Prescott National Forest

The Prescott National Forest is a 1.25 million-acre (510,000 ha) United States National Forest located in north central Arizona in the vicinity of Prescott. The forest is located in the mountains southwest of Flagstaff and north of Phoenix in Yavapai County, with a small portion (about 3.5 percent) extending into southwestern Coconino County.

Prescott National Forest
Map showing the location of Prescott National Forest
Map showing the location of Prescott National Forest
LocationYavapai County and Coconino County, Arizona, US
Nearest cityPrescott, AZ
Coordinates34°37′N 112°37′W / 34.617°N 112.617°W / 34.617; -112.617
Area1,250,000 acres (5,100 km2)
Established1908
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service
WebsitePrescott National Forest

The Forest Service divides the forest into 3 administrative districts. The northern section of the forest is the Chino Valley Ranger District, the southwest section is the Bradshaw Ranger District, and the southeast section is the Verde Ranger District. Central administrative offices are in Prescott with local ranger district offices in Camp Verde, Chino Valley, and Prescott.[1]

Wilderness

edit

There are eight designated wilderness areas comprising more than 104,000 acres (421 km2), located entirely or partially within the Prescott National Forest. These are:

Campgrounds

edit

The following table(s) display all public campgrounds within the Prescott National Forest.[2]

Dispersed campsites

edit

Dispersed campsites are undeveloped and no facilities such as trash collection, water and toilets are available. Recommended for experienced campers.

Dispersed camping is allowed in wide areas of the Forest except in the Prescott Basin area. Dispersed campsite locations in that area are listed below.

Campsite locations Number of campsites Campsite numbers
FDR 23 – Enchanted Forest Road 11 1–11
FDR 30 – Bannie Mine Road 13 1–13
C 56 – Senator Highway 7 1–7
FDR 79 – Tritle Mountain Road 16 1–16
FDR 80 – Sundance Road 6 1–6
FDR 9406L – Pipeline Road 5 1–5
C 101 – Groom Creek Cut Off Road 14 1–14
FDR 64 – Marapai Road 7 1–7
C64 – Copper Basin Road 5 1–5
FDR 51 – Pott's Creek 8 1–8

Family campgrounds

edit

Developed campsites designed to accommodate families of 5-10 (maximum) per site.

Campground District Elevation Open season Sites Fee Features
Alto Pit OHV Campground Bradshaw 6,200 All Year 11 $10 Single
$20 Double
$3 Day Use
Overnight Camping and Day Use
Groom Creek Horse Camp Bradshaw 6,000 05/01 – 10/31 36 $10 Equestrian campground (horse required), trail access, drinking water, 12 corrals, 2 group sites
Hazlett Hollow Bradshaw 6,000 05/01 – 10/01 15 $6 Hiking, remote area, drinking water
Hilltop Bradshaw 5,800 03/30 – 10/31 38 $18 Hiking, fishing, gold panning, drinking water
Lower Wolf Creek Bradshaw 6,000 05/01 – 10/31 20 $6 Hiking, no drinking water
Lynx Lake Bradshaw 5,600 03/30-10/31 36 $18 Lake, boating, fishing, gold panning, hiking, drinking water, no swimming
Mingus Mountain
(Black Hills)
Verde 7,600 05/01 – 10/31 25 $6 Loop B 6 sites ($6.00), Loop E 19 RV sites ($6.00), hiking, scenic views, no drinking water
Potato Patch Verde 7,000 05/01 – 10/31 40 $10/$15 Loop A 28 sites ($10.00), Loop B 12 RV sites ($15.00), hiking, close to wilderness, drinking water
Powell Springs Verde 5,300 All year 10 $6 No drinking water
White Spar Bradshaw 5,700 All year 60 $10 Drinking water, 11 sites open all year
Yavapai Bradshaw 5,600 All year 25 $10 Hiking, drinking water, near Granite Lake

* Pricing and Open Season information current as of Monday, 3 December 2007 at 18:27:06 EST; please refer to the official Forest Service website for up-to-date information as it is subject to change.

History

edit

The Prescott Forest Reserve was established by the United States General Land Office on May 10, 1898. It was transferred to the U.S. Forest Service in 1906 and became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908, it absorbed Verde National Forest, and on October 22, 1934, it absorbed Tusayan National Forest.[3]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Prescott National Forest; About the Forest; Contact Us". USDA Forest Service. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  2. ^ Prescott National Forest – Recreational Activities: Camping
  3. ^ Davis, Richard C. (September 29, 2005), National Forests of the United States (PDF), Forest History Society, archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2012, retrieved April 29, 2009
edit