ARIZONA GREAT WESTERN TRAIL ASSOCIATION
NEWS RELEASE

for immediate release
for more information contact: Ellen Bonnin-Bilbrey at Arizona State Parks (602) 542-1996 or beeper (602) 210-4910 or Devin Wanner at the U.S.F.S. at (520) 771-4820. (Call for digitized OHV pictures and background information)

ARIZONA GREAT WESTERN TRAIL ASSOCIATION INVITES PUBLIC TO ATTEND DEDICATION 80-MILE SEGMENT OF TRAIL THROUGH THE PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST

(Phoenix, April 12, 2000) -- The public is invited to the Potato Patch Campground on Mingus Mountain to celebrate the third in a series of historic Great Western Trail dedications. On Saturday, May 20th, from 10-4:00 p.m. a celebration will be held to mark the opening of the Great Western Trail which runs the entire length of the Prescott National Forest.
Because the Great Western Trail is a National Millennium Trail, this is one of the first events to celebrate National Trails Day on June 3.
Two other sections of the Great Western Trail dedicated and signed are through the Tonto National Forest from Apache Junction to Cave Creek. Approximately 1,900 miles of the 3,000-mile Great Western Trail are currently in use in Arizona and Utah. The uniqueness of this national trail is that it utilizes existing roads and trails, is a broad "corridor" encompassing parallel routes for different uses, and is a long distance trail.
According to Don Blackburn, President of the Arizona's Great Western Trail Association, "Arizona's 800-mile portion of the Great Western Trail will serve many types of trail users including motorcyclers, all-terrain vehicles, horseback riders, mountain bikers, snowmobilers, 4x4 drivers, and hikers. We are encouraging the public to join the Arizona Great Western Trail Association and help across the state in developing this "Corridor of Discovery." The VIP ribbon cutting will be at 10:30 am with food and entertainment throughout the day. After the Saturday ceremonies, maps will be handed out of the Prescott Section of the Great Western Trail and guests will be invited to go north or south from the Potato Patch Campground or stay overnight at the Forest Service campgrounds and travel the route on Sunday. (There are no reservations in these campgrounds and fees are $6 and $8.)




Two segments of the 80-mile-long Prescott National Forest Section of the Great Western Trail require a skilled 4x4-vehicle operator and short-wheel based 4-wheel drive vehicle. (Martin Canyon Loop and the Dugas Loop.) Other sections are gravel and rough but accessible in high clearance vehicles.
The 1.25-million-acre Prescott National Forest is brimming with recreational opportunities for a multitude of recreationists. The diversity of the land reaches from high cool peaks at the top of Mingus Mountain down to the Sonoran Desert nearer Phoenix. Desert grasslands, chaparral, canyon hardwoods, pinon and juniper woodlands and vast ponderosa pine forests offer many opportunities to its visitors. Prehistoric and historic sites are numerous in the Prescott. From Sinagua cliff dwellings along the upper Verde River to historic stagecoach stops like Palace Station and ghost towns, the Prescott offers many opportunities. No matter how you traverse the Great Western Trail you might see Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope or maybe even a black bear. Small mammals live throughout the forest including javelina, Abert's squirrels, fox, raccoon and badger.
The public will find the spectacular Prescott National Forest "Points of Discovery" along the trail. Stunning views from Mingus Mountain and Sycamore Canyon Wilderness are seen from this trail and historic sites such as Powell Springs and the new Aqua Fria National Monument (Perry Mesa.) are mentioned on maps. The historic Mayer/Childs Road was constructed in 1902 and much of the Great Western Trail follows that path through the Prescott National Forest.
This partnership between the many public agencies and private organizations will be the basis for a major kick-off to educate the outdoor enthusiast about protecting the environment while enjoying a remote back country experience. This section of Arizona's Great Western Trail was signed using monies from the Federal Recreational Trail Program by the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Program. The public land management agencies supporting the Great Western Trail Association in this dedication are Arizona State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service. Other groups supporting this event are Trail partners such as Bashas', Flame Propane, Pepsi Cola Prescott, KPPV 106.7 FM radio. Nonprofits such as the Prescott Open Trails Association and the Verde Valley 4-wheelers are also involved.
If you would like more information about Arizona's Great Western Trail see the Association's web page at http://www.azgwt.org or for more information about the Arizona State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Program call (602)542-1474 or see the web page at http://www.pr.state.az.us

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