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TreelineReview: Prescott Circle Trail Guide

Prescott Circle Trail Guide

TreelineReview: Prescott Circle Trail Guide

Last updated:
September 16, 2021
|  5 min read

TreelineReview: Prescott Circle Trail Guide

TreelineReview: Prescott Circle Trail Guide

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Prescott Circle Trail Guide

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Prescott Circle Trail Guide

Written By: Brandon Lampley

The Prescott Circle Trail is a 60-mile loop around the city of Prescott, Arizona. Snuggled in a shallow valley at the base of the Bradshaw Mountains, Prescott was the first territorial capital of Arizona and home to the Yavapai and Apache for millennia. The ‘other PCT’ is open to all non-motorized use and is popular with hikers, runners, and mountain bikers alike. The trail skirts popular lakes and mountains that define the greater valley, with amazing views from a well-maintained and gently-graded hike and bike trail.


Distance:
56 miles

Days: 3–5

Elevation gain/loss: 6,650 feet

Best season: April–October

Permits: Required for campgrounds and some parking, none for hiking

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

WHAT TO KNOW

The author recently completed the Circle in a counterclockwise hike over three days, camping twice along the way in Forest Service campgrounds. While it's a great mini thru-hike for fit backpackers, the Circle is also popular with day hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. You might even meet some locals out on horseback along the way. In this article, we’ll detail a three-day backpacking trip, suggestions for base camping and day hiking the whole loop over five days, as well as a few favorite loops that use the Circle. Read on here.

TreelineReview: Prescott Circle Trail Guide

Prescott Circle Trail Guide

Written By: Brandon Lampley

The Prescott Circle Trail is a 60-mile loop around the city of Prescott, Arizona. Snuggled in a shallow valley at the base of the Bradshaw Mountains, Prescott was the first territorial capital of Arizona and home to the Yavapai and Apache for millennia. The ‘other PCT’ is open to all non-motorized use and is popular with hikers, runners, and mountain bikers alike. The trail skirts popular lakes and mountains that define the greater valley, with amazing views from a well-maintained and gently-graded hike and bike trail.


Distance:
56 miles

Days: 3–5

Elevation gain/loss: 6,650 feet

Best season: April–October

Permits: Required for campgrounds and some parking, none for hiking

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

WHAT TO KNOW

The author recently completed the Circle in a counterclockwise hike over three days, camping twice along the way in Forest Service campgrounds. While it's a great mini thru-hike for fit backpackers, the Circle is also popular with day hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. You might even meet some locals out on horseback along the way. In this article, we’ll detail a three-day backpacking trip, suggestions for base camping and day hiking the whole loop over five days, as well as a few favorite loops that use the Circle. Read on here.

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Media Mentions from Treeline Review
Treeline
We’re outdoor adventurers from across the country who believe that less time researching means more time spent outdoors.
Media Mentions

TreelineReview: Prescott Circle Trail Guide

Prescott Circle Trail Guide

Written By: Brandon Lampley

The Prescott Circle Trail is a 60-mile loop around the city of Prescott, Arizona. Snuggled in a shallow valley at the base of the Bradshaw Mountains, Prescott was the first territorial capital of Arizona and home to the Yavapai and Apache for millennia. The ‘other PCT’ is open to all non-motorized use and is popular with hikers, runners, and mountain bikers alike. The trail skirts popular lakes and mountains that define the greater valley, with amazing views from a well-maintained and gently-graded hike and bike trail.


Distance:
56 miles

Days: 3–5

Elevation gain/loss: 6,650 feet

Best season: April–October

Permits: Required for campgrounds and some parking, none for hiking

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

WHAT TO KNOW

The author recently completed the Circle in a counterclockwise hike over three days, camping twice along the way in Forest Service campgrounds. While it's a great mini thru-hike for fit backpackers, the Circle is also popular with day hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. You might even meet some locals out on horseback along the way. In this article, we’ll detail a three-day backpacking trip, suggestions for base camping and day hiking the whole loop over five days, as well as a few favorite loops that use the Circle. Read on here.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentions from Treeline Review
Treeline
We’re outdoor adventurers from across the country who believe that less time researching means more time spent outdoors.
Media Mentions
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