The Prescott Circle Trail (PCT) is a 54-mile loop around the city of Prescott — and it is a city, no longer a small town like in the Billy Jack days — that utilizes City of Prescott, Yavapai County and Prescott National Forest trails. The PCT is a multiuse trail, which means hikers, trail runners, dog walkers, mountain bikers and even horse riders may enjoy it. But not motorized vehicles.
I’ve hiked bits & pieces of the Prescott Circle Trail pretty much ever since I started blogging and making videos of my hikes. But it wasn’t until 2018 that I even realized the PCT existed. (I live in Phoenix.) So, I set out to hike the whole thing. There are a few camp spots on the PCT, but I got enough “camping” in the Army. 🏕
Instead I decided to section hike the Prescott Circle Trail, just like I am the C&O Canal on trips to Maryland, and the Ice Age Trail on trips to Wisconsin.
So far, I’ve completed the nine miles from Copper Basin Rd. to Thumb Butte, and the ten miles from Thumb Butte to Katahn Rd. Skipping the 1.5 miles of road walking between Katahn Rd. and Williamson Valley Rd., today I set out to hike the seven miles from Williamson Valley to Willow Creek. And since I was in Prescott, my mine exploring buddy Prescottstyle (Paul) came along. ⚒️
If you don’t have a shuttle driver like Paul and I did, there are other options for hiking these two segments of the Prescott Circle Trail:
- From Willow Creek Park to the Willow Creek Rd. tunnel, then back: 1.0 miles, totally flat. Lots of older folks like this, especially for the birding opportunities.
- Starting at either end, out & back between Willow Creek Park and Kuebler Park: 6.1 miles, 325 ft of accumulated elevation gain (AEG).
- From Kuebler Park to Williamson Valley, then back: 8.8 miles, 900 AEG. Though legal to park at the Williamson Valley Rd. “trailhead”, there is not a whole lot of space in the pullout, so I would not leave my vehicle there.
- Feeling strong? The whole thing, out back is 14.5 miles, 1125 AEG. I’d start at Willow Creek Park.
Longview Trail is the first 1.8 miles of Prescott Circle Trail east of Williamson Valley Rd. Longview Trail is basically flat, as it follows the contour line between Pioneer Parkway and a housing development to the north. I’m not sure if it is on Prescott National Forest or Yavapai County land, but Longview ends when the PCT enters the City of Prescott.
The mile-long section of the Prescott Circle Trail through Pioneer Park used to be the Whipple Barracks Target Range. No more boom booms, but it is criss-crossed with old jeep trails. 🚫💣
There are two wooden benches in Pioneer Park, as the Prescott Circle Trail begins a slow 300 ft. descent over the next five miles to Willow Creek. There’s also two large tunnels under Pioneer Parkway, which can be used as shortcuts to Kuebler Park. (Something I took into consideration, as Paul’s knee was acting hinky.)
There is a third Pioneer Parkway tunnel, and it is that which the Prescott Circle Trail passes through. The 1.2 mile section of the PCT between the second and third tunnels is the Legacy Trail. Shade is a precious commodity between Williamson Valley and Willow Creek, so the cool tunnel was a welcome minute out of the sun.
After walking through the tunnel, we could see the Kuebler Park baseball fields, which due to the Prescott Circle Trail’s many mountain bike-optimized switchbacks, it still took a ½ mile of walking to get to. Paul’s knee was hanging in there, so rather than stop at Kuebler Park, we continued, through the tunnel under Commerce Dr.
The Prescott Circle Trail borders a city truck yard and some more baseball fields, before reaching the simple barbwire fence which encloses Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The gate had a chain across it, with a “no trespassing”. We didn’t see an alternative, so Paul & I opted for a liberal interpretation of the sign, that it was meant for the Embry-Riddle’s physical plant rather than the PCT itself. 😇
From the gate, the Prescott Circle Trail parallels a Yavapai County equipment yard and the county health clinic, where there is another chained gate. Maybe the “no trespassing” sign is intended for bums & meth addicts?
The Prescott Circle Trail then passes behind a mini-storage and a Subaru dealer to the edge of Willow Creek Rd. The park is literally 250 yds. away, right behind the Honda dealer. But the PCT instead turns north. 😏
After a few more switchbacks, the Prescott Circle Trail arrives at the tunnel under Willow Creek Rd. … Which had an orange reflector traffic barricade across it … and another “no trespassing” sign. Maybe it’s because of the Chinese Lung AIDs?
Willow Creek looks more like a lake, and despite appearances, is a reservoir separate from Watson Lake. Along the creek’s shore, Prescott Circle Trail is a wide path, making easier “social distancing” from all the other folks on it. The Cottonwood Peninsula, and the trail accessing it, were underwater, making the area look more like a mangrove swamp. I briefly contemplated fording it, like I did on the Gila Box River Trail five years ago.
When Paul and I arrived at the dog park, my wife was nowhere to be found. Turned out she was waiting for us back at Kuebler Park. No big: Without her shuttle driving, I would not be able to do these hikes. 😘
In summary, the Prescott Circle Trail between Williamson Valley and Willow Creek is a locals hike, but for folks from Prescott, not Phoenix. It was a pleasant stroll, but otherwise not worth driving two hours for, unless you plan on hitting Whiskey Row later on.
Williamson Valley TH Directions: From Courthouse Square, head north on Montezuma St. for just over 3.0 miles. (Montezuma St. becomes Whipple St. and then Iron Springs Rd.) Turn right on Williamson Valley Rd. In 2.6 miles, on the northeast corner of Pioneer Parkway is a small pullout. That is the trailhead.
Kuebler Park Directions: From Courthouse Square, head north on Montezuma St. for 1.7 miles. (Montezuma St. becomes Whipple St.) Turn right on Willow Creek Rd. In 3.9 miles, at the Ford dealer, turn left on Commerce Dr. In 0.9 miles, Kuebler Park will on your left, opposite Pioneer Park.
Willow Creek Park Directions: From Courthouse Square, head north on Montezuma St. for 1.7 miles. (Montezuma St. becomes Whipple St.) Turn right on Willow Creek Rd. In 4.1 miles, Willow Creek Park will be on your right, across from the Toyota dealer.
GPS File: PCT_Williamson_Valley_to_Kuebler_Park_to_Willow_Creek_Park
Distance: 7.39 miles
AEG: 403 ft.
Time: 2h 55m
Hiking Video
Prescott Circle Trail: Williamson Valley to Willow Creek from Preston McMurry on Vimeo.
