Peavine Trail

The Peavine Trail is Prescott’s easiest big-scenery walk: a flat, wide rail-trail that runs past Watson Lake and straight through the Granite Dells, some of the most striking rock country in Arizona. Because it follows an old railroad grade, there are no real hills, which makes it a favorite for families, runners, cyclists, and anyone who wants the Dells without the scrambling. This is our guide to the Peavine: where to park, how far to go, and what you’ll see along the way.

A railroad with a nickname

The trail follows the old Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railway grade, which carried trains from the 1890s until 1984. Locals nicknamed the line “the Peavine” for the way it curled and wound through the landscape like a pea vine, and the name stuck when the corridor became a trail. Today it’s the Prescott Peavine National Recreation Trail, certified in 2001, and in 2010 it was inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame together with its sister trail, the Iron King.

What to expect on the trail

The trail runs about 6 miles one way, from the Sundog Ranch trailhead north past Watson Lake and through the Dells to near Highway 89A; you can turn around anywhere. The surface is a compacted dirt-and-crushed-rock railroad grade at about a 1% slope, so it’s easy walking and easy riding. A popular outing is the roughly 3 miles to Point of Rocks, where the Iron King Trail branches off at the old junction of two railroads, for about a 6-mile round trip.

The Peavine is open to hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders, so stay alert and share the path. Leashed dogs are a common sight. There’s very little shade along the way, so this is a morning or evening walk in summer.

Highlights

• The Granite Dells. The trail threads through rounded towers and stacks of granite that Arizona Highways describes as about 1.4 billion years old. It’s one of the most photographed landscapes in the region.
• Watson Lake. The trail runs along the lake’s east shore, with views across the water to the boulders. The lake was created in 1916 by damming Granite Creek.
• Birds. Watson and Willow lakes are part of an Audubon Important Bird Area, and the riparian forest of Watson Woods sits right by the trailhead. Herons, ducks, and raptors are common sights.
• Point of Rocks. The junction with the Iron King Trail, where the Prescott & Eastern line once branched off toward the mines.

Getting there, parking, and fees

The main trailhead is the Peavine Trailhead on Sundog Ranch Road, off Prescott Lakes Parkway; the lot is on the left shortly after you turn onto Sundog Ranch Road. It’s a City of Prescott fee lot: $5 per vehicle per day, free on Wednesdays, paid at the kiosk. If you visit often, the city sells 10-visit ($20), 40-visit ($60), and annual ($100) passes good at its lake and trailhead lots. City lot hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from April through October and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November through March. You can also reach the Peavine on foot from Watson Lake Park, or from the Prescott Valley end of the Iron King Trail.

Insider Tip: Bring your own water. We couldn’t confirm a drinking fountain at the trailhead, and with almost no shade, the open stretches through the Dells get hot fast on summer afternoons.

When to go

Spring and fall are ideal, with mild temperatures and clear light on the granite. In summer, start early and be off the trail before the afternoon heat and monsoon storms. Winter is often pleasant on sunny days, since the trail is flat and drains reasonably well, though it can be muddy after storms.

Make a day of it

Pair the Peavine with a paddle on Watson Lake, a loop through the boulders on the more challenging Watson Lake Loop, or a longer ride east on the Iron King Trail. The Peavine is also a segment of the Prescott Circle Trail. For more on the lakes, see our Prescott lakes guide.