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| Section of Prescott Circle Trail, AZ | |
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| | Section of Prescott Circle Trail, AZ | | | |
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Section of Prescott Circle Trail, AZ
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| Hiking | 10.05 Miles |
1,048 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.05 Miles | 3 Hrs 47 Mns | | 2.73 mph |
| 1,048 ft AEG | 6 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This hike covers five miles of the Prescott Circle Trail south of Thumb Butte Road. It starts where there is parking for 3-4 vehicles on the south side of Thumb Butte Road about 0.6 mile past the Thumb Butte Recreation Area parking lot. Miller Creek Trail #367 parallels Thumb Butte Road next to the parking area. Take Miller Creek Trail west, it ends as Javelina Trail #332 (part of the Prescott Circle Trail) meets Thumb Butte Road from the north and the Prescott Circle Trail continues south on Garden Grove Trail #392. Garden Grove Trail gradually climbs toward the ridge southwest of Thumb Butte. As it nears the ridge, Garden Grove Trail does a few switchbacks. Along this final stretch of Garden Grove Trail, there are views of Granite Mountain (see photos).
At the top of the ridge, Garden Grove Trail Garden Grove Trail ends as Thumb Butte Bypass Trail #326 runs along the ridge. The Prescott Circle Trail continues across Thumb Butte Bypass Trail #326 on the Circle Connection Trail #322 which connects Garden Grove Trail and Potts Creek Trail #327. Head east on Potts Creek Trail which turns south. Along this stretch, there are views of Thumb Butte behind you that you will see on the return trip (see photos). After Potts Creek Trail descends the ridge, for about a mile, off and on, it follows a Forest Service road. Eventually, Potts Creek Trail leaves the road for the last time, crosses a gully and then ends at the north end of Cold Springs Trail #393. The south end of Cold Springs Trail is at the Aspen Creek Trailhead. The Prescott Circle Trail continues on Aspen Creek Trail #38, but this hike ends before Cold Springs Trail reaches the Aspen Creek Trailhead, so that with the return trip the hike covers ten miles.
You can turn back at any point to vary the length of the hike, or make the hike a loop by taking one of the trails that crosses this route. For example, a common loop is to turn onto Butte Creek Trail #321, shortly after getting on Potts Creek Trail, then take Butte Connection Trail #323 to Thumb Butte Bypass Trail #326 and head towards Thumb Butte. The east end of Miller Creek Trail #367 is at Thumb Butte Bypass Trail, so you can return to where you parked on Thumb Butte Road. If no room is available where this hike starts, you might find room in the Thumb Butte Recreation Area parking lot and Thumb Butte Bypass Trail to reach the east end of Miller Creek Trail.
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