To get to this "off trail hike", travel the Senator Highway south from Prescott. Just past the town of Groom Creek is your goal.
The area east of the road is the hiking area. You can park at the Groom Creek School House parking lot, or there are a few pull off areas along the road.
- Miles... 1.7 miles round trip.
- Time... 1 to 2 hours.
- Difficulty... easy.
- Elevation diff... 366
This area is unique because of the scattered boulder fields mixed with Ponderosa pine and Gambel Oaks.
Trees adapt and eke out a living in small cracks.
It makes this part of Arizona unique. I usually walk south about a mile or so and turn and climb uphill and then return north back to the vehicle.
Other trees grow around boulders.
Here you can see how the boulders have cracked and split apart.
Lichen covered rock.
The boulders throughout this area are covered with colorful lichen. Lichen are an interesting fungus. To survive they have a symbiotic relationship with photobiont or phycobionts. They live a very long time. Perfume and medican are made from lichen.
I have included a Google Track as an example. Because of a storm and overcast skies the GPS lost connection, but it will aid you in finding the area.
Google Map
https://maps.google.com/maps/
All images from Panasonic point and shoot cameras.
Please forgive errors in grammar or spelling as we type from our phones.
