130  miles of trail to be constructed over next several years to Forest Service standards by Prescott National Forest work crews

The Verde Independent newspaper (online article of October 19, 2019)  featured an extensive story about the involvement of Yavapai Community College in the development of a 132 mile trail system to be build in the Verde Valley with a trail head on the Campus (see earlier Blog story).  According to the article written by reporter Vyto Starinskas for the Verde Independent, persons will eventually be able to park on the Community College Verde Valley campus and hike to “anywhere in the Verde Valley.”

Volunteers, Community College students and staff will construct the Yavapai College Trail on the Campus property. The Prescott Forest has prioritized for development the Blowout Wash Trail System (about 20 miles of trail), Black Canyon National Recreation Trail (about 37 miles of trail) and Grief Hill Trail System (about 15 miles of trail) over the next five years.

You may read the full story that was published October 19 by the Verde Independent online news by clicking here.

Landscaping, restroom facilities installed

The long-awaited trail-head located on the Verde Campus is moving ahead.  (Recall interest and concern about the absence of a trail system on the Verde Campus was triggered when about a dozen years ago the Community College began investing in developing a major trail around the Prescott Campus.)  Most recently (October 2019), the College reported that new landscaping and a rest room facility was under construction.

 Recall that back in June 2017 Verde Campus Executive Dean Dr. James Perey first reported that the Verde Valley Campus in Clarkdale may establish a trail head for what was described as “the West Mingus Avenue trail.” At the time it was described as 22 miles of possibly 122 miles of new trails being proposed by the Prescott National Forest. If approved, the total project covering 122 miles was estimated to take from five to ten years to complete. This is according to Prescott National Forest Verde Ranger District Recreation Program Director Thomas Palmer. Much depended on funding and public input.

Initial public hearings were held May 24, 2017  (Camp Verde) and May 25. 2-17 (Verde Campus). There was an environmental assessment completed by the end of September 2017. A final public hearing on the 22-mile trail system connecting the trail to the Verde Campus property was held in February 2018. The project was approved.

The trail  will be maintained by volunteers, according to the Forest Service.

In September 2018, Executive Dean Perey, updated the Governing Board on the progress being made on the project.  He described it as a 200 mile trail system with the trail-head located on the Verde Campus.

Dean Perey told the Board that the new trail was currently being mapped and improved.  He also told the Board that the trail had community and educational benefits.  For example, community members can use the trail for exercise. Furthermore, the College can develop courses around it such as trail maintenance and a 2+2 natural resources program.

Source:  Yavapai Community College Facilities Management Newsletter  (including photo) https://www.yc.edu/v6/office-of-the-president/docs/highlights/2019-09-facilities-management-newsletter.pdf.

Trail will connect to Prescott National Trail system and other communities in the Verde Valley

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board approved a non-funded participating agreement with the USDA forest Service Prescott National Forest at its April meeting.  According to the material submitted, the need for additional non­ motorized trails and access was identified by the local communities in 2010. 

Yavapai College submitted specific sustainable trail proposals including the creation of a non-motorized trail (hiking and biking) on land owned by Yavapai College that would connect to the Prescott National Forest trail system. The trail system would also create connectivity to other communities within the Verde Valley. 

The proposal included Yavapai College building a trailhead to address existing trail and general forest area access deficiencies, resource impacts, and non-motorized trail connectivity .

The Forest Service believes that partnering with Yavapai College will facilitate cooperation between the parties in specific restoration , enhancement and protection efforts in the Verde Valley that will directly benefit the Middle Verde Watershed and River.  The benefit will be realized through construction and maintenance of a hardened trailhead facility directly accessed from paved roads on Yavapai College Lands, thereby reducing soil displacement and maintenance on unsurfaced forest roads. 

You may view Executive Dean James Perey’s explanation to the Governing Board at the April meeting below.

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Trail-head on Verde Campus; 200 miles of new trail being developed; courses may be created around it

Recall that in June 2017 Verde Campus Executive Dean Dr. James Perey first reported that the Verde Campus in Clarkdale may establish a trail head for what was described as “the West Mingus Avenue trail.” At the time it was described as 22 miles of possibly 122 miles of new trails being proposed by the Prescott National Forest. If approved, the total project will take at least five and possibly up to ten years to complete. This is according to Prescott National Forest Verde Ranger District Recreation Program Director Thomas Palmer. Much depends on funding and public input.

Initial public hearings were held May 24 (Camp Verde) and May 25 (Verde Campus). There was an environmental assessment completed by the end of September 2017. A final public hearing on the 22-mile trail system connecting the trail to the Verde Campus property was held in February 2018. The project was approved.

The trail  will be maintained by volunteers, according to the Forest Service.

A little over a year later, September 2018, Executive Dean Perey, updated the Governing Board on the progress being made on the project.  He described it as now being a 200 mile trail system with the trailhead located on the Verde Campus. (He explained the trailhead location during a Blog interview following his presentation.)

Dean Perey told the Board in September that the new trail was currently being mapped and improved.  He also told the Board that the trail had community and educational benefits.  For example, community members can use the trail for exercise and the College can develop courses around it such as trail maintenance and a 2+2 natural resources program.

You may view Dean Perey’s report to the Board on this project in the video below.

Final decision scheduled for February, 2018: Implementation may take up to 10 years and depends on funding

The Verde Campus in Clarkdale may establish a trail head for the West Mingus Avenue trail, which is 22 miles of a possible 122 miles of new trails being proposed by the Prescott National Forest. If approved, the total project will take at least five and possibly up to ten years to complete. This is according to Prescott National Forest Verde Ranger District Recreation Program Director Thomas Palmer. Much will depend on funding and public input.

Initial public hearings were held May 24 (Camp Verde) and May 25 (Verde Campus). There is an environmental assessment to be completed by the end of September, 2017. A final public hearing on the 22-mile trail system connecting the trail to the Verde Campus property, if approved in concept, will be held in February, 2018.

The Prescott National Forest is accepting comments on the proposal through June 10, 2017. Public input will be incorporated into an environmental assessment. Note that the trails under consideration will be maintained by volunteers, according to the Forest Service.

The College was praised by the Forest Service for “allowing linkage of trails and establishment of a trail head for the West Mingus Avenue trail.” More detailed information about the public meetings about the trail system that took place on May 24 and 25 may be found in an article by Zachary Jernigan in the Cottonwood Journal Extra, June 7, 2017, p. 7A. (Not available online when this Blog post was made.)