Number Length 

(miles)

Map 

Grid Activities Comments

323 - Butte 

Connection 0.6 D5 Views and connects Trails 326 and 321.

326 - Thumb 

Butte Connector 2.0 B5 E4

Creates a hiking loop trail when using Trails 33 

and 314. Accessible to horses from Trail 367.

327 - Pott’s 

Creek 0.5 F3 F5

Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the 

city of Prescott.

332 - Javelina 3.6 B3 Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the 

city of Prescott.

367 - Miller 

Creek 0.7 C4 Parallels Thumb Butte Road along Miller Creek.

386 - Pine Lake 

Connector 0.3 B6 An easy, short trail. Provides a loop when used with Trails 315 and 316.

387 - Rio Vista 0.7 F5 Can be accessed from a city trail.

392 - Garden 

Grove 1.5 C3E4

Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the 

city of Prescott.

Number Length 

(miles)

Map 

Grid Activities Comments

33 - Thumb Butte 1.75 C5 Very popular, well maintained trail. 

Great views from the top. HIKING ONLY!

314 - Thumb 

Butte Spur 0.5 D5 Creates a loop trail when used with Trails 33 and 326.

315 - 

Watertower 0.7 B6 Very moderate trail. Connects to Trail 317. Southern end closed to horses.

316 - Pine Lakes 1.4 A5 After a short climb, descends into Willow Creek 

riparian area. Southern end closed to horses.

317 - Ridgetop 0.6 A6 Climbs to a ridge with good views. 

East end goes into a subdivision.

318 - West 1.4 C3 

A5

At the western trailhead, horses may 

access this trail.

321 - Butte 

Creek 1.5 E6 F4

Can be accessed from a city trail in 

Strickland Park.

322 - Circle 

Connection 0.5 F4 Part of a 45-mile trail that encircles the city of Prescott.

Trails
United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Southwestern Region

RG-R3-09-6

Thumb Butte Area

Bradshaw Ranger District

Prescott National Forest

Printed on recycled paper • September 2008

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its 

programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, 

and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, 

sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all 

or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. 

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, 

large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 

720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, 

Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 

DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA 

is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Your recreation fees 

produced this brochure. 

Thank you very much for 

your support!

For More Information, Contact . . .

Prescott National Forest

344 S. Cortez Street

Prescott, AZ 86303

Phone: (928) 443-8000

Fax: (928) 443-8008

Or visit . . .

www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/ 

U.S. Fee Area

Welcome . . . 

to the Thumb Butte Area

The Thumb Butte area is one of the most 

popular destinations on the Prescott National 

Forest. Mild weather, cool ponderosa pine forest, a 

comfortable picnic area, and a variety of trails that 

offer hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers 

many routes to explore.

Group Picnic Site

The Thumb Butte group picnic area is open all 

year. It is available for an additional fee by reservation 

only. Reservations can be made by calling 1-877-444-

6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov

Thumb Butte Trail No. 33

Thumb Butte Trail is open to hikers only. The 

trail is almost 2 miles long and is moderately difficult. 

Allow yourself about 1.5 hours to hike the entire 

trail. A short spur trail near the crest offers a good 

viewpoint of the Prescott area. The steep side of the 

trail (the east side) and a few other places are paved 

in order to minimize soil erosion that was damaging 

the trail. 

Over 122,000 people live less than an hour’s drive of the Thumb Butte 

area. Private property in the tri-city area can be seen from many of the 

trails. Please be extra careful while visiting this wildland-urban interface 

area so others can enjoy the forest too.

Day-Use Area Notes

All picnic sites have tables and grills. •

Pets are welcome but must be leashed at all •

times. Please clean up after your pet.

Trash receptacles are available. Dumping of •

any refuse brought in from private property is 

prohibited.

Opening and closing of the day-use area •

varies with the seasons. Check our Web site 

for current hours.

There are no RV sanitary dump stations. •

Horses are not permitted in the day-use area. •

Target Shooting and Hunting

Discharging any weapon is prohibited at all 

times within the Thumb Butte Recreation Area 

boundary.

To protect nesting peregrine falcons, 

the Thumb Butte cliff face and surrounding 

area are closed to rock climbing each 

winter and spring to allow for undisturbed 

falcon nesting. Trail 33 is open all year. 

Please check our Web page and posted 

local notices throughout the Thumb Butte 

area for specific dates and locations of the 

closure area.

Adjacent to 

the picnic area . . .

hikers and bicyclists can 

enjoy short loop trails or longer 

trails to the north and south. Across 

the road to the south, the popular 

Thumb Butte Loop Trail No. 33—for 

hikers only—offers a rewarding 

hike that takes you to beautiful 

vistas from the shoulders of Thumb 

Butte. Along the way, interpretive 

signs present information about 

the natural landscape and human 

influences of the area.

Day-Use Area and Facilities

Name Number 

of Tables

Reservation 

Needed Facilities and Activities

No 9 Individual Picnic Sites *

No 3 Small Ramada Picnic Site

12 Group Ramada and Picnic Site Yes

(1-877-444-6777)

* All but 3 sites are accessible

TH

Need a Few Good Reasons to Leash Your Dog?

Here they are . . .

Leashes protect dogs from becoming lost and from wildland hazards such as 

porcupines, mountain lions, snakes, and sick, injured, or rabid animals.

Failure to leash your dog may result in a fine.

Unleashed dogs increase the probability of dogs being banned from your 

favorite public lands.

A leashed dog’s keen senses can enhance your awareness of nearby wildlife or 

other wildland visitors.

Unleashed dogs harass, injure, and sometimes kill wildlife.

Unleashed dogs intimidate other hikers and their dogs, depriving them of the 

peace wildlands provide.