Arizona · Hiking · Near Prescott

Highlands

HighlandsPhoto: Scottb211, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.5 mi
round trip
208 ft
climb
5,660 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Highlands open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Prescott National Forest. It doesn't name Highlands, so check the source for the area it covers (5 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Prescott National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Highlands is an easy hike of about 2.5 miles on natural surface in the Bradshaw Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a low point of about 5,428 feet and a high of about 5,660 feet, and it gains about 208 feet one way. Bikes are allowed. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Prescott show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 73°F, while July and August average about 90°F. The Northshore and Stretch Pebble mountain biking routes sit about 0.1 mile away, and Lynx Campground is about 0.3 mile off. Lynx Lake Recreation Area, about 0.4 mile away, offers lake fishing.

Around this trail

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

    Lynx Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Five Guys

    Fast food

    On your way back · 2 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rainsDoncram, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sharlot Hall Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 4.9 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–Oct

    Best time to visit Highlands

    Best months: March–May and September–October. 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

      53° / 24°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      55° / 26°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 32°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 37°

      3 wet

    5. May

      76° / 45°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      87° / 54°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      90° / 61°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 60°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      73° / 40°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      62° / 30°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      52° / 24°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Prescott, AZ, 4.1 mi away at 5,205 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lynx RecreationPhoto: Scottb211, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lynx Recreation

Next door

4.61-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 34 ft of elevation gain.

Lynx Lake Loop FPhoto: Scottb211, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lynx Lake Loop F

Next door

0.33-mile out-and-back trail at Lynx Lake in Arizona with 96 ft of elevation gain.

Watershed Trail #299Photo: Scottb211, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Watershed Trail #299

~6 min drive

6.72-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,840 ft elevation gain.

Salida GulchPhoto: Scottb211, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Salida Gulch

~2 min drive

4.01-mile loop trail in Arizona with 390 ft elevation gain.

Lynx RuinsPhoto: Scottb211, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lynx Ruins

~1 min drive

0.99-mile out-and-back trail to Lynx Ruins in Arizona with 91 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Seven Mile Gulch Trail #9854

~4 min drive

6.24-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,520 ft gain and 6,666 ft max elevation.

Peavine TrailPhoto: Tom Check from Prescott, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Peavine Trail

~8 min drive

9.5-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 896 ft elevation gain and loss.

Johns TankPhoto: kevin dooley, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Johns Tank

~2 min drive

1.97-mile out-and-back trail to Johns Tank in Arizona.

HIKE

Homestead

~5 min drive

13.36-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 105 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Salida Connection Trail

~2 min drive

5.1-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,199 ft elevation gain.