BUTTE CREEK
TRAIL
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| Butte Creek Bridge at Stricklin Park |
Besides packing
the usual gear and water, hikers on Prescott’s Butte Creek Trail #321 should be
prepared to duck. That’s because the
1.6-mile city-managed section of the route passes through the private Hassayampa
Golf Club.
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| Part of the trail goes through a private golf community |
This pleasantly diverse
pathway that skirts manicured greens and glass-faced homes with wrap-around
balconies provides alternative access to the Thumb Butte Area in Prescott
National Forest. The trail begins at Stricklin
Park where a bridge embellished with whimsical dragonfly sculptures crosses
Butte Creek.
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| Fragrant cliffrose |
Even in drier years like
this one, the creek corridor is alive with greenery.
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| Canyon grapes thrive near the creek |
Massive Fremont cottonwood
trees sway above a meandering strip of willows, oaks, wild roses, reeds, Canyon
grape vines and boxelders. The
well-marked trail wanders through a shady, boulder-lined woodland before it
crosses another bridge and enters the golf community property. The slim path is open to all for recreational
use, but you must stay on the trail. The
next mile explores the suburban-forest interface passing by emerald greens,
golf cart paths and steep-walled riparian ravines where humid pine-moss-addled
air mingles with the scent of cliffrose and fresh cut grass.
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| A pine-shaded passage of Butte Creek Trail |
As the trail gains elevation, the iconic form
of Thumb Butte rises to the north followed by views of Prescott Valley, the
Bradshaw Mountains and the peaks of Flagstaff.
At the 1.6-mile point, the trail enters Prescott National Forest. For a
short stretch beyond the boundary gate, the trail moves through a forest
clearing full of not-so-pretty slash piles (cut branches staged for burning or removal)
but soon regains its beauty in a woodland dominated by Scrub live oak,
manzanita and Ponderosa pines.
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| Riparian vegetation on Butte Creek Trail |
After
0.7-mile, the path meets the first of several junctions that connect with the
Thumb Butte Area trail system.
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| Thumb Butte seen from forest boundary |
Download
the forest service map to customize a long loop or head back the way you came (watching
out for errant white balls flying among scrub jays and ravens) and take a walk
around 5-acre Stricklin Park where you’ll find an archeological site with
interpretive sign.
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| Greenery along Butte Creek |
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| Claret cup cacti bloom along the trail May -July. |
LENGTH: 6.2
miles out-and-back
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 5450
– 6100 feet
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| Watch out for flying golf balls. |
GETTING
THERE:
Stricklin Park
Trailhead: 1751 Sherwood Drive, Prescott.
From downtown
Prescott, travel 1.8 miles west on Gurley Street to Sherwood Drive. Turn left
and continue 0.2 mile to the Strickland Park sign on the left. Park along the
street.
INFO & MAPS:
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