Coleman Trail

Hikers, riders on horseback and cyclists all share Gaddes 2 Trail, which runs 2.39 miles over native dirt near Jerome, Arizona. The grade stays gentle, between 5 and 8 percent, so the climbing is moderate next to the steeper routes on the mountain. It is rated trail class 3, meaning the tread is wider and better defined than a rough backcountry path. The route carries number 9037 and falls under the Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest. Check with the district for seasonal closures, fire restrictions and current conditions before you set out, and pack water for the whole trip.

Mingus Mountain Campground and Group Site is a campground run by the USFS, filed under the Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest with a Camp Verde mailing address. Sites can be reserved and that there is a fee, so look up the cost and book before you drive up. Directions on file start in Prescott: U.S. Highway 89 north to Highway 89A, then about 19 miles to Forest Road 104 near the summit, and Forest Road 104 is dirt. The only contact given is a usda.gov staff email, not a phone line. We have no open season, site count, water, or restroom details on file.

Gaddes Trail is 2.58 miles near Jerome, in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, as trail number 0110. The typical grade is 10 to 12 percent, which is steep for the distance and means slow going in the uphill direction. It is class 3, on native material. Hiking, horses and bicycles are the allowed uses. A separate and gentler Gaddes trail runs nearby, so check the number on the sign at the junction. Trailhead directions are not posted for this one, so ask the district office.

View Point Trail is 3.06 miles near Jerome, in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, as trail number 0106. The typical grade is 12 to 20 percent, the steepest band listed here, so three miles here is a hard day rather than an easy one. It is class 2, on native material. Hiking, horses and bicycles are all listed as allowed uses. Nothing is posted about what the view is, or from where, so treat the name as a name. Ask the district office about conditions before you drive up.

At 7.67 miles, this is the longest of the routes in the Verde Ranger District listed here, and the grades are the steepest band on offer at 10 to 12 percent. The tread is native dirt throughout. Hiking, horseback riding, and bicycles are the allowed uses, and motors are not on that list. Trail 0114 is rated class 3, so the tread is better defined than a rough path, though length and grade still make it a full outing. The Prescott National Forest manages it. Start early in warm months, carry more water than you think you need, and ask the ranger district about conditions first.

Ash Canyon Trail runs 2.89 miles near Jerome, in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, as trail number 0539. The typical grade is 12 to 20 percent. That is steep, and on a canyon route it usually means the climbing comes in long pushes rather than spread out evenly. The tread is native material; the class is 2. Hiking, horses and bicycles are the listed uses, though a grade this steep is hard work on a bike in at least one direction. Trailhead directions and water information are not posted for this trail, so plan from the district office before you go.

Bug Hollow Trail is 2.9 miles near Jerome, in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest. It is trail number 0548. The typical grade is 12 to 20 percent, the steepest band are listed, so plan on slow going in at least one direction. Native material underfoot, class 2. Hiking, horses and bicycles are listed as allowed uses. The ground near Jerome is steep to begin with, and a trail in this grade band will feel like it. Trailhead directions and seasonal closures are not posted, so check with the district office before the drive.

Butterfly Trail runs 1.59 miles near Jerome, in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest. It is trail number 0536. The typical grade is 10 to 12 percent, steep for a trail this short, so the climbing is concentrated rather than gradual. It is class 3, on native material. Hiking, horses and bicycles are the listed uses. Short and steep is a useful shape to know about: it fits in a morning, but it is not an easy stroll. Trailhead parking details are not posted, so check with the district office before you drive up.