Surprise Spring Trail

The Granite Basin Recreation area near the town of Prescott offers an extensive network of trails to explore. For those camping at Yavapai Campground, this trail is a fun way to  explore the area and gain access to other hiking in the forest.

The Suprise Spring Trail is accessed by a spur trail next to the restrooms near site 5 in the campground. After a short hike down, the Surprise Spring Trail crosses and the hike follows the trail north (right) toward Granite Mountain. The trail is wide and sandy and meanders past dry washes and scattered ponderosa pines and junipers. There are some nice boulders and good views of Granite Mountain. Around a mile in, the trail crosses the road and passes through a day use area before continuing on to Granite Basin Lake. The lake is a great place for lunch or a rest before heading back down to the campground or continuing to explore other trails or venture into the Granite Mountain Wilderness.

The namesake Surprise Spring appears temptingly on some topo maps, and there is a faint trail leading in that direction, but the spring is located on private property.