Great western trail

oldhockeyvb · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:48 pm

Got a line on the Great Western Trail in the Prescott National Forest. Sounds like an interesting trail for a run this summer. Anyone familiar with the trail?

AZKJ · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:16 pm

Vern... Beth and I have run the portion that starts by the fire station in Jerome and finishes in Williams.

The trail leaves Jerome and goes across the Verde River to Perkinsville (the turn around point for the Verde Canyon Railroad). From there it continues north, then southeast by White Horse Lake and on to the very scenic Sycamore Canyon Overlook. From the overlook, you double back and head north to Williams. Elevation ranges from 3,800' to 9,200'.

It's been 6~7 years since we last ran it. We did it on our own, following some maps/books I have, and had no problems finding our way. It's basically a scenic series of forest service roads with no real 4x4 challenges... but, it's a fun trip none the less. Nice camping in the pines at White Horse Lake.

If you're interested in running this, pick a date, post up and we'll be there (and if you make this a camping trip, we're up for that too).

AJ

Note: map taken from "Travel Arizona the Back Roads" published by Arizona Highways.

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:18 am

I have done the portion of the trail that goes from Chino Valley to Perkinsville and Perkinsville to Jerome. It is very scenic and you an really look down into the Verde Valley. I have not gone from Perkinsville to Williams on the road. I did it last year and the roads are very nice and well kept.

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:19 am

Oh and I have also done it on my dirt bike.

loganbrumm · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:22 pm

AZKJ wrote:

Vern... Beth and I have run the portion that starts by the fire station in Jerome and finishes in Williams.

The trail leaves Jerome and goes across the Verde River to Perkinsville (the turn around point for the Verde Canyon Railroad). From there it continues north, then southeast by White Horse Lake and on to the very scenic Sycamore Canyon Overlook. From the overlook, you double back and head north to Williams. Elevation ranges from 3,800' to 9,200'.

It's been 6~7 years since we last ran it. We did it on our own, following some maps/books I have, and had no problems finding our way. It's basically a scenic series of forest service roads with no real 4x4 challenges... but, it's a fun trip none the less. Nice camping in the pines at White Horse Lake.

If you're interested in running this, pick a date, post up and we'll be there (and if you make this a camping trip, we're up for that too).

AJ

Note: map taken from "Travel Arizona the Back Roads" published by Arizona Highways.

I just bought that book on Amazon this morning! For $1. Can't wait for it to come.

:lol:

AZKJ · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:29 pm

loganbrumm... just a note, nothing in that book is rated medium, much less difficult. They list 20 trips, mostly FS roads which a 2wd can do. Still, they are fun and scenic... those trails were our introduction to off roading way back when.

For $1.00, you can't go wrong.

loganbrumm · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:43 pm

AZKJ wrote:

For $1.00, you can't go wrong.

Ha ha exactly my thought. I picked one up similar in Barnes and Nobel a while back, again, nothing remotely difficult - but its always fun to go around and check out the area (and actually know where you are!)

Do you know of any other books that might have more difficult trials?

AZKJ · **Posted:** Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:21 pm

Here are two good ones:

Guide To Arizona Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells

Backcountry Adventures Arizona by Peter Massey and Jeanne Wilson

Now back to regular programing.....

AZKJ · **Posted:** Sat May 02, 2009 9:26 am

Yo Vern... gave anymore thought on doing this trip??

dynamike · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2009 11:39 am

AZ Great Western Trail

Utah Great Western Trail

AZKJ · **Posted:** Thu May 07, 2009 4:07 pm

Vern... are you going to set this up for the July run? What section of the GWT do you want to run first? I've been looking everywhere for maps, but they're hard to come by. The only section I've run is the one I mentioned above. I have no idea where the other parts of the trail start/end.

Mike D... where was your pic above taken? Do you have any info, maps etc to share about the GWT?

Years ago I did see a sign and a faint track spurring off the Montana Mountain Road trail near the rock garden.

dynamike · **Posted:** Fri May 08, 2009 1:53 pm

AZKJ wrote:

Mike D... where was your pic above taken? Do you have any info, maps etc to share about the GWT?

We ran a part of the GWT up near the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and then it ran into Utah. No, maps, we stumbled across the section of the trail while exploring back roads. It WAS beautiful, took lots of photos. The part of the trail was very easy, basically a dirt backroad.

Great western trail

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