Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
355.00 ft (108.20 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
3.50 mi (5.63 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

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.

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Access from the campground. Light traffic. Lake reward at finish.

Cons

Crosses the road and day use area.

Trailhead Elevation

5,545.00 ft (1,690.12 m)

Highest point

5,860.00 ft (1,786.13 m)

Features

Family friendly
Vault toilet
Near lake or river
Wildflowers
Fishing

Typically multi-day

No

Suitable for

Biking

Permit required

No

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.