Constellation Trails
✓ Fact-checked October 2026
- Length
- 3.4 mi (suggested loop)
- Difficulty
- Moderate · Network
- Surface
- Native trail and bare granite (follow white dots)
- Open to
- Hikers, bikes (no horses)
- Dogs
- On leash
- Fee
- $5 per vehicle per day at the Constellation Trailhead; free Wednesdays
- Hours
- Apr–Oct 6am–10pm; Nov–Mar 7am–6pm
- Facilities
- Benches on the trail; no restrooms or water confirmed
- Best seasons
- Fall through spring; summer mornings
- Shade
- Low
- Trailhead
- Constellation Trailhead, Off the Hwy 89 roundabout at the Phippen Museum (4701 N Hwy 89)
- Managed by
- City of Prescott Recreation Services
Trail conditions change with weather, fire restrictions, and maintenance. Check the managing agency before you go.
The Constellation Trails are a playground of granite on the eastern edge of the Granite Dells, north of downtown next to the Phippen Museum. The network weaves through boulder piles, balanced rocks, and little hidden corners, and it carries a poignant piece of local history in its name. This is our guide to hiking the Constellation Trails: where to park, how to follow the route, and the story behind it.
The story behind the name
The trails are named for a Lockheed Constellation military plane that crashed here in February 1959, on the west side of what is now Highway 89, killing all five people aboard. A memorial was placed in October 2011, and pieces of the wreckage remain nearby. Please treat the site with respect and leave everything where it lies.
What to expect on the trail
This is a network of short, interconnected trails rather than a single path, with colorful names like North 40, Rock Wall, Hole in the Wall, Ham & Cheese, Hully Gully, and Ridgeback. A popular suggested loop on the Highlands Center’s trail map runs about 3.4 miles, climbing from roughly 5,000 feet at the trailhead to about 5,200 feet at a high point with a bench and wide views. Much of the route crosses bare granite marked with white dots; follow them, because dead-end side trails are common.
We’d call it moderate: the distances are short, but there are steep granite sections that take some care, and the city rates parts of the network as technical. Most school-age kids will love the boulder scrambling. Hikers and mountain bikers share the trails, but horses aren’t permitted. There’s little shade, so go early in summer.
Highlights
- Balanced rocks and boulder views across the eastern Dells.
- A shepherds’ corral. A circular rock-wall enclosure, probably built by shepherds about a century ago, sits along the network.
- A pocket of trees. A grove of pinyon, juniper, and Emory oak near the start offers a bit of shade.
- The 1959 crash memorial and nearby wreckage.
Getting there, parking, and fees
The Constellation Trailhead is off the Highway 89 roundabout by the Phippen Museum (4701 N. Highway 89), about 5.8 miles north of the junction of Highways 89 and 69. Go three-quarters of the way around the roundabout and turn right into the lot. It’s a City of Prescott fee lot: $5 per vehicle per day, free on Wednesdays, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from April through October and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November through March. We couldn’t confirm restrooms or water at the trailhead, so plan ahead.
Insider Tip: Make it a Western afternoon: hike the Constellation loop in the morning, then cool off next door at the Phippen Museum, a museum of Western art. Our arts and culture guide has more.
When to go
Fall, winter, and spring are ideal. The open granite gets hot on summer afternoons, and storms build fast during the July–August monsoon. Wet granite is slippery, so wait for it to dry after rain or snow.
Make a day of it
Nearby Willow Lake and Watson Lake round out a day in the Dells. Use the Trail Finder to find your next hike.