About the Area
The Prescott National Forest (PNF) is one of six national forests in Arizona. Prescott National Forest is in north-central Arizona and encompasses about 1.25 million acres in two discrete units on the east and west sides of Prescott, Arizona. The western portion of the forest includes the Juniper, Santa Maria, Sierra Prieta, and Bradshaw mountains. The eastern portion incorporates the Black Hills, Mingus Mountain, Black Mesa, and the headwaters of the Verde River. The forest borders the Kaibab, Coconino, and Tonto national forests.
Prescott National Forest is divided into three ranger districts: the Chino Valley Ranger District covers the areas east and west of Chino Valley, the Bradshaw Ranger District covers the area near Prescott and south into the Bradshaw Mountains, and the Verde Ranger District covers the area north of Jerome and Clarkdale and along the southern edge of the Verde Valley (figure 2). Prescott National Forest shares boundaries with Aqua Fria National Monument; the Coconino, Kaibab, and Tonto national forests; Bureau of Land Management (BLM) ‒ Hassayampa Field Office; Arizona State Trust lands; and several communities including Prescott, Camp Verde, and Cottonwood (PNF Draft Management Plan 2010).
Prescott National Forest includes four predominant vegetative communities. The lowest elevations are dominated by the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. At slightly higher elevations chaparral, then piñon pine and juniper are encountered. The forest’s highest elevations are characterized by ponderosa pine forest. Most recreation activity occurs at the higher elevations. The forest has been the site of historic use since the 1860s when miners began scouring the streams and mountains for precious metals. Much of the forest has been a federally managed landscape since 1898 when it was established as a forest reserve to protect the water supply of Prescott. The Prescott Forest Reserve, along with the nearby Verde Forest Reserve, was consolidated into Prescott National Forest by Executive Order 908 on July 1, 1908. Mining, livestock grazing, and recreation have historically been the most significant forest uses.
History of the Area
The Desert Southwest holds an extraordinary record of the past. Rock shelters, cliff dwellings, pithouse villages, pueblos, incredible rock art, and the remains of historic homesteads, railroads, and “ghost towns” are but a few of the wonders that await your discovery. Archeological sites give visitors the opportunity to peer into the past which can spark wonder, delight, surprise, and reflection. Numerous federal and state parks, historical societies, and museums adjacent to Prescott National Forest attract students and visitors from around the globe to experience first-hand the long-time use of this area by humans. More recent Forest history was shaped by mining, grazing, and timber harvested to satisfy the needs of settlers of European descent.