Mingus Mountain Located in the cool pines of central Arizona, Mingus Mountain offers a wide range of recreational opportunities including: picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, fishing, hunting, hang gliding, and paragliding. Can I bring a flotation device/life Jacket for my kids? Local Badges. After about 1.5 miles of hiking on the View Point trail, you'll reach a signed trail junction with the 105A connector trail. Continue on the curvy road as it snakes through the Mingus mountains. For those who seek quiet and solitude in a natural environment, Woodchute Wilderness offers trails that are limited to … The summit can be reached via Forest Service roads that branch off from State Route 89A. Mingus Recreation Area. New Sedona hiking trails open up more red-rock views. Prescott – Recreation Officials on the Verde Ranger District will close the following facilities/roads in preparation for the winter season starting on Friday, December 18, 2020, through May 1, 2021. Although there are two trailheads for this route, most hikers choose to start at the top of Mingus Mountain and hike downhill. The trail hugs the side of Mingus mountain, providing constant and enjoyable views of the Verde valley. Affiliation: Arizona Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. Take Highway 69 to Prescott East Highway, turn left on Second Street, and then turn right on Fifth Street, the entrance to the park. To complete the loop, head east (go right) and follow Campus Trail through a flatter landscape marked by rugged washes and a swing by a prominent pyramid-shaped mound with white limestone chunks spilling from its slopes. Emergency: Cottonwood, about 45 mins. The two-mile trail plummets down the eastern slope of the mountain and offers nothing but open vistas. MORE THINGS TO DO: For restaurant reviews, travel tips, concert picks and more, subscribe to azcentral.com. The trail features 3 wash crossings that utilize flatbed railcars - railcars used in the actual Prescott East Railroad operation. The pairing isn’t necessary, of course, but the trailhead is just up the road, and the hike itself is quick and easy. Kicking off near the top of Woodchute Mountain, this hiking trail serves up the kinda’ views typically found only after a challenging ascent. LOWER TRAILHEAD: Take the well graded dirt road FR104 for 1.3 miles. On June 26, 2010 we met at the Safeway parking lot in Cottonwood and carpooled from there. Once a the top of Mingus, you will find hiking trails and campgrounds. Dec 15, 2020 - Rent from people in Mingus Mountain, AZ from $20/night. Forest: Prescott National Forest District: Verde Ranger District Description: Mingus Mountain is in a part of Arizona called the Transition Zone. The Copper Chief Mine is a former copper producer located just a few miles southeast of the massive boomtown of Jerome. Total Distance 70 miles Total Descent ... Hidden Gem on Mingus mountain. A towering giant overlooking Prescott Valley & Cottonwood, Mingus Mountain offers a unique experience for both the backcountry biker and downhill shuttler. 104. The path wanders among junipers, mesquite and crucifixion thorn trees, occasionally ducking into drainages and washes where spots of cottonwoods and Arizona walnut trees sink roots deep into the water table. The Mingus Mountain area offers relatively cool summertime temperatures and scenic views of the Verde Valley, Sedona red rocks, Mogollon Rim and San Francisco Peaks. A second great hike off of Mingus Mountain is the aptly named View Point Trail. - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about. Turn right onto FR413 (sometimes signed as Allen Springs Road). Mingus Mountain Campground is located high above the historic mining town of Jerome, nestled in the ponderosa pines on the Prescott National Forest. Fifty acres of the park comprises a passive recreation park with ramadas, a lake stocked with trout, hiking trails and limited gold panning. From this vantage point, the trail begins a downward spiral through cactus-studded grasslands. If you stay on trail 106, you'll reach FR413 in about 0.6 miles. This photo shows the most difficult area on the entire route. LZ is private land. Take water as this trail is longer with views, nature and fresh air and little else. There is a pull out where you can take photos of the beautiful valley. Fabulous views and a wide variety of plant life on this hike provide an enjoyable outdoor experience. The North Mingus Trail #105 climbs the north slope of Mingus Mountain, in Arizona's Black Hills. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. One more short uphill segment completes the loop that gives a glimpse at an emerging trail system and the taking back of a formerly neglected corner of national forest. Fortunate visitors may spot deer, elk, and a variety of birds. One story claims the mountain was named for the Domingus brothers, who reportedly had a sawmill on top of the mountain. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. As for all Prescott National Forest campgrounds, family sites are first-come, first-serve. Occupying a hilly slice of high desert below the east flanks of Mingus Mountain, the new Blowout Wash trail system is shaping up to become a prime Verde Valley hiking destination. Description: After passing through an unimpressive lower section, the road climbs quickly up the side of scenic Mingus Mountain. Roads are paved up to the last half mile where FR 493 is dirt/gravel suitable for all vehicles. Other use: Sightseers and campers near launch. Location: Cottonwood, Jerome. Location: West of Cottonwood, southwest of Jerome. From the trailhead we will descend a steep and rocky trail, dropping 1,300 feet to the bottom of Yaeger Canyon and Highway 89A. 2 campgrounds are available, the Mingus and Potato Patch areas. North Mingus Trail #105 North Mingus Trail #105 is one of a number of popular trails serving the Mingus Mountain Recreation Area. Consider this if you have more time. After a few dips and bends, the trail tops out on an ocotillo- and bear-grass-cluttered knob with big views of the red rocks of Sedona and the green grids of vineyards in the valley below. … Big Ride 30k . More: New Sedona hiking trails open up more red-rock views. You may encounter mosquitoes due to standing water. There a lot of switchbacks, but the views are spectacular. An enjoyable forest drive. Go 17.7 miles on Cornville Road (aka County Road 30), which turns into Mingus Avenue and then Forest Road 493 to the large Blowout Wash trailhead. Yeager Canyon supports an attractive riparian corridor, where deciduous hardwoods create a canopy of shade. Most hikers start at the top of Mingus Mountain and hike downhill because the route is easier to follow in this direction. 2 campgrounds are available, the Mingus and Potato Patch areas. Please carry out all pet waste. Mingus Mountain is an easy Jeep trail that can be done in a half day or less. Hiking trails wind across the mountain, from easy and short, to lengthy and challenging. Winding your way to the top of Mingus takes you through Jerome, which you will definitely want to explore. At the summit of Mingus mountain, turn right on the signed junction for the Methodist Camp (FR104). Two stories exist concerning the naming of Mingus Mountain. 268 awarded The remediation project is a multi-agency collaboration of local, state and federal land agencies working together to improve recreational opportunities in Prescott National Forest southwest of Cottonwood. This is a particularly attractive trail during the fall because of the changing colors of the many small pockets of aspen and other deciduous trees on … NORTH MINGUS TRAIL Prescott National Forest An eclectic mix of scenery and forests are the highlights of the North Mingus Trail No.105. Carry your own water. Stay left here to get to Highway 89A. This part of the State lies between the Sonoran low desert to the south and the higher Colorado Plateau to the north. Before that, the wash-riddled foothills surrounded by popular recreation hubs in Sedona, Jerome, Dead Horse Ranch State Park and the Woodchute-Mingus Mountain complex of routes were rife with user-created paths, shooting and dumping that were disrupting the ecosystems and decimating native vegetation. More North Mingus Loop Trail is a 4.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Cottonwood, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. In the same way that a 2005 Pine Ridge cabernet sauvignon pairs nicely with filet mignon, this scenic hike in Central Arizona complements a day trip to Jerome. Just below the top of Mingus Mountain, the mine has a great view of the Verde Valley below. Very enjoyable. d… Please use protective repellant. Radio info: USHGA standard business band frequencies, 2M Ham with proper license. Mingus Mountain Once you get through the lowland section of the trail, it climbs quickly up into the forest. The trail is primarily used for off road driving. The Mingus Creek Trailhead is at the far end of the parking area for the Mingus Mill, which is located about a half-mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. The trail is primarily used for hiking and mountain biking and is accessible year-round. Located on Highway 89A at the summit of the highway between Jerome and Prescott Valley, Mingus Recreation Area provides lookouts over both the Tricity and Verde Valley communities. Blowout Wash trail system, Prescott National Forest, AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, If you like steep, edgy hikes, this Camp Verde trail is for you. Right from the trailhead, the fresh-cut nature of the Bullseye Trail and the Campus Trail that pair up for a short tour of the area is apparent. Behind the parking-area kiosk, brand new sign posts mark the beginning of the system’s inaugural loop. Occupying a hilly slice of high desert below the east flanks of Mingus Mountain, the new Blowout Wash trail system is shaping up to become a prime Verde Valley hiking destination. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. At the 2.2-mile point, the route meets the back end of the loop where the Campus Trail spins off to the north and heads toward the Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus. No motorized vehicles allowed, except wheelchairs and authorized vehicles. Requirements: H3 / P3, key access during Winter. If you want to see the fall colors, they peak in November. Details: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/prescott/home. This was a hike to a cave containing an Indian ruin on Mingus Mountain. https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/prescott/home, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The track will take you to a point overlooking the Verde Valley. To get the climbing part of the hike done first, head left on Bullseye Trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Taking on the long switchbacks that lead to the hike’s high point, the trail hangs on the edge of the ridge showcasing amazing views of Mingus Mountain and the emerald corridors of the Verde River and Oak Creek. Continuing to the right takes you to the top of Mingus Mountain, past Mingus Lake and remains mostly easy to the top. Individuals may enjoy this new trail as they traverse westward along this path that cuts through Prescott Valley's open grasslands toward the magnificent Point of Rocks (pictured above). Aug 5, 2020. A map at the trailhead teases with an overview of planned trail development, and a little loop that was completed in early 2020 provides a tasty tidbit of what’s to come. What is Mountain Valley Splash’s operating season? Mingus Mountain. This is the highest point of the trail (~7,500 feet). All pets are to be on a leash. This road is rougher and rutted, so a high clearance vehicle is recommended. The destructive, anything-goes arena is gradually being replaced with sustainable, nonmotorized trails that reduce erosion, protect natural assets and promote responsible use. The extensive trails system on Mingus Mountain provides opportunities for hikers, cyclists, and horse riders that range from easy to challenging. Or vice versa. 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