- The Circle Trail - 
Prescott's Newest Addition For Outdoor Enthusiasts

The City of Prescott is an amazing area to live and visit. For years the city has boasted some amazing outdoor recreational opportunities. From Granite Basin's Forest Service lands, to Thumb Butte, to Goldwater Lake's city park, and over to the Granite Dells with Watson and Willow Lake city parks, the city is surrounded by amazing locations to spend a day! With trails surrounding the entire city, is it any wonder that at some point someone would have the idea to tie many of these locations together?

The Circle Trail now interconnects some of Prescott's outdoor icons. It's more than a 50 mile circuit around the city, and passes through forest service land, private land, and city owned property as well. Visitors looking to spend some time following the trail will be delighted with the varied landscapes offered around the city, and they'll also enjoy Prescott's year round mild temperatures.

From Granite Basin through to Thumb Butte, and beyond toward Goldwater Lake and eventually to "P" mountain, trail users will find themselves in dense pine forests. They'll also get to see some scenic water features at both Granite Mountain and Goldwater lake.

Heading north from "P" mountain visitors will delight with the views of the Granite Dells, and Watson and Willow Lake city parks. Just an FYI, Willow Lake is also known as "Heritage Park." The terrain and elevation changes going through the Granite Dells is a little easier than the jaunt through the mountains offered by Granite Basin and Thumb Butte. And the granite formations are incredibly scenic.

From Watson and Willow, trail users will cross along Embry Riddle Aeronautical University toward Granite Mountain, and Granite Basin. No matter where you start from, or how far you go, the trail offers a great variety of terrain, offering you options for a day on a section of the Circle Trail, or for a few days circumnavigating the City.

You don't have to do it all in one day!

Remember, you don't have to push out 50 miles in a single day. You can explore Prescott AZ at your own pace. Mountain bikers could easily complete the circuit in a day, long distance runners too. But this isn't a race. The trail offers days of enjoyment, and leads you to some incredibly scenic areas. Why not take the time to absorb it all, and give yourself a few leisurely days circling the City of Prescott? Better yet, explore Prescott and all it has to offer over a few days!