| Prescott National Forest | |
| Map: | USA |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Yavapai County and Coconino County, Arizona, US |
| Nearest City: | Prescott, AZ |
| Coordinates: | 34.6167°N -149°W |
| Area Acre: | 1,250,000 |
| Established: | 1908 |
| Governing Body: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website: | Prescott National Forest |
The Prescott National Forest is a 1.25 million-acre (510,000 ha) United States National Forest located in north central Arizona in the vicinity of Prescott. The forest is located in the mountains southwest of Flagstaff and north of Phoenix in Yavapai County, with a small portion (about 3.5 percent) extending into southwestern Coconino County.
The Forest Service divides the forest into 3 administrative districts. The northern section of the forest is the Chino Valley Ranger District, the southwest section is the Bradshaw Ranger District, and the southeast section is the Verde Ranger District. Central administrative offices are in Prescott with local ranger district offices in Camp Verde, Chino Valley, and Prescott.[1]
There are eight designated wilderness areas comprising more than 104000acres, located entirely or partially within the Prescott National Forest. These are:
The following table(s) display all public campgrounds within the Prescott National Forest.[2]
Dispersed campsites are undeveloped and no facilities such as trash collection, water and toilets are available. Recommended for experienced campers.
Dispersed camping is allowed in wide areas of the Forest except in the Prescott Basin area. Dispersed campsite locations in that area are listed below.
| Campsite locations | Number of campsites | Campsite numbers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDR 23 – Enchanted Forest Road | 11 | 1–11 | |
| FDR 30 – Bannie Mine Road | 13 | 1–13 | |
| C 56 – Senator Highway | 7 | 1–7 | |
| FDR 79 – Tritle Mountain Road | 16 | 1–16 | |
| FDR 80 – Sundance Road | 6 | 1–6 | |
| FDR 9406L – Pipeline Road | 5 | 1–5 | |
| C 101 – Groom Creek Cut Off Road | 14 | 1–14 | |
| FDR 64 – Marapai Road | 7 | 1–7 | |
| C64 – Copper Basin Road | 5 | 1–5 | |
| FDR 51 – Pott's Creek | 8 | 1–8 |
Developed campsites designed to accommodate families of 5-10 (maximum) per site.
| Campground | District | Elevation | Open season | Sites | Fee | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alto Pit OHV Campground | Bradshaw | 6,200 | All Year | 11 | $10 Single $20 Double $3 Day Use | Overnight Camping and Day Use | |
| Groom Creek Horse Camp | Bradshaw | 6,000 | 05/01 – 10/31 | 36 | $10 | Equestrian campground (horse required), trail access, drinking water, 12 corrals, 2 group sites | |
| Hazlett Hollow | Bradshaw | 6,000 | 05/01 – 10/01 | 15 | $6 | Hiking, remote area, drinking water | |
| Hilltop | Bradshaw | 5,800 | 03/30 – 10/31 | 38 | $18 | Hiking, fishing, gold panning, drinking water | |
| Lower Wolf Creek | Bradshaw | 6,000 | 05/01 – 10/31 | 20 | $6 | Hiking, no drinking water | |
| Lynx Lake | Bradshaw | 5,600 | 03/30-10/31 | 36 | $18 | Lake, boating, fishing, gold panning, hiking, drinking water, no swimming | |
| Mingus Mountain (Black Hills) | Verde | 7,600 | 05/01 – 10/31 | 25 | $6 | Loop B 6 sites ($6.00), Loop E 19 RV sites ($6.00), hiking, scenic views, no drinking water | |
| Potato Patch | Verde | 7,000 | 05/01 – 10/31 | 40 | $10/$15 | Loop A 28 sites ($10.00), Loop B 12 RV sites ($15.00), hiking, close to wilderness, drinking water | |
| Powell Springs | Verde | 5,300 | All year | 10 | $6 | No drinking water | |
| White Spar | Bradshaw | 5,700 | All year | 60 | $10 | Drinking water, 11 sites open all year | |
| Yavapai | Bradshaw | 5,600 | All year | 25 | $10 | Hiking, drinking water, near Granite Lake |
The Prescott Forest Reserve was established by the United States General Land Office on May 10, 1898. It was transferred to the U.S. Forest Service in 1906 and became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908, it absorbed Verde National Forest, and on October 22, 1934, it absorbed Tusayan National Forest.