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A Coalition of Non-motorized Trail Users
Creating Trails & Save Outdoor Spaces
As an organization we are concerned not only with building and maintaining sustainable trails, we are partners in creating safe outdoor spaces for our citizens and visitors to enjoy. As the municipalities grow, so does the traffic on our trail systems. YTA has a goal of increasing community awareness of trail etiquette, trail safety, user education, and continuing our practice of maintaining our trails at a sustainable standard.
You
Donate
As a very small entity with limited resources (but hard working volunteers) we need financial help in reaching these goals. So much of what needs to be done, requires marketing, publicity, and publications.
We Write
Grants
Our goal is to turn every dollar you donate into more funds by researching and writing grants for projects to continue the endless work to maintain and improve our trail systems.
Support
Trails
For example, in 2018, we received a grant for $12,824 for connectivity improvements to the Peavine Trail from Prescott to Chino Valley and $6,000 to provide a kiosk in the Dexter Neighborhood Community Garden.
Our major donors & supporters
We would like to thank these individuals and organizations for sharing our vision of protecting and preserving trails in our area.
Jill Anderson
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Sandra Collette
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James and Dianne Echazabal
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David and Eugenia Fero
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Dave Fizzell
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Barb Frank
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Leah Gilbert
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Judie Hale
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Susie Hehlen
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Ann Hendrickson and William Otto
Lisa Lafoon
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Susan Lucas
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Joyce Mackin
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Jan Mallon
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Jim Pessin
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Bryon and Sally Prinzmetal
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Nigel Reynolds
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George Sheats
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Bill Stafford
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Don Swetlik
Proud Founders of
Prescott Circle Trail
The Prescott Circle Trail is a network of our best non-motorized trails that combine to make a 54 mile loop around Prescott. The PCT is jointly managed by the City of Prescott (25 miles) and Prescott National Forest (29 miles). The trail comes as close as three miles to downtown Prescott and is easily accessible with 15 trailheads along its length. A lap of the PCT has about 6000 feet of elevation gain and can be enjoyed as an adventurous one or two day trip or a multi-day trip over a period of days, weeks or months. Three of Prescott’s four seasons – spring, summer, and fall – offer superb conditions on the PCT.
Yavapai Trails Facebook
Current News & Events
Forest Service News Release
Visitors Asked to Stay on Existing Trails
and Help Prevent Damage to Trails During the Monsoon Season
PRESCOTT, AZ – June 28, 2022 – Fire breaks were recently constructed in the area of Spence Basin and Highland Pines by Prescott National Forest fire crews and may resemble new trail construction. These fire breaks, or handline, were constructed to serve as a crucial component of prescribed fire implementation and are used as control features on prescribed fires. These fire breaks are not authorized trails, and ALL visitors are asked to please remain on existing, system trails. Forest officials are currently working to ensure fire breaks and trails in the area are effectively signed.
With recent monsoon rains, trails will be wet for a little while even when dryer weather returns. Please consider the damage you could cause to trails when planning your visits after heavy precipitation. This advice applies to all user groups motorized and non-motorized for roads and trails. All users can cause damage to trail surfaces and corridors; the impact varies from user to user. For example, a horse or mule rider will leave large post holes in the trail tread making it uncomfortable to ride or hike when soils dry and dislodging soil that eventually makes it way downhill, adding to erosion. Mountain bikes leave ruts which also make trail use uncomfortable for hikers and other bikers, more importantly those ruts funnel water allowing it to speed up and take more soil downhill, sometimes even rutting through constructed drainage structures. Hikers, bikers, and even equestrian users try to avoid the wet muddy spots moving off the trail onto vegetation. This can cause a 30-inch trail to become 6 feet wide in some places. Motorized users have some of the same impacts and damage to trail treads caused by use during wet conditions and can leave a great trail in rough shape for months or longer. Please be considerate of the environment and other users by planning accordingly. Granite Basin and Williamson Valley is especially susceptible to wet conditions due to clay soils and should be avoided as well as most sections of the Prescott Circle Trail. The trails in the Thumb Butte area dry out quicker than most and the Spruce Mountain Area also is more resistant to impact during wet conditions. Trail volunteers have put a tremendous amount of work in to make these trails safe and sustainable. Please help keep them nice by making alternative plans for recreation. Consider using a rocky forest road for riding or walk a neighborhood that you have never been too when there is a chance trails could be wet.
Please use common sense and courtesy when you venture out to recreate on trails. Turn around if you think you will cause damage.
Stay up to date on Prescott National Forest news by checking the Prescott NF website and following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Michael Reveile
Trails & Wilderness Coordinator
Forest Service
Prescott National Forest
p: 928-777-2216
c: 928-800-2253
michael.z.reveile@usda.gov
344 S. Cortez St.
Prescott, AZ 86303
www.fs.fed.us
Caring for the land and serving people
Thanks to all who came out this morning to work on brushing Smith Ravine. Great people and good conversations made for light work.
Join YTA for light trail maintenance on the first half mile of Smith Ravine trail #297.
Today we celebrated National Trails Day with 49 hikers, bikers, equestrians and trail runners hiking Groom Creek Loop Trail #307. A million thanks to Arizona Dermatology, Sprouts, and volunteer Lisa Lafoon for our swag bags. Kudos to Louis Mackall, Bill Fanelli, John Stockman, and Ellen Tyler for being our intrepid hike leaders. A great day in the forest spent with wonderul people.
PNF has re-opened Spruce Mountain! Join us on National Trails Day to hike the entire loop, or to the cabin. Spaces remain for both hikes.
To reach Cole’s cabin, from the parking lot, do you go clockwise or counter clockwise?
Join us on National Trails Day - June 4, 2022.
Hike to the Coles historic cabin on one of the area’s most beautiful trails with YTA on National Trails Day, June 4 8 am!
Directions to Trailhead from Prescott: From Highway 69 to E. Gurley, drive South on Senator Highway 6.6 miles to Groom Creek Loop Trail (#307) trailhead on left.
Choose between:
The Loop . . . 9.5 miles with 1375’ elevation gain (with stop at the cabin). Trail is rocky in sections. Good boots and poles recommended.
Or
The Cabin . . . 4 miles with about 400’ gradual gain.
Trail is mostly smooth, but good boots and poles still recommended.
Bring lots of water! Enjoy snacks and drinks following hikes!
Please RSVP to yavapai.trails@gmail.com by June 1. Indicate which hike you plan to do.
Today we finished working on the Jim Higgs trail in the Almosta Trail system. 29 volunteers from all non-motorized user groups. In total we put in 697 hours hours on this trail. The value of this is $19,892.38 which we will report on our grant. A million thanks to all! Our trail system is fabulous due to volunteers!
It was a great day and great people, even a couple mtn bikers 🚴♀️ using trail as we worked. And "lunch in the forest" afterwards. Thank you YTA❤️
Awesome!
Thanks to all!!
