Iron King Trail
✓ Fact-checked October 2026
- Length
- 4.1 mi (one way, Point of Rocks (Peavine junction) to Glassford Hill Rd)
- Elevation gain
- About 150 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy · Out-and-back
- Surface
- Dirt railroad grade (about 1% grade); concrete at the east end
- Open to
- Hikers, bikes
- Fee
- Free parking at the Glassford Hill Rd end; $5 if you start from the Peavine Trailhead (free Wednesdays)
- Facilities
- Picnic table and portable toilet reported near the Peavine junction
- Best seasons
- Fall through spring; summer at sunrise
- Shade
- Low
- Trailhead
- Iron King east trailhead (Prescott Valley), West side of Glassford Hill Rd off Santa Fe Loop, Prescott Valley; or via the Peavine from Sundog Ranch Rd
- Managed by
- Town of Prescott Valley
Trail conditions change with weather, fire restrictions, and maintenance. Check the managing agency before you go.
The Iron King Trail is the Peavine’s quieter sister: a flat rail-trail that heads east from the heart of the Granite Dells across open high desert toward Prescott Valley. It’s a great choice for an easy bike ride, a long walk, or a run with big-sky views, and it links Prescott and Prescott Valley by trail. This is our guide to the Iron King Trail.
Railroad history
The trail follows the grade of the Prescott & Eastern Railroad, whose construction began in 1898 to serve the mining district to the east. The line branched off the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railway, the “Peavine,” at a spot called Point of Rocks in the Granite Dells, which is where the Iron King Trail begins today. The trail officially opened in 2004, and in 2010 the Iron King and Peavine trails were inducted together into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.
What to expect on the trail
The Iron King runs about 4.1 miles one way, from its junction with the Peavine Trail at Point of Rocks to Glassford Hill Road in Prescott Valley. Like the Peavine, it follows an old railroad grade, averaging about a 1% slope, with only around 150 feet of total climbing. The surface is a dirt railroad grade, with a concrete stretch at the east end. It’s easy riding and walking, open to hikers and cyclists, and great for families. There’s little shade, so bring water and sun protection.
Getting there, parking, and fees
You have two easy options:
- From Prescott Valley (free): The east end has a dirt parking area on the west side of Glassford Hill Road off Santa Fe Loop. Parking there is free. Development in the area is changing the parking situation, so watch for current signs.
- From Prescott (fee): Park at the Peavine Trailhead on Sundog Ranch Road ($5 per vehicle, free on Wednesdays) and walk or ride about 3 miles north on the Peavine to Point of Rocks, where the Iron King branches east.
Mountain-bike trail sources report a picnic table and portable toilet near the Peavine junction; we couldn’t confirm facilities at the Prescott Valley end.
Insider Tip: For the best scenery, ride or walk it as an out-and-back from the Peavine side, so you start among the Dells boulders. Riders can combine the Peavine and the Iron King for a long, flat day of more than 10 miles.
When to go
Fall, winter, and spring are ideal. With almost no shade, summer outings are best at sunrise. After heavy rain, parts of the dirt grade can be muddy.
Make a day of it
Pair the Iron King with lunch in Prescott Valley (see our Prescott Valley guide) or a lakeside walk at Watson Lake. The Trail Finder has more options.