Senator Highway, Crown King Road

Total Miles
29.8

Elevation

2,190.02 ft

Duration

8 Hours

Technical Rating

3

Easy

Best Time

Summer

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Senator Highway, Crown King Road 6

Trail Overview

This is a long and windy road that takes you to Crown King. Because of its length, and the many things to see and do along the way, you'll want to allow plenty of time to complete it. There are a lot of hiking trails to take from this route if you want to stretch your legs. You'll pass Cleator and Bumble Bee ghost towns. You'll definitely want to hop out and look around. Unlicensed vehicles are not allowed on some portions.

Photos of Senator Highway, Crown King Road

Senator Highway, Crown King Road
Senator Highway, Crown King Road
Senator Highway, Crown King Road

Difficulty

Easy: A few ruts and minor muddy sections, but 4-wheel-drive is rarely needed when road is dry. Crown King Road is wide and graded.

History

Bradshaw City, a picnic stop along the route, was named after William Bradshaw, the first to discover gold in the area in 1863. The town grew to about 5,000 people in the next 20 years. The post office finally closed in 1884. Nothing is left at the townsite, but Bradshaw City's original saloon was moved to Crown King and is still in use today.

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

Abe Hernandez
Apr 22, 2024
2017 Toyota 4Runner
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
This trail was as hard as Walker Gulch. Not a “easy” trail base on the color designation. Do able on a 4Runner with a lift but not easy. You will bounce around a lot!
Bob Cusick
Apr 14, 2024
2023 Toyota 4Runner
Open
Dusty
Rough/Deteriorated
Except for the first 3 miles out of Prescott and the last 1/2 mile into Crown King - the trail was VERY rocky, rutted and ROUGH. The big rock/creek crossing 1/2 way through - would HIGHLY recommend a spotter and/or good under body armor.
Toyota 4runner
Dec 16, 2023
4x4
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
Pushed the limits for stock ride height 4Runner. Really rutted and varying levels of rockiness throughout the entire trail. One 50-yard section of a ton of rocks with a 10in drop at the end. Wouldn’t have made it through that sections without a spotter (at stock ride height). Was the only 4x4 on the trail, lots of SxS.
Regula Kammerer
Sep 02, 2023
4x4
Open
Normal
Muddy/Wet

Access Description

From Prescott: Head south on Mt. Vernon Avenue from Gurley Street following signs for Senator Highway. We start the trail where the pavement ends at 7.2 miles, just before Wolf Creek Road, an alternate entry point. From Phoenix: Take I-17 north to Exit 248 and follow signs.

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