Arizona · Hiking · Near Prescott

Black Canyon

15.3 mi
round trip
1,296 ft
climb
6,345 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Black Canyon open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Verde Ranger District. It doesn't name Black Canyon, so check the source for the area it covers (6 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Verde Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Black Canyon is a hard hike in Arizona's Prescott National Forest, within the Verde Ranger District. The route is an out-and-back of about 15 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 1,300 feet, from a low point of about 3,900 feet to a high of about 6,300 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Jerome, Arizona, show May highs around 78°F and October highs around 71°F, while July averages about 91°F and winter brings a few snow days. Mingus Mountain Campground is about 2 miles away, and the Coleman hike and the Coleman Trail #108 mountain biking route are each about 0.7 miles off. Roadside Crag, a climbing area, is about 3.6 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Mingus Mountain Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.8 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsDoncram, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sharlot Hall Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 22 mi from Prescott

    An open-air museum located in Prescott, Arizona

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Doncram, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Prescott

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Black Canyon

    Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      50° / 35°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      53° / 36°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    3. Mar

      61° / 41°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      68° / 46°

      4 wet

    5. May

      78° / 55°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      89° / 66°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 68°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 67°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 62°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 53°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      58° / 42°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      49° / 34°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jerome, AZ, 5.8 mi away at 4,950 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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