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Apple Blossom Trail #373 - 4 members in 10 triplogs have rated this an average 3.8 ( 1 to 5 best )
10 triplogs
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Jul 05 2025
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 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Apple Blossom Trail #373Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 05 2025
WhifferTriplogs 147
Hiking1.25 Miles 77 AEG
Hiking1.25 Miles      31 Mns   2.42 mph
77 ft AEG
 
no photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Westbound from Banning Creek Trail #81 to parking area on AZ 89. The parking area is on the northbound side of 89, just south of the Prescott city limits and is long enough for 3-4 vehicles. Trail #373 lies between houses to the north and the White Spar Campground to the south. It is gently undulating with lots of twists and turns.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
A few Dalmatian toadflax near AZ 89
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  1 archive
Jul 05 2025
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Apple Blossom Trail #373Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 05 2025
WhifferTriplogs 147
Hiking1.28 Miles 206 AEG
Hiking1.28 Miles      33 Mns   2.33 mph
206 ft AEG
 
no photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Eastbound from parking area on AZ-89 to Banning Creek Trail #81. The parking area is on the northbound side of 89, just south of the Prescott city limits and is long enough for 3-4 vehicles. Trail #373 lies between houses to the north and the White Spar Campground to the south. It is gently undulating with lots of twists and turns.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
A few Dalmatian toadflax near 89
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Oct 06 2024
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 Routes 189
 Photos 7,236
 Triplogs 1,740

57 male
 Joined Apr 25 2011
 Goodyear, AZ
Goldwater Lake Bean Peak Loop, AZ 
Goldwater Lake Bean Peak Loop, AZ
 
Mtn Biking avatar Oct 06 2024
NightstalkerTriplogs 1,740
Mtn Biking11.50 Miles 1,280 AEG
Mtn Biking11.50 Miles   2 Hrs   45 Mns   6.39 mph
1,280 ft AEG      57 Mns Break8 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Got an invite to join in on a Prescott ride around Goldwater Lakes, heck yeah, I'm in for that! Started at White Spar campground and followed an anti-clockwise loop on trails 396, 330, 373, and 372. Back at the parking lot we went out for a lap around Bean Peaks on the green loop. Great day in the pines! There was a 100 mile race going on, so there was high than usual traffic on the trails.
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Sep 30 2023
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 Guides 12
 Routes 192
 Photos 863
 Triplogs 356

42 male
 Joined Nov 30 2015
 Phoenix, AZ
Saddles 50, AZ 
Saddles 50, AZ
 
Run/Jog avatar Sep 30 2023
ShatteredArmTriplogs 356
Run/Jog48.00 Miles 6,644 AEG
Run/Jog48.00 Miles   14 Hrs   24 Mns   3.50 mph
6,644 ft AEG      42 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Was signed up for the 100. But due to an injury that prevented me from doing much on Labor Day weekend, I figured I'm probably in no condition to attempt that, so the primary goal was 50.

Started out early in Downtown Prescott, and basically followed 89 2.5 miles to the trail. Pleasant temps in the morning, nothing remarkable as I made my way up to Groom Creek trail 10 miles in. By then it was light out, and it was nice and cool for the climb up Spruce and down Smith Ravine.

On Homestead, it started warming up, and I realized I had basically no energy. I'll chalk that up to a quick turnaround from flying back across the country on Thursday evening... Didn't want to be struggling just 20 miles in, but you can't have it all. At least the breeze tempered the sun a little.

Ranch trail was where the misery really started. I expected the climb, having been on that trail a couple times, but I absolutely hated Badger Mountain Trail. Long, windy, exposed, with the type of switchbacks that were probably designed to ensure mountain bikers don't have to put in any effort at all. 11 miles to do what's probably a 3-4 mile drive... Hopefully I never have to see Badger Mountain Trail ever again.

Things improved a little on Sundog Trail, which I actually liked better than BM. Then Peavine, which is just...flat. By the time I got to the dells, it was 5pm, and I figured the sun would be down before I got to 50. The north side of Watson Lake was actually a lot of fun, and I liked trying to move through there as fast as possible. Probably the only part of the day that was legitimately enjoyable.

One of my friends was waiting for me at the Watson Boat Ramp with a beer, which was a nice surprise.

By the time I got to Willow, it was getting dark, and I had to use a light most of the way through there. There were also thunderstorms moving in, which was fun (they didn't get to Willow, but I heard it got a little crazy closer to Granite Mountain). I really don't recommend going through the dells in the dark, it definitely upped the difficulty a level or two.

After that section, I decided to make it official and not go for what would've probably been a last place finish. I'm starting to come around to one of my friends' views that 50 miles is a superior distance to 100.
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Jun 24 2023
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Apple Blossom Trail #373Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 24 2023
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking3.27 Miles 235 AEG
Hiking3.27 Miles      42 Mns   4.67 mph
235 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
In Prescott for a couple of days. Discovered that there was a trail (Apple Blossom) about a half mile up the road from where we were staying. The trail starts just off the 89 just south of a mobile home park. There is no parking available for this TH, so I had my wife drop me off.

The trail immediately drops down a few feet and crosses a running stream. Not too deep, less than inch high, but it might be a little more challenging throughout the seasons. The trail parallels the 89 for a short while before turning into the forest. As the trail moves into the forest it slowly gains in elevation, passing the out skirts of the White Spar Campground. It does several twists and turns as it makes its way east. At .5 miles you reach a signed juncture with the trail 372 (Twist and Shout). At about .8 miles you reach the high point in the trail. At about this time, homes will start to pop into view to the north. As the trail starts to drop it borders their backyards. As the Apple Blossom trail trail nears its end it intersects with the Hidden Valley trail and then a couple of hundred feet later the Apple Blossom terminates with the Banning Creek Trail. My goal was simply to do an in and out, but there are a couple of obvious loop options with this trail.

This trail was well marked throughout. All official junctures were signed. I noted four user trails that went to the north from the Apple Blossom. I followed one of them on the way back and it ended in someone’s backyard. I imagine the other three do so as well. The trail is a solid single track. It was rutted in places, from run off. But overall, not too bad. If you are trail running, there are enough embedded stones spread along the trail to keep you honest. You are hiking/running through a forest (which is awesome for us desert dwellers). However, the tree coverage isn’t as great as one might expect. I got almost as much sun as I did shade on this trail.
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Sep 18 2022
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 Guides 2
 Routes 207
 Photos 93
 Triplogs 204

male
 Joined Aug 08 2020
 Phx az
Apple Blossom Trail #373Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 18 2022
ScaredyCatTriplogs 204
Hiking11.95 Miles 1,916 AEG
Hiking11.95 Miles   5 Hrs   25 Mns   2.42 mph
1,916 ft AEG      29 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
The starting point for this trail is easily missed. We actually started to hike some trail not on the maps but quickly realized it was not the correct 1. Crossed through many trails to make a day of it.
 
Sep 20 2020
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 Routes 8
 Photos 2,243
 Triplogs 204

38 male
 Joined Mar 07 2009
 Colorado Springs
Goldwater Lake Loop, AZ 
Goldwater Lake Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Sep 20 2020
ultrazonaTriplogs 204
Hiking8.40 Miles 1,092 AEG
Hiking8.40 Miles   2 Hrs   51 Mns   3.07 mph
1,092 ft AEG      7 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Loop linking trails and dirt roads. One fence hop leaving Goldwater Lake.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
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Sep 05 2020
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 Routes 189
 Photos 7,236
 Triplogs 1,740

57 male
 Joined Apr 25 2011
 Goodyear, AZ
PNF Wolverton Goldwater Lakes Loop, AZ 
PNF Wolverton Goldwater Lakes Loop, AZ
 
Mtn Biking avatar Sep 05 2020
NightstalkerTriplogs 1,740
Mtn Biking17.90 Miles 2,062 AEG
Mtn Biking17.90 Miles   4 Hrs   40 Mns   5.71 mph
2,062 ft AEG   1 Hour   32 Mns Break13 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Quite the line of traffic heading north this morning on the I-17, even for 5am. Starting temps in the low 60's (brrr) and finished at about 92 degrees. Long 4.5 climb up Wolverton out and back. Topped it off with a loop around Goldwater Lakes. Was definitely a challenging ride today. Returned to Phoenix through Yarnell.
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Jun 29 2019
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 Photos 5
 Triplogs 3

32 male
 Joined Sep 30 2014
 Tempe, AZ
A few trails in the Prescott National Forest, AZ 
A few trails in the Prescott National Forest, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jun 29 2019
watkins11Triplogs 3
Hiking8.00 Miles 1,246 AEG
Hiking8.00 Miles   3 Hrs   25 Mns   2.34 mph
1,246 ft AEG4 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Got to the trailhead at 1pm. It was a bit hot heading out, but once I got into the woods, it cooled down quickly.

My initial plan was to follow the Bean Peaks loop, which initially started out incredible. The creek it follows is one of the lushest areas I've ever seen in Arizona. Simply incredible! At the point where it meets up with the logging trail though (~1.5mi), I mistakenly started following the road. I ended up heading up the hill and back down the other side, before realizing that I had been continuing on not only the wrong route, but also the wrong direction! After backtracking the mile or so to rejoin the proper route, I started following the trail on Route Scout.

This took me back to the creek I was following before, but there was definitely no trail to be found. I was essentially bushwhacking up the creek. After .4 miles of this, I decided to turn around and hike back out the same way. My phone was close to dead and I did not have a suitable map for off-trail hiking. Plus, I only had a few hours of daylight left. I'm looking forward to trying this again once I have more time and a good topo map as a backup.

I arrived back at the parking lot and started to take off my boots, but there were still two hours of daylight left and I saw a few other people parking in the lot. I was inspired to get back out on the trail and try something I had done before (since I was mapless) to increase my mileage and time on the trail. I ended up doing 372 :next: 373 :next: 375 :next: 376 and looping back to the parking lot.

All-in-all, while the issues with the Bean Peaks Loop were disappointing, it was a great hike!
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Apr 14 2013
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 Guides 9
 Routes 98
 Triplogs 284

44 male
 Joined Feb 17 2010
 Moscow, RU
Goldwater Lakes Loop, AZ 
Goldwater Lakes Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Apr 14 2013
AndreyPTriplogs 284
Hiking7.80 Miles 965 AEG
Hiking7.80 Miles   3 Hrs   20 Mns   2.34 mph
965 ft AEG
 
no photosets
1st trip
Started at White Spar trailhead and followed Trail 396 to the first spur trail to Upper Goldwater Lake, cruised around the lake to the dam by people fishing, picnicking and otherwise recreating. Crossed to FR-61 and went down along the Lower Goldwater Lake.
When approached from the upper (east) side, there is a fence on the left side of FR-61 with lots of "No trespassing" signs: some of which definitely apply to the area beyond the fence (Lower Lake itself), some other signs not so much, and upon approach to the buildings by Lower Lake, there's a sign most probably applied to the road. Also there's a decayed "Beware of dogs" sign and the dog was actually there running to me like I'm some kind of intruder. Well, I still have all my extremities intact :whistle:
When approached from the lower (west) side, there are no signs on FR-61 whatsoever, only a gate against motor vehicles with a wide foot path on the side. The dog may be not so friendly another time so I'd suggest to avoid FR-61 section along Lower Lake. City of Prescott is considering opening Lower Lake to the public and extending the recreation area there, but it may take years from now.
From FR-61 /Trail 396 / Trail 81 junction I followed 81 to 373 (where a subdivision sits on the forest hills), then to 372 and back to the trailhead thru campground.
Trail 81 is comprised by former FR-9403S and northern part of FR-61 (it was called 61 here on HAZ but it's 81 per City of Prescott trails map and per actual trail signs - and now it's fixed, thanks Joe).
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average hiking speed 2.37 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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