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Hoot Owl Trail #745 - 3 members in 5 triplogs have rated this an average 3.3 ( 1 to 5 best )
5 triplogs
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Jun 08 2025
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 Guides 2
 Routes 127
 Photos 1,478
 Triplogs 129

male
 Joined May 07 2019
 Tempe, AZ
Smith Ravine Loop, AZ 
Smith Ravine Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jun 08 2025
mikemcgTriplogs 129
Hiking6.31 Miles 1,799 AEG
Hiking6.31 Miles   3 Hrs   55 Mns   2.19 mph
1,799 ft AEG   1 Hour   2 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Nice, pleasant walk through the woods. Started at 1020. The parking lot only had room for 4 vehicles parallel parked plus mine parked perpendicular to all the others. Gradual uphill along a ridgeline on a very well-maintained dirt trail. Many, many birds. We were interrupted multiple times along the way by texts and calls from work that required us to stop and respond. Some nice views along the way. Nice overlook of the ravine near the top. We took the backside route down, on an unnamed trail along a different ridgeline that ran along the northern edge of the ravine. The unnamed trail actually ascended another 150 feet to reach a peak with excellent views before descending on a less-maintained but easily identified trail that was covered in loose rocks and loose dirt throughout the entire descent. The views of Spruce Mountain, Bigelow Peak, many other mountains, and the ravine were actually much better from this unnamed trail than they were from the official trail. We reached the Hoot Owl trail at the bottom and followed it back to the parking lot to complete the loop. Nice, pleasant route with no people except for 2 mountain bikers whom we encountered at the very beginning. The trail alternated between extensive shade and bright sun. There were 2 wild turkeys at the peak. Some cool purple rocks too. Beautiful day in the woods.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Wild Turkey
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Smith Ravine  Spruce Mountain
  4 archives
Sep 25 2022
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 Guides 107
 Routes 249
 Photos 2,067
 Triplogs 514

male
 Joined Nov 18 2005
 Phoenix, AZ
Smith Ravine Trail #297Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 25 2022
nonotTriplogs 514
Hiking26.80 Miles 3,000 AEG
Hiking26.80 Miles
3,000 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Enjoyed an extended weekend in Prescott National Forest.

All the trails were in good condition. I spent time fixing drainage issues on Smith Ravine Trail. Highlight of the trip was eating lunch on Spruce Mountain while deer were grazing 50 feet away.

Lots of friendly people out and about on the Lynx Lake Loop. The southern portion of the Homestead trail would make for a good backpacking trip right about now. Found a new trail to add to HAZ during my wanderings.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Lynx Lake 76-100% full 76-100% full
100% full and a healthy flow over the spillway

dry Smith Ravine Spring Dry Dry
appeared dry though there was water in about every other drainage
_____________________
http://hikearizona.com/garmin_maps.php

Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
 
Aug 21 2022
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 Guides 2
 Routes 207
 Photos 93
 Triplogs 204

male
 Joined Aug 08 2020
 Phx az
Hoot Owl Trail #745Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 21 2022
ScaredyCatTriplogs 204
Hiking17.06 Miles 2,416 AEG
Hiking17.06 Miles   6 Hrs   51 Mns   2.53 mph
2,416 ft AEG      7 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Partners none no partners
On hoot owl I saw no humans but one animal sighting. Looked like a turkey but with more colorful rear feathers? Smith ravine saw 1 person + a single deer. Showed 1k aeg after 1 way on hoot owl. Able to push myself stronger on this solo outing.
 
May 28 2022
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 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Hoot Owl Trail #745Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar May 28 2022
WhifferTriplogs 147
Hiking5.15 Miles 235 AEG
Hiking5.15 Miles   1 Hour   41 Mns   3.09 mph
235 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Fairly easy trail on the west side of Walker Road that can be just over 10 miles out and back or combined with Homestead Trail #305 on the east side of Walker Road in a loop. The recorded route is from the south end of trail at Smith Ravine Trailhead where there is a sign that the Hoot Owl is a "motorized trail". A pair of dirt bikers passed me within a mile of the north end of the trail at Seven-Mile Gulch Trail #9854 which can also be used by motorbikes. They typically start riding after 9 am (more were unloading at the Seven-Mile Gulch Trailhead at 9:40), so if you start your hike at dawn, as I did, you may not hear them. Most of the Hoot Owl Trail is through ponderosa pine, although there is a 1.5 mile section of interior chaparral that starts about a mile from the Smith Ravine Trailhead. Even in the interior chaparral section you can see ponderosa pine closer to Walker Road to the east.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
moth mullein
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  3 archives
May 28 2022
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Hoot Owl Trail #745Prescott, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar May 28 2022
WhifferTriplogs 147
Hiking5.27 Miles 749 AEG
Hiking5.27 Miles   1 Hour   45 Mns   3.01 mph
749 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Don't use the Google Maps driving directions that were available on 5/28/22 as there is no parking lot or way to get to the Hoot Owl Trail when Google Maps says you have arrived. About 0.05 miles north of that point is the Seven-Mile Gulch Trailhead. Park there and hike 0.18 miles of the Seven-Mile Gulch Trail #9854 that is included in the recorded route from the trailhead parking lot to the north end of the Hoot Owl Trail.

The Hoot Owl Trail is a fairly easy trail on the west side of Walker Road with 750 feet of accumulated elevation gain (AEG) hiking south to the Smith Ravine Trailhead and 250 feet of AEG back to the Seven-Mile Gulch Trail. A loop can be created by returning on the Homestead Trail #305 on the east side of Walker Road which starts across from the Smith Ravine Trailhead parking lot at the south end of the Hoot Owl Trail. When the Homestead Trail crosses Lynx Lake Store Road you can return to the Seven-Mile Gulch Trailhead by walking north along Walker Road. Alternatively, a little longer loop is to take one of the trails in the Highlands Center for Natural History to its parking lot and walk south along Walker Road to the Seven-Mile Gulch Trailhead.

There is a sign at the south end of the Hoot Owl trail at the Smith Ravine Trailhead that warns the Hoot Owl is a "motorized trail". The Seven-Mile Gulch Trail can also be used by motorbikes and a pair of dirt bikers passed me within a mile of the trailhead on my return trip. They typically start riding after 9 am (more were unloading at the Seven-Mile Gulch Trailhead at 9:40), so if you start your hike at dawn, as I did, you may not hear them.

Most of the Hoot Owl Trail is through ponderosa pine, although there is a 1.5 mile section of interior chaparral that starts about a mile from the Smith Ravine Trailhead. Even in the interior chaparral section you can see ponderosa pine closer to Walker Road to the east (see photos).
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
moth mullein
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  3 archives
average hiking speed 2.36 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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