Welcome
All Prescott National Forest Offices are
open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Prescott National
Forest Offices close to observe all major holidays.
FOREST SUPERVISOR: Alan
Quan
Comprised of about 1.25 million acres, the Prescott borders three
other National Forests in Arizona: Kaibab, Coconino, and Tonto.
Roughly half of the forest lies west of the city of Prescott, Arizona,
in the Juniper, Santa Maria, Sierra Prieta, and Bradshaw Mountains.
The other half of the Forest lies east of Prescott and takes in
the Black Hills, Mingus Mountain, Black Mesa, and the headwaters
of the Verde River.
Portions of the Prescott National Forest today are much the same
are they were when Sam Miller panned for gold in Lynx Creek and
was wounded by a cougar, or when General Crook's flag fluttered
over Palace Station.
At the lowest elevation, the primary vegetation is of the Sonoran
Desert type. As the elevation rises, chaparral becomes common,
followed by piñon pine and juniper. Above that, Ponderosa
pine dominates the landscape.
Verde River Guide Now Available
In 1984 the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act established
the portion of theVerde River from Beasley Flat downstream to the
confluence with Red Creek, as Arizona's only Wild and Scenic River.
While it may appear calm at many of the river access points, the
large number of wrecked canoes that have been removed from the
Verde River testify to the fact that is has its share of hazards.
Please plan ahead, be prepared, and practice Leave No Trace ethics
to leave the Verde just as you find it for those who come after.
View the NEW Verde
River Guide (.pdf) |