Arnold Trail

Porcupine Mountain Trail runs about 4.28 miles in the Prescott National Forest. The Verde Ranger District looks after it, and maps show it as trail 0518. Allowed uses are hiking and horseback riding. The tread is native material, so the path is dirt and rock rather than pavement. Grades run between 5 and 8 percent, a steady climb rather than a flat walk. It is rated trail class 2, which means a simple path with little building work done to it. The route was once called Squaw Peak Trail and now carries the Porcupine Mountain name. Ask the Verde Ranger District about current conditions before you drive out.

Box T Trail is a long route in the Prescott National Forest, listed at 10.36 miles. It is managed by the Verde Ranger District and numbered 0511. The surface is native material, meaning dirt and rock rather than pavement. Grades run from 5 to 8 percent, so the climbing is steady rather than sharp. It is rated trail class 2, a basic path without much construction. Allowed uses are wide: hiking, horseback riding, bicycles and all terrain vehicles. Because motorized and quiet users share the same tread, expect company. Ask the Verde Ranger District about conditions and closures before you go.

Tomkins Trail is 4.66 miles near Camp Verde, in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, as trail number 0513. The typical grade is 10 to 12 percent, so there is steady climbing across the whole distance rather than one short pitch. The tread is native material; the class is 2. Hiking, horses, bicycles and ATVs are all listed as allowed uses, which makes this shared ground with possible motorized traffic. Trailhead directions are not posted or water details for it, so check with the district office before you make the drive out.

Chasm Creek Trail climbs through the Prescott National Forest for about 6.36 miles. The Verde Ranger District manages it, and it carries the number 0164. Allowed uses are hiking and horseback riding. Grades run from 12 to 20 percent, which is steep, so this is a harder walk than its length alone suggests. Expect to gain and lose height through the route. The surface is native material, dirt and rock without any paving, and it is rated trail class 2, a plain path. Carry water and start early in warm months. Ask the Verde Ranger District about conditions first.

Ryal Canyon Trail runs about 2.55 miles in the Prescott National Forest, under the Verde Ranger District, and carries the number 0521. It is open to hiking, horseback riding, bicycles and all terrain vehicles, so quiet and motorized users share the same tread. Grades run from 10 to 12 percent, a firm climb over a fairly short distance. The surface is native material, dirt and rock without paving, and it is rated trail class 2. Dust and noise are part of a shared use route. Ask the Verde Ranger District about conditions and any seasonal closures before you go.

Box T Trail is a long route in the Prescott National Forest, listed at 10.36 miles. It is managed by the Verde Ranger District and numbered 0511. The surface is native material, meaning dirt and rock rather than pavement. Grades run from 5 to 8 percent, so the climbing is steady rather than sharp. It is rated trail class 2, a basic path without much construction. Allowed uses are wide: hiking, horseback riding, bicycles and all terrain vehicles. Because motorized and quiet users share the same tread, expect company. Ask the Verde Ranger District about conditions and closures before you go.

Buckskin Trail is 1.88 miles near Camp Verde, in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest, as trail number 179. The typical grade is 5 to 8 percent, moderate throughout, and the surface is native material. The trail class is 1, the least developed class, so expect rough tread and light marking rather than a graded path. The allowed uses are not posted, so ask before you ride. On a class 1 trail the navigation matters as much as the distance: carry a map and do not rely on signs at junctions.

Camp Verde Trail is the longest route in this set, at 12.42 miles, and it sits in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest as trail number 0545. The typical grade is 8 to 10 percent, which over that distance adds up to real climbing. Native material underfoot, class 3. Hiking, horses, bicycles and ATVs are all listed as allowed uses, so expect shared traffic. A trail this long needs planning: water, weather, daylight and a way back. Trailhead and water details are not posted, so start with the district office rather than with the map alone.