Prescott National Forest

Recreational Activities

Thumb Butte Recreation Area

Day-use, and Trails

Day-use	Group Day-use	Activities	Services

The Thumb Butte area is one of the most popular destinations on the Prescott National Forest on the Bradshaw Ranger District. Mild weather, cool ponderosa pine forest, a comfortable picnic area, and a variety of trails that offer hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers many routes to explore. Over 122,000 people live less than an hour's drive of the Thumb Butte area. Private property in the tri-city area can be seen from many of the trails. Please be extra careful while visiting this wildland-urban interface area so others can enjoy the forest too.

• Thumb Butte Recreation Area Map - 1,698 KB PDF

Thumb Butte Trail No. 33

Thumb Butte Trail is open to hikers only. The trail is almost 2 miles long and is moderately difficult. Allow yourself about 1.5 hours to hike the entire trail. A short spur trail near the crest offers a good viewpoint of the Prescott area. The steep side of the trail (the east side) and a few other places are paved in order to minimize soil erosion that was damaging the trail.

Elevation: 5,600-6,500 Feet

Available:

• Trailheads and Picnic Day-use: All Year

Stay limit:

• Picnic Day-Use: Dawn to Dusk. Hours vary by season. See posted hours at each site. Brochure says to check web site...???

Fees:

• Trailheads and Picnic Day-use: See chart below
  (Standard Amenity Fee - Can pay at site or use a Valid Pass)

Reservations: All of the sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis except the Group Ramada and Picnic Site. Reservations for Group Ramada and Picnic Site can be made by calling 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov.

Access:

• Located approximately four miles west of Prescott, Arizona, adjacent to Miller Creek.

Travel time: 5 minutes from Prescott, 15 minutes from Bradshaw Ranger Station

Road condition: Paved

Special attractions:

• Beautiful Vistas
• Interpretive Signs
• Peregine Falcon sitings

General Day-use Information:

• Pets are welcome but must be leased at all times. Please clean up after your pet. Leashes protect dogs from becoming lost and from wildland hazards such as porcupines, mountain lions, snakes, and sick, injured, or rabid animals. Unleased dogs increase the probability of dogs being banned from your favorite public lands. A leashed dog's keen senses can enhance your awareness of nearby wildlife or other wildland visitors. Unleased doges harass, injure, and sometimes kill wildlife. Unleased dogs intimidate other hikers and their dogs, depriving them of the peace wildlands provide. Falure to leash your dog may result in a fine.
• Dumping of any refuse brought in from private property is prohibited
• There are no RV sanitary dump stations.
• Horses are not permited in the day-use areas.
• Open fires must be confined within fireplaces, grills or fire rings provided within developed recreation areas.
• The gathering of dead wood is allowed for day-use area only.

Closures for Wildlife:

• To protect nesting peregrine falcons, the Thumb Butte cliff face and surrounding area are closed to rock climbing each winter and spring to allow for undisturbed falcon nesting. Trail 33 is open all year.

Target Shooting and Hunting:

• Discharging any weapon is prohibited at all times in the Thumb Butte Recreation Area.

Day-Use Areas

Name	Map Grid	Amenities	Activities	Fee
Individual Picnic Site Facilities	B5	· 9 Picnic Tables · Grills · Toilets · Drinking Water · Trash Collection		None
Small Ramada Picnic Site Facilities	B5	· 3 Picnic Tables · Grills · Toilets · Drinking Water · Trash Collection		None
Group Ramada and Picnic Site Facilities	B5	· 12 Picnic Tables under Ramada · 4 Grills · 1 Fire Ring · Horeshoe Pits · Flush Toilets · Drinking Water · Trash Collection · Lighted After Dark · Electricity Outlets (20 amp maximum) · Reservations Needed: 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov		Not sure???

Trails

Number and Name	Map Grid	Length (in miles)	Activities	Comments	Fee at Trailhead
33 - Thumb Butte	C5	1.75		Very popular, well maintained trail. Great views from the top. Hiking only.	None
314 - Thumb Butte Spur	D5	0.5		Creates a loop trail when used with Trails 33 and 326.	None
315 - Watertower	B6	0.7		Very moderate trail. Connects to Trail 317. Southern end closed to horses.	None
316 - Pine Lakes	A5	1.4		After a short climb, descends into Willow Creek riparian area. Southern end closed to horses.	None
317 - Ridgetop	A6	0.6		Climbs to a ridge with good views. East end goes into a subdivision.	None
318 - West	C3 A5	1.4		At the western trailhead, horeses may access this trail.	None
321 - Butte Creek	E6 F4	1.5		Can be accessed from a city trail in Strickland Park.	None
322 - Circle Connection	F4	0.5		Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the city of Prescott.	None
323 - Butte Connection	D5	0.6		Views and connects Trails 326 and 321.	None
326 - Thumb Butte Connector	B5 E4	2.0		Creates a hiking loop trail when using Trails 33 and 314. Accessible to horses from Trail 367.	None
327 - Pott's Creek	F3 F5	0.5		Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the city of Prescott.	None
332 - Javelina	B3	3.6		Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the city of Prescott.	None
367 - Miller Creek	C4	0.7		Parallels Thumb Butte Road along Miller Creek.	None
386 - Pine Lake Connector	B6	0.3		An easy, short trail. Provides a loop when used with Trails 315 and 316.	None
387 - Rio Vista	F5	0.7		Can be accessed from a city trail.	None
392 - Garden Grove	C3 E4	1.5		Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the city of Prescott.	None

The majority of proceeds from the collected fees goes right back into maintaining and improving the things you use most like bridges, buildings, trails, boat ramps, and visitor centers. Funds also provide services like interpretive sites and cleaning up.
Thank you very much for your support!

USDA Forest Service - Prescott National Forest
Last Modified: Tuesday, 11 October 2011 at 16:58:32 EDT