Recreation

About Prescott Valley

Prescott Valley is a growing, thriving community nestled between the Mingus and Bradshaw Mountain ranges. The town attracts people who seek the natural beauty of Arizona, a peaceful lifestyle and a unique blend of modern and recreational amenities. Prescott Valley is truly one of the best places in the country to live, work and play! Visit our many attractions, attend a hockey game or concert, dine in our Entertainment District and enjoy our diverse listing of fun activities and special events

Outdoor Activities

The Prescott Valley/Prescott area offers a wealth of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. Hikers are advised to carry water at all times.

Little Granite Mountain-trail 37 and loop to Granite Basin Lake
Permitted Uses: hiking, bicycling (non-motorized), and horseback riding
Difficulty: moderate Hiking
Time: 1.5 hours
This trail provides spectacular panoramic views of Skull Valley, Prescott, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the western end of the Sierra Prietas. For a loop hike, drop a car at Granite Basin Lake. Take trail 37 from Iron Springs trailhead to the Clark Spring Trail turnoff, which takes you to the lake.
From downtown Prescott head north on Montezuma, which will turn into Whipple Street. Follow Whipple to Miller Valley, Willow Creek, and Iron Springs road intersection. You will continue straight on Iron Springs road 6.2 miles. The trailhead is 3.2 miles west of the turnoff to Granite Basin Lake.

Thumb Butte-trail 33
Permitted Uses: hiking
Difficulty: moderate Hiking
Time: 1 hour
This Prescott landmark is one of the most popular hiking areas, and is located just three miles west of downtown Prescott. Head west on Gurley Street 2.5 miles to Thumb Butte Road. Continue northwest for 1.5 miles to the recreation site and parking area. There is a day-use fee of $2.00 per vehicle. The 1.75-mile loop trail is paved and a bit steep at the start, but the views from the top are worth it.

Peavine Railway Trail
Permitted Uses: hiking, bicycling, horseback riding
Difficulty: easy Hiking
Time: 1-3 hours
This is one of the few Rails-to-Trails projects in Arizona. There are outstanding, up-close views of Watson Lake and Granite Dells, as well as wildlife viewing. This four-mile trail was originally built by the Santa Fe Railway in 1893. The Peavine connects with the Iron King Trail for another four-mile trek along more railroad bed.
From the intersection of Hwy 69 and Prescott Lakes Parkway (just west of Gateway Mall) turn north on the Parkway then north on Sundog Ranch Road. Parking on left. No fee.

For more Hiking information:
Prescott National Forest
344 South Cortez Street
Prescott, AZ 86303
928-443-8000
www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/index.shtml

Lynx Lake Recreation Area
Mild weather, the cool ponderosa pine forest, a serene 55-acre lake, trout fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, archaeological sites, and bird watching are some of the highlights of Lynx Lake.
From Interstate 17, travel west on State Route 69 toward Prescott. Turn left on Walker Road and follow signs to Lynx Lake.

User Fees: A $2 daily parking fee is charged at all developed day-use sites, including most marked hiking trailheads. Wednesdays are always free. No parking fees are charged on any Wednesday.
For More Information, Contact:
U.S.D.A. Forest Service Bradshaw Ranger Station
344 South Cortez Street
Prescott, AZ 86303
Phone: 928-443-8000

Things to do in Prescott Valley

For additional information about Prescott Valleys historical and area attractions, please visit www.pvaz.net.

Additional information for Prescott

Shopping, dining and entertainment are plentiful along Whiskey Row in historic downtown Prescott. Prescott's Courthouse Plaza is the pivot around which the town was designed and built. Today quaint boutiques, fantastic restaurants and an eclectic array of galleries featuring local, regional and national artists surround this famous landmark. www.prescott.org.

Prescott Museums

Sharlot Hall Museum
http://sharlot.org
415 West Gurley Street
Prescott, Arizona 86301
928-445-3122
MapQuest 
Admission: $5 adults; Under 18 free

Phippen Museum
4701 Highway 89 North
Prescott, AZ 86301
Phone 928-778-1385; Fax 928-778-4524
Site Map

Smoki Museum
www.smokimuseum.org
147 N. Arizona Ave.
Prescott AZ 86301
928-445-1230

Area Activities

Bronzesmith Fine Art Gallery & Foundry
7331 E. Second St.
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-772-2378 or 866-772-0378
http://www.bronzesmith.com
Bronzesmith casts and sells award-winning sculpture created by many of the nation's most respected artists. The Foundry staff give tours to the public, demonstrating the steps involved in the bronze casting process. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings guests can witness the excitement of a bronze pour (by appointment). Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri., 9:00 am-4:00 pm.

Park Zoological Sanctuary
1403 Heritage Park Road, Prescott
928-778-4242
http://www.heritageparkzoo.org
Open year round

Highlands Center for Natural History
P.O. Box 12828
Prescott, AZ 86304
928-776-9550
http://www.highlandscenter.org
Established in 1973, the Highlands Center for Natural History provides outdoor science education to children and adults in central Arizona. Summer day camps, workshops, nature clubs and youth programs are only a few of the endeavors in which the Highlands Center is active.

Prescott Gateway Mall
3250 Gateway Blvd.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-442-3659
www.westcor.com

Bucky's Casino and Yavapai Casino
1500 East Highway 69
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-541-0453/800-756-8744
http://www.buckyscasino.com
Buckys Casino is located within the Prescott Resort and Yavapai Casino is directly across the Hwy 69. Shuttles between the two are available.

Prescott Golf Courses

Prescott is well known as a popular golf destination, drawing thousands of golf enthusiasts each year. In Northern Arizona, the Prescott area has 90 cool holes of golf. Each golf course in Prescott offers challenging, varied terrain including rolling hills, tree-lined fairways and granite outcroppings. The game is made even more pleasant by the sweeping vistas surrounding the courses.

Enjoy panoramic views as you golf at Antelope Hills Golf Course, boasting two challenging, par 72 courses designed by Gary Panks (South Course) and Lawrence Hughes (North Course), or be in the lap of luxury at Prescott Lakes Golf and Country Club's newly renovated facilities.

Antelope Hills Golf Course
1 Perkins Drive
Prescott, AZ 86301
800-972-6818
www.cityofprescott.net/services/golf

Prescott Golf & Country Club
1030 Prescott Country Club Blvd.
Dewey, AZ 86327
928-775-3941
www.prescottgolf.net

Prescott Lakes Golf Club
315 East Smoke Tree Lane
Prescott, AZ
928-443-3500
www.prescottlakes.com
Prescott Lakes Golf Club is the premier golf experience in Northern Arizona.

Quailwood Greens Golf Course
11750 East Highway 69
Dewey, AZ 86327
928-772-0130

StoneRidge Golf Course
1601 North Bluff Top Road
Prescott Valley
928-772-6500
www.stoneridgegolf.com

Regional Destinations/Activities

South Rim, Grand Canyon
Approximately a 3+ hour drive from Prescott. Located 60 miles north of Williams, Arizona (via Route 64 from Interstate 40) and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff (via Route 180).
The entrance fee to Grand Canyon National Park is $25 per private vehicle. The fee for an individual entering by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, or non-commercial group is $12.00 per person. Admission is for seven days and includes both the North Rim and South Rim. No refunds are given due to inclement weather.
Reservations for camping and lodging are essential. When making reservations, remember to identify the rim you plan on visiting. Camping fees are in addition to entrance fees, and are charged per night. Campsite reservations fill up fast; make reservations as far in advance as you can.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon
Located 30 miles south of Jacob Lake on Highway 67; the canyon rim is an additional 14 miles south. The road from Jacob Lake to the North Rim (Highway 67) is subject to closure due to snow from mid-October to mid-May.
The South Rim of Grand Canyon averages 7000 feet/2134 m above sea level and the North Rim is over 8000 feet/2438 m. Visitors with respiratory or heart problems may experience difficulties. All walking at this elevation can be strenuous.

Sedona
A destination for hiking and shopping. Approximately a 1.5 hr. drive from Prescott. North on I 17.
www.visitsedona.com

Flagstaff
Approximately a 2 hour drive from Prescott. North on I 17.
www.flagstaffarizona.org

Tuzigoot National Monument
P.O. Box 219
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
www.nps.gov/tuzi
Visitor Information: 928-634-5564
Headquarters: 928-567-5276
Enjoy the panoramic views of the Verde Valley while learning the history of the Native American cultures in this area.

Montezuma Castle National Monument
www.nps.gov/moca
527 S. Main St.
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Visitor Information: 928-567-3322
Headquarters: 928-567-5276
Gaze through the windows of the past into one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a 1,000 year-old story of ingenuity and survival in an unforgiving desert landscape.

Entrance Fees:
Adults (16 and over): $5.00 (good for seven days)
Children (under 16): Free
(Passes are available at a discounted rate of $8.00 for both Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. If you are planning on visiting both parks, ask for this discounted pass when you purchase your entrance fee at either park.)

Arcosanti
2 miles east of Cordes Junction
928-632-7135
www.arcosanti.org
Paolo Soleri's urban design laboratory. Architectural tours 10-4, bakery, caf_, overnight and conference facilities, hiking, Soleri windbells, concert season, resident arts. Open 9-5 daily.