Bradshaw Trails Series Curtis James Troop 7014 Curtis.James@erau.edu My Motto: Never get lost!
Hiking Rules Bradshaw Hiking Patch Series Hiking Tools
Hiking Rules Hiking Merit Badge* Take five 10-mile hikes Take one 20-mile hike Hikes must be completed in one day Create a plan for each hike Write a short report on each hike Prescott National Forest No camping within Prescott Basin except in dispersed campsites first come, first serve Adhere to fire restrictions Leave no trace * Eagle Required
Dispersed campsites Prescott Basin
Consists of 5 hikes towards hiking merit badge Gain knowledge and appreciation of the geography and history around Prescott Educational and scenic hikes close to home Gives scouts a worthy goal to achieve Practice for longer backpacking trips Originally developed by the late Gerald Turley, resurrected by Dr. Brett Mangum
Available to all scouts in the Old- Capitol District free of charge in 2014-2015 To order, contact Dr. Mangum at 928-830-3092
The hikes Mingus Mountain (10.1 mi) Granite Mountain (6.2 mi x 2) Mingus Mountain Alternate (10.5 mi) Sierra Prieta (10-14.6 mi) Bradshaw Mountains (18.1 mi) Maverick Ridge (7-10 mi)
Maverick Ridge late spring to fall Only 7.6 miles (campsite about one mile south of trailhead at 34.4074 N; 112.4346 W) Scenic trail, illustrate difference in vegetation between south and north-facing slopes Begins at the intersection of Golden Eagle Rd. (which becomes FR 52B) and Senator Hwy Take FR 52B to trail 65 to FR79A to FR79 to FR79B to FR74 to Lower Wolf Creek Campground
Maverick Ridge Elevation Profile Lower Wolf Creek Campground Wolf Creek Falls Hassayampa River Hassayampa Lake Mount Tritle
Maverick Ridge Alternate Up to 10 miles Begins on the dirt road that leads to Sundance Mine from Senator Highway switchback See the mine shaft and the top of Mt. Tritle lots of lady bugs in summer Follow same track as Maverick Ridge, except 0.4 mi before Wolf Creek Campground, take left on trail 384 to Wolf Creek Falls. Follow Wolf Creek to Hassayampa River to E. Wolf Creek Road Hike one more mile or climb from campsite to trailhead in order to complete 10 miles
Maverick Ridge Alternate Lower Wolf Creek Campground Wolf Creek Falls Hassayampa River Hassayampa Lake Sundance Mine Mount Tritle
Maverick Ridge
Maverick Ridge One of many old mines
Maverick Ridge Hassayampa River and Wolf Creek Falls Photo by Michael Wilson
Sierra Prieta spring to fall 10 to 14.6 miles w/ mines and excellent views Historically, started hike on south end of Skyline Drive, hiked 1 mile along FR 47 and trail 300, camped at Porter Mountain. Next day, hiked and additional 10 miles from trail 300 to trail 264 to FR C64 (Thumb Butte Rd.) to Sierra Prieta Overlook. Then, to FR C65 (Copper Basin Rd.), to FR 9401L, to trail 9415 (or adjacent Jeep trail). These 11 miles can also be done in an 1 day hike (and is mostly downhill).
Sierra Prieta (cont d) Porter Mountain is within the Prescott Basin, so for legal camping, but more challenge: Start hike at White Spar road and hike west direction Hike 4.6 miles and up about 1,000 elevation to a dispersed campsite along Copper Basin (good to have someone reserve a campsite for the troop) Next day, hike remaining 10 miles to Iron Springs Rd. Have to hike about 1 mile through Highland Pines, to trail 9400V below the fire station, and eventually along old railroad route (trail 332)
Sierra Prieta Elevation Profile
Sierra Prieta White Spar (a.k.a. Quartz Mountain)
Sierra Prieta View of Thumb Butte
Sierra Prieta View from Porter Mountain
Granite Mountain spring or fall 6.2 miles one way (up to 12.4 mi) Camp in Buckman Flat off Contreras Road Start@trail 37, across from Iron Springs village Follow trail about 4 mi to Blair Pass, then take trail 261 to a peak of Granite Mtn (boulder caves) Observe the effects of wildfire (minimal shade) If you return to Granite Basin/Metate Trailhead from the peak, total 10 miles (wooded & shady)
Granite Mountain Elevation Profile (one way south-north)
Granite Mountain View from saddle south-southwest
Granite Mountain View from saddle north-northeast
Granite Mountain Boulders at the summit
Mingus Mountain late spring or fall 10.1 miles This original trail actually climbs and traverses the Woodchute Mountain Wilderness Area, not Mingus Start at the intersection of FR 318 and 318A on the north end of the Black Hills Follow trail 318A to the west 1.4 miles, then turn south on the Woodchute trail for nearly 7 miles, to powerlines near Potato Patch. Follow powerlines 1.8 miles to ravine, then follow ravine to Hwy 89A This trail is difficult to drop off and pick up the troop, and more challenging to navigate (a beautiful hike)
Mingus Mountain Elevation Profile
Mingus Mountain Alternate 10.5 min (spring fall) This is a loop trail that starts and ends at Hwy 89A, but follows dirt roads for about 3 miles Nice campsites (no restrictions) Favorite: 1.7 miles from trailhead going CCW Landmarks (Mingus summit/lookout, Mingus Lake, or take detour to Verde Valley overlook) Take trail 533, to FR 413/105, to FR 132, sharp left after fence along creekbed to trail 110 and the summit. Then down along FR 104, FR413, and trail 28 down through scenic Yeager Canyon.
Mingus Mountain Alternate (CCW)
Mingus Mountain Alternate View of Granite Mountain
Mingus Mountain Alternate Lookout tower and Mingus Lake
Mingus Mountain Alternate Yeager Canyon limestone formations
Bradshaw Mountains spring to fall 18.1 miles (4,250 elevation gain; 4,797 loss) Traditionally, has been counted as 20-mile hike Climb Mt. Union (7,979 MSL) highest and Spruce Mtn (7,696 ) 3 rd highest points in Yavapai County Many mines, wooded, very scenic Small camping area at Orofino Mine 0.8 miles east of Palace station on Senator Highway Follow trail 284, BSA trail 285, trail 377, trail 307, FR 52A, trail 299, trail 9854, trail 62, trail 126 to Turley Trailhead
Bradshaw Mountains Elevation Profile
Bradshaw Mountains Palace Station
Bradshaw Mountains View from Mt. Union
Bradshaw Mountains Boy Scout trail 285
Bradshaw Mountains Mines are everywhere!
www.prescott-trailmaps.com Most detailed topographic/trail maps available for Prescott National Forest, Kaibab, Coconino http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott/mapspubs/?cid=fswdev3_009837 Download GIS data from PNF Maprika Mobile App I have uploaded public Black Hills and Bradshaws maps Import.gpx files and never get lost on a hike! Google Earth (http://earth.google.com) Load trails & GIS data from PNF in.kml format Analyze elevation and bird s-eye video of hike ArcGIS (http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer) Load.kml files and overlay with USGS topo