Mingus Mt, Yeager Canyon Trail #28 loop back to #533
(Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, posting from Prescott, Arizona)
Hike Date: 07/27/2010; 7:30 A. M.; Partly Cloudy Skies; Morning after rain, Fabulous!
If you've never hiked the Yeager Canyon Trail #28 to Trail #111 to #533 and back to Hwy 89A on the west side of Mingus Mountain, I have to tell you, be prepared for a strenuous climb, switchbacks, "thick" forest and fantastic vistas.
This shot is actually from Trail #533 on our way back from an approximate 5 mile loop which covers some remote topography on trail #28, #533 and #111. I was absolutely impressed on this walk in the woods with the Wicket Pooch. We met a local Contractor on the Yeager Canyon ascent by the name of Bob who has been hiking this area for 30 years. I felt short changed when I heard how long he'd been traversing this area. But I do tend to spend most of my hiking time on the South and West sides of Prescott, AZ. But I think I am going to make this loop one of my mid-range milage favorites.
Finding the trail head for the Yeager Canyon hike is a bit difficult now that the forest service has blocked off the easy access to it. But you can still park a few hundred feet from it. If you hike with a pooch, be prepared to either carry your pup over a cattle guard, or figure on dealing with a barbed wire fence. They didn't make it easy on the access here. It's important to note that when you have crossed under the power lines while traveling west from Prescott Valley on Hwy 89A, at the west base of Mingus Mt., you're going to want to look for the first wide spot to the left of Hwy 89 where you can park. The actual trail head is to your right on a curve in the road and south of the wide parking area on the left; about 500 feet south of it. You can do like Wicket and I did and park in front of the barricaded access if you want to. When you make it through all the obstacles that seem to be a deliberate attempt to discourage hikers of giving this a try, you'll notice trail markers for trl 533 and trl 28. Wicket and I had intended to just do the Yeager Canyon Trail over trl #28 initially, but after meeting with Bob on his way back down and learning that the 533 connects with 111 and 111 connects with 28, I decided, why not make this 45 minute walk a little longer and just do the loop.
I have to tell you, that I am glad we decided to do the loop. We were into the round trip for about 2.5 hours total, just as Bob had indicated we would be. Here's a shot of a dead tree on a Martin Limestone outcropping along trl #28 where Bob likes to hike to and check out the views back toward Prescott Valley.
It gets kind of rocky on the Yeager Trail, but stick with it; it does get better as you begin to crest canyon's edge.
Shot taken along trl #111 on our way to the #533. Note: #111 runs for 2 miles and intersects the main road running along the top of Mingus Mt south to Cherry. When you get to the road, turn right and walk about an 1/8 of a mile to trl #533 on your right.
This is the TREASURE of the Day for me!
I am not a forensic expert or an archeologist, but I got to tell you when I saw this old wagon grown over with brush, I thought wow! How lucky am I to have even spotted it lying hidden along side the trail? I just happened to glance over my shoulder in that direction. The thought occurred to me that there might have been hundreds of trail teams that passed it by and never new it was there.
Here's the Trail Boss, Wicket. He's looking at me and probably thinking, dang that human of mine has his camera on me again! This shot was at the end of our descent over trl 533. It's a good trail, but it's full of switchbacks, so getting back to "home plate" seems like it's going to take forever!
Thanks for checking in. "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
Please feel to post your comments and or questions; if you prefer, shoot us an email.
Trail Pooch Team Wicket and Noel
noel@trailpooch.com
Affiliate Website:
www.realtywebnet.com
or noel@realtywebnet.com
Hike Date: 07/27/2010; 7:30 A. M.; Partly Cloudy Skies; Morning after rain, Fabulous!
If you've never hiked the Yeager Canyon Trail #28 to Trail #111 to #533 and back to Hwy 89A on the west side of Mingus Mountain, I have to tell you, be prepared for a strenuous climb, switchbacks, "thick" forest and fantastic vistas.
This shot is actually from Trail #533 on our way back from an approximate 5 mile loop which covers some remote topography on trail #28, #533 and #111. I was absolutely impressed on this walk in the woods with the Wicket Pooch. We met a local Contractor on the Yeager Canyon ascent by the name of Bob who has been hiking this area for 30 years. I felt short changed when I heard how long he'd been traversing this area. But I do tend to spend most of my hiking time on the South and West sides of Prescott, AZ. But I think I am going to make this loop one of my mid-range milage favorites. Finding the trail head for the Yeager Canyon hike is a bit difficult now that the forest service has blocked off the easy access to it. But you can still park a few hundred feet from it. If you hike with a pooch, be prepared to either carry your pup over a cattle guard, or figure on dealing with a barbed wire fence. They didn't make it easy on the access here. It's important to note that when you have crossed under the power lines while traveling west from Prescott Valley on Hwy 89A, at the west base of Mingus Mt., you're going to want to look for the first wide spot to the left of Hwy 89 where you can park. The actual trail head is to your right on a curve in the road and south of the wide parking area on the left; about 500 feet south of it. You can do like Wicket and I did and park in front of the barricaded access if you want to. When you make it through all the obstacles that seem to be a deliberate attempt to discourage hikers of giving this a try, you'll notice trail markers for trl 533 and trl 28. Wicket and I had intended to just do the Yeager Canyon Trail over trl #28 initially, but after meeting with Bob on his way back down and learning that the 533 connects with 111 and 111 connects with 28, I decided, why not make this 45 minute walk a little longer and just do the loop. I have to tell you, that I am glad we decided to do the loop. We were into the round trip for about 2.5 hours total, just as Bob had indicated we would be. Here's a shot of a dead tree on a Martin Limestone outcropping along trl #28 where Bob likes to hike to and check out the views back toward Prescott Valley. It gets kind of rocky on the Yeager Trail, but stick with it; it does get better as you begin to crest canyon's edge.Shot taken along trl #111 on our way to the #533. Note: #111 runs for 2 miles and intersects the main road running along the top of Mingus Mt south to Cherry. When you get to the road, turn right and walk about an 1/8 of a mile to trl #533 on your right.This is the TREASURE of the Day for me!I am not a forensic expert or an archeologist, but I got to tell you when I saw this old wagon grown over with brush, I thought wow! How lucky am I to have even spotted it lying hidden along side the trail? I just happened to glance over my shoulder in that direction. The thought occurred to me that there might have been hundreds of trail teams that passed it by and never new it was there. Here's the Trail Boss, Wicket. He's looking at me and probably thinking, dang that human of mine has his camera on me again! This shot was at the end of our descent over trl 533. It's a good trail, but it's full of switchbacks, so getting back to "home plate" seems like it's going to take forever!Thanks for checking in. "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
Please feel to post your comments and or questions; if you prefer, shoot us an email.
Trail Pooch Team Wicket and Noel
noel@trailpooch.com
Affiliate Website:
www.realtywebnet.com
or noel@realtywebnet.com
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