You’ve Never Experienced Anything Like This Epic Abandoned Railroad Hike In Arizona

The railroad brought significant changes to the West when construction began connecting existing Eastern lines with the West Coast. Most notably, it meant transportation of people and goods could take days instead of weeks or months. Plenty of tracks were laid here in Arizona, making way for quicker, safer transportation that also introduced people to the beautiful scenery found here but most were eventually abandoned in favor of the automobile.

Sadly, only two railways continue to operate today for passenger use. Some continue to lay abandoned but others have been converted to mutli-use trails so that residents can continue to safely enjoy the views along the old rail lines. We’re going to take a look at one such example today: the Peavine National Recreation Trail, one of the best hikes near Prescott, Arizona.

stuinaz/Flickr

The Peavine National Recreation Trail is located in northeastern Prescott and runs through the granite boulders along Watson Lake. The trail is approximately six miles and follows the old Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix Railway. It earned the name "Peavine" due to the way the trail curves on the landscape.

The railroad line was built in 1893 as an extension of the Santa Fe Railway, one of the largest railroads in the country. Eventually, the SFP&P line wound its way down to Phoenix within a couple of years and ran until the line was discontinued in 1984 and the tracks were removed in the 1990s.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Flickr

Advertisement

Related Stories

These 14 Hiking Destinations Along The Arizona Trail Are Unbeatably Beautiful

There’s A Salsa Trail In Arizona And It’s Everything You’ve Ever Dreamed Of

These 8 Easy Hikes In Arizona Will Show You The Best Views Of The Fall Season

stuinaz/Flickr

For the most part, the trail is an easy walk. It is wide and paved, making it easy to navigate for hikers and mountain bikers. The trail starts in the middle of the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, a small riparian area filled with cottonwoods, willows, and local wildlife.

From there it meanders northeast to Watson Lake where you encounter steeper terrain that will give your legs and glutes a good workout. About 1.5 miles into the trail is where you’ll start to encounter the more dramatic scenes of the Granite Dells, huge rounded boulders that create a rugged texture around an otherwise calm lake.

Advertisement

eel_d/Flickr

Michael Wilson/Flickr

Eventually the trail leads to a fork, where the Peavine continues to the left towards Highway 89A and where the Iron King Trail emerges on the right for an additional four miles. The terrain here is flatter with fewer towering trees but still offers a pretty view of the area. Once you reach the end of the trail, enjoy a small picnic lunch and turn around to head back towards the trailhead.

The trailhead is located at 1626 Sundog Ranch Road in Prescott and there is a $3.00 parking fee. Additional trail information and a map can be found at the City of Prescott website.

Want to check out some more scenic trails in Arizona? For a short hike be sure to check out our article, 12 Incredible Hikes Under 5 Miles Everyone In Arizona Should Take.