Venezia Trail #381, AZ

This trail (Venezia Trail #381) is named for a nearby site of a mine and town. It provides access to Trail #281 (E Cross L) and FR70 at the top of Ash Creek Ridge.


This began as a hike on the E Cross L trail as described on this website but the initial section from that trailhead to Ash Creek Ridge was extremely difficult to follow and overgrown, and my hiking buddy and I didn't want to return to the car on that trail. So we decided to hike back on the Venezia Trail and then FR52 to the #281 trailhead and our car.Parking is at a premium at the trailhead (N34 23.599 W112 25.135) which is about 15.6 miles south of Prescott and 1.6 miles north of Palace Station on FR52 (Senator Road). A vertical fiberglas sign marks the single track trail on the west side of the road. There is a wide area of the road across from the trail which would fit one or two cars. There are a few other wide spots within a couple of tenths of a mile in either direction and the mine access road just south of the trailhead.

The trail begins its uphill climb almost immediately and continues until it reaches Ash Creek Ridge in about 1.4 miles. On the ridge it forms a junction with Trail #281 and FR70 at N34 22.715 W112 25.621. There is a wooden sign for Trail 281 at the junction. FR70 takes off up the hill on the right just before the sign. The trail was shaded and easy to follow, was pretty clear of brush, and appeared to be used by hikers and bikers.

Upon reaching this junction you have several options. You can return the way you came. You can continue ahead on Trail #281 down to Ash Creek and then north along the drainage to the intersection with FR70, then south on FR 70 back to #381 at this junction and then back to your car on #381. This is described in the E Cross L Trail write-up on this site, but you'd be using #381 to reach Ash Creek Ridge rather than #281. This would be about a 10 mile loop (lasso). Another 10 mile loop option would be to follow FR70 north from the junction, then FR81 and FR52B to the Senator Road (FR52). Return to the trailhead by following FR52 south. A third option would be to return to FR52 via Trail 281, then follow FR52 north back to your car. However, if you take this option, be prepared for thorny brush on the difficult to follow trail. The Trail #281 trailhead on FR52 is located at N34 22.732 W112 24.709. This would be a 4.5 mile loop.

2009-07-16 MEWhiteman