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WHITE SPAR
LOOP TRAILS
Apple Blossom trail crosses Banning Creek
In the
gullies and hills of the Granite Creek watershed northwest of the Goldwater
Lakes, a maze of short, interconnected trails offer access to a diverse pocket
of Prescott National Forest. 
Banning Creek Trail
Pine
forests, riparian corridors, historic relics, and a strangely out-of-place garden
of fruit trees contribute to a continual sting of eye candy in the Central
Arizona hike hub. 
Water pools in Banning Creek
Collectively known as the White Spar Loop Trails, the shaded
singletracks may be explored by way of the White Spar Campground located just a
couple of miles south of Prescott’s historic Whiskey Row. 
Apple blossoms on April 21, 2023.
Well signed and
maintained, the loops are a mash up of newer trails and old standards that also
link up with the 50-mile, city-circumnavigating Prescott Circle Trail. While there are dozens of ways to use the
White Spar Loops to cobble together a day hike or backpack trek, a short
circuit using the Goldwater Lake #396, Banning Creek #81 (the old standards),
Apple Blossom #373 and Twist & Shout #372 (new kids on the block) trails is
a perfect introduction to the area’s many faces.
Tall pines on Goldwater Lake Trail
From the
dirt trailhead parking lot before the campground entrance, the circuit begins
with a 1.5-mile walk on Goldwater Lake #396. This leg climbs easily through
stands of Ponderosa pine, alligator junipers and oaks passing by the Hidden
Valley trail junction. 
Old water pipeline on Banning Creek Trail
The hike hits
its highest elevation (5,920 feet) at the one-mile point, where nice views of
iconic Thumb Butte and Granite Mountain peek through coniferous tree cover. The route then begins a gradual,
half-mile descent to the course of
Banning Creek. 
White Spar Loops are well-signed & maintained
The Banning Creek trail #81
junction can be a little confusing. Hikers may head left (north) and follow the
wide dirt road that traces the creek’s west banks or go right at the “81” sign
and slingshot around to get on the east bank trail. Either way, the two options
converge less than a half-mile north where the creek crosses the dirt road. 
Golden currant blooms along Granite Creek
Adding
notes of history to the hike, an old, elevated water pipeline—a relic of early 20th century water supply
technology-- can be seen following the course of the creek. 
Goldwater Lake Trail is part of the Prescott Circle Trail
Vegetation along this watery leg includes
classic riparian species like willows, cottonwoods, boxelder, and golden
currant shrubs growing in mucky shallows and boulder-bound bends. At the
2.2-mile point, the route heads left onto Apple Blossom trail #373 among
magnificent cottonwoods that stand along a trickling creek crossing. Within a few yards, the trail comes to
another junction where it veers right to meet the eponymous apple
blossoms. 
Common mullein is a familiar plant along the trails
Several small, spindly fruit
trees line the trail, looking sort of lost among towering pines. In spring, creamy flowers scent the air and
attract pollinators. Beyond the blooming
trees, the route continues straight ahead and uphill the somewhat
befuddling #373/#374 junction. Now back in pine-oak woodlands, the trail
passes by a forested subdivision before meeting the Twist & Shout trail #372 junction for the loop’s final leg. 
Granite Mountain seen from Goldwater Lake Trail
True to its name, the path winds among oak
canopies, making hairpin turns around ravines before rejoining Goldwater Lake
trail for the return trip to the trailhead.
LENGTH: 3.7 miles
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 5,517 – 5,920 feet
GETTING THERE:
From Courthouse Square in historic downtown Prescott, go 2.8 miles south on Montezuma Street (U.S. 89/White Spar Road) and turn left into the White Spar Campground. Trailhead parking in on the right before entering the campground. No fee or facilities.
INFO:
Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/prescott/recreation/recarea/?recid=75171
