A Constellation of Paths, Moods
The maze of paths within the Constellation Trails has something for every level of hiker, with more level ground than some of the other Dells destinations but plenty of rough patches to provide a challenge.
Prescott Healthy LIVING’s first featured trail is actually a cluster of paths fanning out over boulders on the eastern edge of the Granite Dells, the trailhead sitting just across Highway 89 from the Phippen Museum.
The maze of paths within the Constellation Trails has something for every level of hiker, with more level ground than some of the other Dells destinations but plenty of rough patches to provide a challenge.
“That trail system is an amazing maze of loops. Kind of a choose-your-own-adventure, rough and rocky or not so much. Also, there’s almost no shade so it can be rather warm,” said Amanda Foster, owner of the Hike Shack in downtown Prescott.
These trails, designated for hiking and biking, incorporate packed dirt paths and slippery rock surfaces as they thread through the boulders for a combined 3.53 miles. The elevation ranges from 5,024 feet to 5,236 feet, with more noticeable inclines and declines on the south end.
The outer loop of the trails, 2.7 miles, can be completed in about 1.5 hours. You can extend or shorten your stay by cutting across or doubling back on the loops, with names like Ham and Cheese, Hully Gully, North 40, Lost Wall and Hole in the Wall.
You may find yourself walking next to a white picket fence or through a narrow canyon between towering tan granite boulders believed to be more than 1 billion years old. Wildflowers and wildlife dot the paths, along with scrub oak and pinyon that does provide some shade near the trailhead, but it’s a good idea to bring water, a hat and some sunscreen.
The Constellation name suits the cluster of trail loops blazed by the City of Prescott through the rocks in 2011, but it’s named after the U.S. Air Force Lockheed C121G Super Constellation that crashed into the area in 1959, killing all five Navy airmen aboard, City of Prescott Recreation Coordinator Kelly Tolbert said.
Memorializing that tragedy became an integral part of the construction of the looping trails. An Eagle Scout, Cody Walker, built a memorial consisting of a concrete bench, wall and bronze plaque at the trailhead for his service project. Several family members of the victims attended the dedication of the memorial in fall 2011.
Hikers throughout the years have unearthed numerous pieces of shrapnel from the crash, which they usually place next to the memorial.
Today the Constellation Trails are traversed by upward of 45,000 people annually and is one of the most popular spots in the City of Prescott’s Mile High Trail System. Parking at the trailhead lot is $3 for a day pass. The loops are just a 3-mile walk north of Watson Lake and will connect to the Peavine Trail via a future path through the Walden Ranch.
Their popularity can make it hard to find much parking or privacy during peak hours. But, the shot of cardio from climbing the trails and the stunning views of Prescott, Chino Valley and the San Francisco Peaks by Flagstaff that result are all very good reasons to find a time that works for you.
CONSTELLATION TRAILS
Trailhead is located on the west side of State Route 89 and just south of The Phippen Museum. This series of trail loops traverse more level ground than some of the other Dells trails. Trail surface varies from packed earth to slick rock. You will enjoy beautiful rock formations and scrub oak passageways on this trail.
- Parking Fees: $3
- Usages: Hiking, Cycling
- Mileage: 3.53 miles
- Elevation: 5,024’ (low) to 5,236’ (high)