Length: 3.0 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate

Managing Agency: Prescott National Forest

Journal: "Mary and the Blustery Day"

**Kid Friendly Hike**

From the junction of SR 69 and SR 89 in Prescott, drive South on SR 89 for two-thirds of a mile to Gurley Street.  Follow Gurley Street one mille through downtown Prescott to Grove Avenue.  Turn North (right) on Grove Avenue.  Grove Avenue becomes Miller Springs Road after about a half mile.  Stay on Miller Springs Road until you reach the junction with Iron Springs Road about 1 mile from Gurley Street.  Turn left on Iron Springs Road.  Drive west on Iron Springs road for 3 miles to North Granite Basin Road.  Turn right and follow this winding road 3.25 miles to Granite Mountain Recreation Area.  Follow the One-way loop a quarter mile to the turnoff for the Granite Basin Lake boat launch and the trailhead.  The parking area is a tenth of a mile from the turnoff.

Trail Description:

From the trailhead, walk past the toilet house and past the dam.  The trail begins at a somewhat confusing junction.  Take the left option and descend on the Mint Wash Trail #345 toward the creek.  The trail soon crosses to the north side of the creek and follows along the bank.  The trail is wide and gentle; juniper, oak, and pine trees predominate.  Follow the trail past massive boulders for ¾’s of a mile to the junction with the Mint Wash Connector Trail #352.

Trail 352 climbs quickly away from the creek and heads toward a saddle over the next ¾ of a mile.  The climb is steady but not overly difficult.  The views of the wilderness and Granite Mountain are great.  From the saddle the trail descends moderately for a half mile to the junction with the Chimbly Water Trail #348.  Turn right on trail 348 and continue to descend for a quarter mile to the signed junction with the West Lake Trail #351. 

Turn right on trail 351 and follow it .6 miles to the junction with trail 345.  Trail 345 climbs quickly to cross a finger ridge.  Nice views of the lake are here and after crossing the ridge the trail switchbacks down to the confusing junction described above.  From the junction, cross back over the end of the dam to the parking area.