Thumb Butte Hike

One of the most popular hiking trails in the Prescott area is a less than 10-minute drive from downtown. The iconic rock formation at the top of this trail is Thumb Butte.

Since the Yavapai lived in the area, they have used the rock as a defense settlement. Now, the rock caters toward hikers and as a nesting area for the peregrine falcon. When I was hiking, park rangers had already closed the trail that would lead to the top of Thumb Butte for that reason.

The entire trail took me about two hours to complete, but that was due to shooting video and photography. If you’re in shape, the entire trail could be done in 45 minutes, less if you want to run.

The most strenuous part of the trail was the beginning. I climbed 600 feet within 15 minutes to get to the trail that would have led off to Thumb Butte. The rest of the trek is simple. Although the trail is longer, it is downhill.

If you choose to drive and park at the base of the trail, the cost is $5.

In the video, I make reference to the Granite Mountain Hotshots. You can make a donation to the family members by visiting Prescott Firefighter’s Charities.