Prescott National Forest Guide

Activities in Prescott National Forest

• Identifying Flora and Fauna

  

  With a wide variety of natural landscapes that transition from dry, rocky desert to pine-covered mountainside forests, a diverse array of plant and animal life are happy to call Prescott National Forest home. From the ponderosa pine forests near the base to the fir trees at the top, the Bradshaw Mountains offer an abundance of unique plants and wildlife for visitors to enjoy. Take a quiet stroll along some of the trails, and you might be lucky enough to catch sight of deer, coyote, fox, or javelina. Visitors are encouraged to use caution when hiking through the area as some of the wildlife can be dangerous if provoked. 

• Fishing

  

  Offering visiting anglers four lakes and eight Verde River access sites, Prescott National Forest is the perfect place to drop a line and test your fishing skills. If you’re looking for some lake fishing, cast your line at Lynx Lake. You might catch some trout, bass, or crappie. The Verde River features warmer waters where catfish and sunfish are plentiful. Those fishing the Verde during cooler months might even catch some rainbow trout. 

• Geocaching

  

  While visitors participate in geocaching within Prescott National Forest, there are no official geocaching site maps to explore. If you engage in geocaching within the forest boundaries, please don’t disturb the native plant life or dig a hole to hide your cache. Instead, leave your items tucked safely behind a tree or under a bush. 

• Nature Watching

  

  Encompassing a wide variety of landscapes, from mountain lakes and streams to the desert floor, Prescott National Forest offers visitors the opportunity to witness nature in many different forms during a single visit. Bird-watchers might be lucky enough to spot a bald eagle soaring over the trees. Hikers may spy deer running through mountain meadows or a snake winding its way across the desert floor. 

• Stargazing

  

  Most of Prescott National Forest is open 24 hours a day, making it a perfect spot for stargazing. Taking a scenic drive through the forest will take you away from the light pollution of the towns and leave the sky wide open atop the valleys below. Stop at a roadside turn out and enjoy looking at the galaxy the way our ancestors did thousands of years ago.