Thumb Butte Trail #33

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildlife

There is a sign posted at the trailhead cautioning visitors against snakes.

This is a short but steep jaunt up to the base of Thumb Butte with scenic views at the top.

The Thumb Butte Trail is the most heavily traveled trail on the Prescott National Forest, receiving approximately 3,000 visitors each month. It is an excellent place to learn about the area's native wildlife and cultural history, how humans impact natural ecosystems, and the importance of protecting such natural places.

The trail can be traveled as an out and back or in a loop around the Butte's gently sloping western slope to just below its craggy crest (there is no trail access to the peak). At the top, you can take a spur to a spectacular overview of the Prescott area. The steeper eastern portion is paved to control erosion and increase safety. Climbing is not recommended on the top of the butte.

This is an interpretive trail, and connecting this with Trail #314 makes for a great loop. Hiking in a counter-clockwise direction, you'll enjoy 13 interpretive stops and 15 site identification points. You'll learn about the interconnections and interdependence of this area: its people, plant, and animal communities.

Birds, snakes, scrub oak, manzanita, and ponderosa pine trees can be found here.