AZ- Crown King Area Trails - Looking for Input

[biglowt]

I have a camping trip up by Crown King planned in a few weeks. Several friends are joining us and we will be heading up the easy way thru Bumble Bee.

I would like to do some exploring up there and am looking for anyones input on unique sights, old buildings, etc.

Expect to camp on the Senator Hwy a couple miles past Crown King. Not all have 4wd, which really limits how good of a camping spot we can get, but my truck (4runner, 36s, lockers, etc) will have no problem exploring side roads while we are up there.

I was planning on heading out on Senator hwy to Prescott, but was contemplating taking the shortcut out to Mayer or thru Poland Junction. Anyone know the condition of these roads? Also considering thru Minnehaha based on another post here.

Any help is appreciated.:sign_thankyou:

[crawler#976]

Tom,

When I first went thru Minniehaha Flat back in the mid 70's it still had complete, livable buildings that looked like someone had just left. Same with several other mining camps that the FS destroyed shortly after...

We've had no snow to speak of, so unless that changes soon, it'll be dry and dusty with the exception of the north facing slopes thru Crooks Canyon west of Palace Station. Shouldn't be a problem tho. As you wind your way up Crooks (named after Gen. George Crook) Canyon, keep your eyes open for a concrete and stone bridge with a large rock on the north side of the road (the creek will be on the north side too as you parallel it). There is a south turn up the hill just east of the bridge - the road dead ends after just a couple hundered feet at the base of a HUGE fir tree...and I do mean HUGE!!! 16' 10" in circumference...

Just west of Palace Station are the remains of the old mining community Venezia. Not much left tho...concreate foundations for the stamp mill are about all thats left...

Golden Eagle Mine is also west of Palace Station, (almost to the top of the Great Divide Mine, that's where Sentaor splits off to Prescott or Walker road). It offers the opportunity to drive up to the top of Mt. Trittle, but it requires a 4x4 to get up the loose switch backs. If you head up there stay on the main road until you hit a T intersection at the top of the ridge, turn right and go on up to the top - great veiws!

Mark

[crawler#976]

Senator to Old Dandrea Ranch (the back way to Walker/Poland Jnct) was nearly impassable due to downed trees last time I was on it - had to move a few, drive over/thru a few...not all that easy to do.

The bark beetle killed trees from 2003 are starting to fall due to rot, and it's getting to where having a chain saw along is almost mandatory off the main roads.

[biglowt]

Thanks Mark. As it stands now I will either head out through Senator Hwy or through Minnehaha. Will a 2wd drive truck make it through to Prescott on Senator? Asking because others might want to head out with me and I want to know whether to turn them back or let them go forward. I ran that road 5 or 6 years ago and it was not real bad, just a little rocky in a few spots.

Senator hwy is peaking my interest... I would like to see the tree and the other sites you listed.

[crawler#976]

Tom, 2x4 should be fine either way.

Minniehaha is rougher than the Senator Hwy.

FYI: Route finding on the Minniehaha route can be confusing - the trail to Wagoner Rd hasn't been maintained in several years, and it has several side roads that look better than the main road itself.

If you head out via Wagoner Rd. you'll be astounded by the $$$ spent at the ranchs - pipe fences that go all the way to Yarnell...

[crawler#976]

Tom,

I headed out Senator Hyw on Friday afternoon to get coord for Big Tree. Here they are:

34.39524 112.42286

But,








Big Tree is dead...





Looks like the drought has done what even the extreme need for timber in the 1880's couldn't do. Big Tree was one of the few - very few - gaint Fir trees to survive the mining years when they virtually clear cut everything in the Prescott area.