Prescott FS Reports  Trails included: 315, 316, 317 & 318

These trails are open to hikers, horesback riders, and mountain bikes. No motorized vehicles are allowed. Please refrain from using horses or wheeled vehicles when trail is wet. However, horses are not allowed in the Thumb Butte Picnic Area ( the lower 0.25 mile of trail before gate). Horses can gain access to the trails from Thumb Butte Road via FR 9401B. All trail grades vary in length up to 300 feet, up to 10% grade, width varies from 12-18", cross slope to 5%. Trail surface is uneven, loose native material with rocks of varied height up to 12". Dogs on leashes, please clean up after your pets.

Watertower Trail 315
0.8 miles
It passes through an area of ponderosa pine, alligator juniper, and scrub oak. TR 316A connects this trail with TR 316. TR 315 ends at TR 317.

Pine Lakes Trail 316
1.5 miles
It climbs through a pnderosa pine forest to a ridge, then descends through pine, oak, and riparian forest along Willow Creek. It has many different wildflowers in season. The trail ends at a gate, but continues beyond Forest Service land into the Pine Lakes residential area. TR 316A connects this trail with TR 315.

Ridgetop Trail 317
1.0 mile
It winds through ponderosa pine, scrub oak, and mixed vegetation. The trail climbs to a ridge where it offers scenic views of the San Francisco Peaks and Thumb Butte. The eastern end of the trail is at Trailhead Street in the Forest Trails residential area.

West Trail 318
1.4 miles
It passes through an area of pinon and ponderosa pine, scrub oak, manzanita, and prickly pear cactus. Although elevation change is minor (200 feet), the trail offers views of the San Fransisco Peaks. The western end of the trail is at FR 9401B. Horseback riders may enter at this west end of the trail. The forest road begins 0.9 miles west of the Thumb Butte parking lot.

One-Way Notice: This hike is listed as One-Way. When you hike several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example.