Prescott trail usage tops 1 million for first time -- For years, Prescott’s trails have been a bit of a hidden treasure, attracting a steady, but manageable, level of annual growth.
That changed in spring 2020, however, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought a flood quarantine-weary users to the city’s trails.
Starting in about April 2020 and running through October, city officials were reporting that in some cases, individual trails were seeing double or triple the users of the year before.
In a recent year-end report, the Prescott Recreation Services Department reported that those numbers helped to propel trail use in Prescott to a new annual high.
Overall for 2020, Prescott’s trail use topped the 1 million mark for the first time — ending the year at about 1.1 million users. That compares with about 880,000 uses in 2019.
In a message for the department’s newsletter, Trails and Natural Parklands Coordinator Chris Hosking noted that some trails showed 30% to 90% increases for the year.
“2020 was a weird and challenging year, for sure,” Hosking wrote. “But one good fact is people felt safe outdoors, and our increased numbers show that.”
Popular routes like the Watson Lake trails near the Highway 89 overlook grew in popularity by almost 80% over the past year, going from 68,132 uses in 2019 to 121,847 in 2020.
Also showing dramatic growth was the Peavine Trail, which went from 59,020 in 2019 to 90,272 in 2020 (53%), and the Willow Lake trails, which grew in usage from 70,001 to 118,300 in 2020 (69%).
Read more at www.dcourier.com/news/2021/mar/04/prescott-trail-usage-tops-1-million-first-time/ ... See MoreSee Less
Just a heads up on work scheduled to occur in the Lynx area including 305 trail near Eagle Ridge CG. Goals Include: improve visibility of trail
users (on the 305) and vehicles travelling the access road (safety), improve vegetation health and vigor, improve fire resistance/defensibility of recreation facilities, while being considerate of scenic integrity. Fire crew performing the work will make sure they have people watching trails and roads.
Please forward to your respective groups if you have not already done so.
WORK COMMENCES ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2021 ... See MoreSee Less
Trail Closures on the Bradshaw Ranger District Due to Thinning Operations along HWY89 – White Spar Road
Prescott, AZ, February 5th, 2021– Beginning on Monday, February 8th a contractor will begin using heavy equipment to thin trees on 135 acres of Prescott National Forest land on the Bradshaw Ranger District. The Schoolhouse Stewardship Project is located south of the City of Prescott on both sides of Highway 89-White Spar Road, along Jack Pine Road and Ponderosa Park Road. Thinning operations will initially start in the area north of the community of Ponderosa Park. Map (227 KB PDF)
Thinning operations are dependent on weather and soil conditions, but visitors can expect equipment to be in the area for the next 1-2 months. A section of the project is located adjacent to the Prescott Circle Trail. As the contractor moves through the area, portions of the Circle Trail and other system trails will be periodically closed, and trail users will be re-routed to other system trails. In addition, the White Spar Trailhead, located by the White Spar Campground may be closed during a portion of this time.
As the operator moves through the project area, numerous signs will be posted to make trail users aware of thinning operations, the status of trail closures as well as alternate routes. Measures will be taken to protect the surface of trails and impacts will be remedied by the contractor and the Forest Service as needed. In addition, there will be increased truck traffic along Highway 89-White Spar Road and Ponderosa Park Road.
At present, operations will focus in the area around Ponderosa Park. Trail 382 which will be closed to maintain public safety. As work progresses up to Jack Pine Road a portion of Trail 9415, which makes up part of the Prescott Circle Trail, will be closed to maintain public safety.
Prescott National Forest personnel will also ensure that agency approved events will experience only minimal interruptions. Until mechanical operations are concluded, Forest Managers recommend that visitors take advantage of recreational opportunities on the north side of Copper Basin Road, Spence Basin, Granite Basin Recreation Area, or the Lynx Lake Recreation area.
The intent of the project is to improve the health and resiliency of fire-adapted ecosystems while reducing hazardous fuels that pose a threat to life and property in the Wildland-Urban Interface.
Stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter. ... See MoreSee Less
Trail #347 has been posted to alert MTB users to "slow down" or lose the privilege of using this trail. This is a heavily used multi-purpose trail that has recently experienced user conflict. Severe brushing of blind corners has been mitigated. Let's all be more careful. This is a beautiful trail to be enjoyed by all. Let's respect the right of way. Happy trails. ... See MoreSee Less
Prescott Circle Trail Challenge™
Have you completed it yet?
Now why not get out and hike it, ride it or bike it yourself! www.yavapai-trails.org/prescott-circle-trail/ ... See MoreSee Less
You asked. We listened. Chino Valley 4S parking lot now has equestrian boulders in place. Plenty of trailer parking. Please share, please enjoy! ... See MoreSee Less
Hello YTA Members with a CableOne.net email account from Sparklight.
We've heard: "Sparklight will discontinue offering residential email service in your area. As a result, your email accounts provided by Sparklight (name@cableone.net) will need to be transitioned to a new email provider ... . Customers with an existing Sparklight email address (name@cableone.net)" may be discontinued as early as December 9, 2020 but no later than end of 2021. support.sparklight.com/hc/en-us/articles/360053681314-Sparklight-Email-Retirement
YTA wants to continue to stay in touch with you, so please let us know if you have a different email address or as soon as you get a replacement email address. Just shoot us an email at yavapai.trails@gmail.com from your new account and tell us who you are and that this is from your new email account for membership contact purposes!
Thanks and good luck! ... See MoreSee Less
The Arizona Trail Association has a new Trail Skills Institute Video Series. The videos were produced in partnership with Flagline Trails, American Conservation Experience (ACE) and Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIil87zsEl0&feature=youtu.beClick is the first of three videos currently available: Why We Build Trails? The other two videos cover Desert Brushing Techniques and Evaluating Erosion. ... See MoreSee Less