I’ve been journeying North from Phoenix to Prescott, Arizona, since I was a kid. Then, for eight years in a row, I did church camp at Chapel Rock up there for a week or two each summer, too. Chapel Rock is, sadly, closed this summer due to COVID quarantine. And it has grown a massive amount since I was there! When I was kid, we had no rock climbing wall and ropes course! It was just bunk beds, variety shows, co-ed dances, camp gossip, and a lot of praying & singing!
But one of my great memories from camp is hiking from our camp on the edges of Prescott’s suburbs to Thumb Butte in Prescott National Forest. This area is near Little Granite Mountain, and it’s great for hikers, mountain bikers and rock climbers.
You may also encounter a variety of wildlife in them thar’ hills. There are hummingbirds and eagles have been spotted out there. Pronghorns have been known to roam the high prairies, bobcats come right up to my aunt’s backyard patio in the nearby neighborhood. If you should come across a small pond, it will probably be stocked with blue gills and you may see some small frogs and turtles.
The hike up Thumb Butte is easy to moderate. It’s mostly paved. As with ANYWHERE in Arizona, you should carry in water. I always say at the very minimum one liter per hour (so in this case, bring a liter and a half or two). Trail #33 is very popular so you will encounter folks up there, for sure. Be friendly and say hi–that’s good trail etiquette!
The loop is 2.5 miles total and an easy 688-foot elevation gain. Dogs must be on a leash.
Easy to get to and a quick day hike, recommended year-round. But, be aware: they can get a good amount of snow up there in the winter, so be prepared.
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