Prescott, Arizona

April 30 - May 3, 2024 :

We’re off on another short adventure to the White Spar campground a few miles outside of Prescott, Arizona.  It’s about a 200 mile drive, but a stressful one driving across Phoenix on I-10 and then the steep curves and uphills on route 17.  We exit onto Highway 69 heading for Prescott which is beautiful scenic country until you reach Prescott Valley.  At Prescott Valley the development appears to be on track to become the next  Phoenix.  Prescott Valley eventually merge into downtown Prescott which it’s a good example of urban preservation being done right.     

The White Spar campground is only three miles uphill from the downtown in the Prescott National Forest, a tree covered and very relaxed setting.  We had reserved one of the only campsites available for three consecutive nights, but when we arrive there are lots of empty campsites and there are no indications that any of the sites, including ours, is reserved.  Our campsite appears to be one of the worst in the campground being on the side of the road and not very level, but we have enough leveling blocks to make it acceptable.  On the good side, the site has full sun which is important when you are charging your battery using solar power or your generator as there is no electric hookup.  I hate using a generator in a campground setting with other campers nearby, it just seems so wrong.    

As setting up, we immediate go for a hike on the Goldwater Lake Trail for about 2 miles on a moderately forested trail heavily laden with beautiful limestone rocks.  This area suffered a massive forest fire several years ago which came to light when we came upon a memorial on the trail to fire fighters who died fighting this fire.

Trail view in a more open area

Fire fighter memorial off the trail

The White Spar campground is located at 5,641foot elevation and in the middle of the night we found it getting colder than expected, luckily we had a sleeping bag to add to the blankets.  It was 45 degrees in the morning and the hot coffee was very necessary.  We eventually fired up our generator to get some heat going after we heard someone else running one, I didn’t want to be the first one. 

Our plan for day # 2 was to take the Goldwater Lake Trail for 3 1/2 miles to the lake and then back, for 7 miles total.  The trail was beautiful, I would rate it a moderate hike with moderate uphill and downhill terrain, good views and a predominantly Ponderosa Pine forest landscape.  Approaching Goldwater Lake, we met a man hiking with his dog who very very friendly and recommended that we continue on the trail to the upper lake.  Actually, we didn’t even know there were two lakes, but they are connected and seem like one.  He turned out to be quite a character and we ended up following him down to the shore line of the upper Lake and then along the lakeside trail and then back to the lower lake where we rejoined the Goldwater Lake Trail.

The Goldwater Lakes were created by dams built by the WPA in the early 1930's.  They create a true alpine lake with a recreational area on the upper lake accessible by a road. 

    

Goldwater Lake view

Goldwater Lake Dam

Lower trail along the lakeside

Our second night was another cold one but we were better prepared.  Our refrigerator had gone into a fault mode the night before and I suspect it might be due to the battery voltage going down to cut off point to protect the refrigerator.  As a result after getting back from our hike, I ran the generator for a while to charge the battery.  This is something that needs more investigated.  

Sitting outside at the campsite the Acorn Woodpeckers were putting on quite a show, they are amazingly industrious, pecking hundreds of holes in the trees and storing an acorn in each hole.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Acorn_Woodpecker/overview#

Close up of tree bark with acorn holes

This tree is covered with woodpecker holes 

Twinkles was pretty worn out from the previous hike so we decided to take it easier on day # 3 and to instead explore the sights of downtown Prescott.  We checked Uber to see if this was feasible to get downtown and found it to be easy and cheap.  I really didn’t want to close up the RV, drive it downtown, find a parking spot, then return to the campground and have to re-level the rig.  

We get dropped off by the courthouse plaza and spend a few hours exploring, enjoying the many antique shops downtown, buy a few things in an outdoors equipment store, have a good lunch, visit a good bakery and walking about 10,000, steps, so much for an easy day.

Prescott has a lot of Arizona history, serving as the original Territorial Capital of Arizona in 1864.  The main attraction was gold and silver mining.  The original inhabitants were the Yavapai Apache who still have a reservation nearby. 

The main street, Montezuma Street, commonly referred to as Whiskey Row has many old historic buildings (many saloons), that play on the old wild western theme with interiors and bar staff dressed to match.  They are many restaurants, gift shops, art shops / galleries and an assortment of bars.  I was also much impressed by the great architecture in the downtown area.  The park like setting off the Courthouse Plaza surrounding the historic Yavapai Courthouse adds much to the character of the downtown.   It’s just has a very pleasant appearing downtown. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott,_Arizona

Yavapai County Court House with rough rider statue

Early morning side walk view, that's a meter for homeless donation

Another memorial to the fallen forest fire fighters

The Masonic Temple

Statue in the Courthouse Plaza

Art for Alli description of the mural

This mural was very artistic, but overly complex

This horse sculpture had a V8 engine and a ridiculous price tag

Back at the Odyssey, (as we are now tying to call it)  instead of the “RV “or the “Camper”. Either way, it pretty goofy.

Relaxing at the campsite

In the morning, we are up as usual at 6 AM, it’s cold, we have coffee, park up and are out of the campsite at 8 AM.  I had researched dump stations the night before and found that the Maverick gas station on our return route had a free dump station.  This is a very new modern gas station, far more than a gas station with a huge area, pumps for both cars and trucks, a convenience shop with all sorts of foods and beverages.  It’s then back the way we came on Highway 69 to Route 17 and I-10 through Phoenix.  No major delays or incidents and we arrive back home at about 2 PM. 

Another successful trip.