Photography by Mare Czinar Fall foliage is a highlight of View Point Trail.

Craving crisp mountain air, scenic views and unforgettable fall color? Simply follow these trails.

For more than a century, the ore-rich hillsides above Jerome have yielded tons of high-grade gold, silver and copper. Although the heyday of big mining operations has come and gone, the hills still harbor plenty of gold of another sort – if you know where to look.

Coaxed out of hiding by October’s shorter days and cooler temperatures, the deciduous forests of Mingus and Woodchute mountains transform into a vibrant patchwork of gold, ruby and topaz, creating a major attraction for those who appreciate the rare beauty of these twin peaks towering over Central Arizona’s high desert basins.

At a high mountain pass above the town of Jerome, two dirt roads head off in opposite directions. Go east for the bustling campgrounds and picnic areas of Mingus Mountain or, for a more remote feel, head west into the Woodchute wilderness. Then follow one – or all – of these hiking trails for panoramic views, cooler temperatures and a smattering of luscious fall color.

View Point Trail
Prescott National Forest

A traipse through an archway of golden Gambel oaks sets the stage for the hallmark mountain vistas and brilliant foliage of View Point Trail No. 106. Beyond this “grand entrance,” the slender path begins its gradual descent along the east face of Mingus Mountain, weaving through a mixed bag of terrain that includes exposed juniper-agave high desert and pine-oak forests fringed with Bigtooth maples. From the trail’s high vantage point, the towns of Jerome and Cottonwood appear like scribbles on a map far below, while the course of the Verde River paints a lazy swath of green on a brown landscape.
Just past the 1.3-mile mark, at the junction for trail 105A, the route takes a severe dip into the canyon. It’s here that the hike rating goes from moderate to difficult as the path clambers roughly 700 feet downhill on loose rocks to the turnaround point at Allen Springs Road. Casual hikers can opt to stay on the high road and make the junction their turnaround point instead.

Length: 4 miles roundtrip
Rating: moderate-difficult
Elevation: 7,800-6,000 feet
Getting There: From Jerome, go 7 miles southwest on Highway 89A to Mingus Mountain Road (Forest Road 104). Turn left and continue on FR 104 for 2.4 miles to where it ends at a “T” intersection in the campground. Make an immediate left and park in the circular turnout near the “106” trail sign.
Fee: $2 per person daily fee. Bring exact change for the self-serve permit kiosk.
Info: www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/verde/viewpt106.shtml

North Mingus Trail

North Mingus Trail
Prescott National Forest

An eclectic mix of scenery and forests are the highlights of North Mingus Trail No. 105. Although there are two trailheads for this route, most hikers choose to start at the top of Mingus Mountain and hike downhill. That’s because the route is easier to follow when hiked in this direction. Right from the start, this popular trail will impress with magnificent views from atop a pine-shaded hang glider launch pad. Here, the rugged Verde Valley rolls out 1,600 feet below.

The hike begins with a pleasant stroll across the mountain summit under a canopy of warm gold Gambel oaks huddling beneath enormous conifers. After this short “warm up” section, the trail dips downhill along the north face through colorful corridors of Bigtooth maples, box elders and velvet ash. Soon, the path enters an enchanting passage where a mass of volcanic boulders cascades down a slender slot canyon. Here, vertical stony walls and a stand of aspens thrive in the cooler microclimate. Past the aspen grove, the trail enters a more arid clime with intermittent sections of grasslands, fields of agave and ridgelines studded with wispy mountain mahogany. An abandoned mine marks the point where the trail merges with an old Jeep road that leads downhill to Mescal Spring, the turnaround point for the hike. This trail also can be hiked one-way using a car shuttle at each trailhead.

LENGTH: 8.5 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6,000-7,800 feet
GETTING THERE: Mingus Mountain trailhead: From Jerome, go 7 miles southwest on Highway 89A to Mingus Mountain Road (Forest Road 104). Turn left and continue on FR 104 for 2.4 miles to where it ends at a “T” intersection in the campground. Turn left here and go uphill to the trailhead near the hang glider launch pad.
Mescal Spring trailhead: From Jerome, go 4 miles southwest on Highway 89A. Just before the sign for Prescott National Forest, between mileposts 339 and 338, turn left onto an unmarked dirt road (Forest Road 338). FR 338 is a very rough road so those without four-wheel-drive vehicles should park in the turnouts along the highway. Continue down FR 338 for a half-mile to the cement tank that marks Mescal Spring. From here, veer right (southwest) and go uphill. Bear left at all unmarked junctions until you reach the signed turnoff for trail No. 105 on the right. This route adds one mile to the hike description above.
INFO: www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/verde/nomingus105.shtml

A cluster of trees along Woodchute Mountain Trail

Woodchute Mountain Trail
Woodchute Wilderness Area

Cooler temperatures and shorter days work together to paint the oak trees on Woodchute Mountain in a palette of orange and gold. The mountain is really more of a long ridgeline with Prescott Valley on one side and grand views of the red cliffs of Sedona and the peaks of Flagstaff on the other. Easy to follow, trail No. 102 ascends the mountain in a gently meandering style that swings from east to west, showcasing vistas of much of northern Arizona. The hike culminates with an easy stroll across a breezy high prairie that dead-ends at the steep east face of the mountain. Here, blood-red maples and honey-colored scrub oaks frame views of Jerome and the Verde Valley.

LENGTH: 7.4 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 7,000-7,700 feet
GETTING THERE:  From Jerome, go 7 miles southwest on Highway 89A to the turnoff for Potato Patch Campground. Turn right and continue .3 miles to the signed road for the Woodchute trailhead on the left. Follow this road to a parking loop with restrooms. Those without a high-clearance vehicle should park here. To find the trailhead, head right (east) and hike or drive (high clearance needed) up Forest Road 106 (also signed as FR 102/106) for a half-mile to the wilderness sign and trail register. If you opt to hike the road, add 1 mile to the trip length above.
INFO: www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/chino/woodchute102.shtml
NOTE: At press time, Woodchute Trail No. 102 was temporarily closed due to nearby fire activity. For current information on fire restrictions or wildfires, visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott or call the Prescott National Forest fire information line at 928-777-5799.

In an effort to spend every possible moment outdoors, Scottsdale residents Jim and Susan Doughan wanted to bring the comforts and elegance of their home to their backyard patio.

With the addition of limestone flooring, outdoor furniture, tasteful accessories, and specimen-size landscape plants, the well-used open-air living room acts as an extension of the house
The Basics
Location: Mingus Mountain and Woodchute Mountain are located at the high pass of Highway 89A between Prescott and Jerome. Access roads are maintained dirt and passable by sedan.

Elevation: 6,000-7,800 feet

Best time for fall color: early to mid-October
For weekly reports, call the Forest Service
Fall Color Hotline at 800-354-4595.

Driving distance from nearby towns:
• Phoenix: 120 miles
• Jerome: 10 miles
• Prescott: 25 miles

Sleep & Stay
Conner Hotel (pet friendly)
164 Main St., Jerome
928-634-5006 • connorhotel.com

Ghost City Inn
541 Main St., Jerome
888-634-4678 • ghostcityinn.com

Eat & Drink
Asylum Restaurant
200 Hill St. (inside the Grand Hotel), Jerome 928-639-3197 • theasylum.biz

Flat Iron Café
416 Main St., Jerome • 928-634-2733

Jerome Palace-Haunted Hamburger
410 Clark St., Jerome • 928-634-0554

Camping & Picnicking
Mingus Mountain Campground
Open May 1-October 31 • 928-567-4121 
www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/camping-day-use-ohv/mingus-mountain-cg-and-day-use.shtml

Potato Patch Campground
Open: May 1-October 31 • 928-567-4121
www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/camping-day-use-ohv/potato-patch-cg.shtml

Information
Jerome Chamber of Commerce
928-634-2900 • jeromechamber.com

Prescott National Forest
928-443-8000 • www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott