked a shuttle vehicle at the Cayuse day use area, turn left (west) down the dirt road that is Trail 346 to your car.   Or, if you go east up the hill to the gate, you will arrive at a junction of several more trails that will take you a variety of sites with Granite Basin.

I have written many other journals of trips like this one in a book titled, A Guide to Prescott & Central Highlands Trails,     It is available at most local book, hiking, bicycling, and outdoor stores.

9/29/06

Loraine Smith operates new horse gate, Trail #332