28 / 32
PHOTOS:
(Above)
An old railroad car
on the Iron King
Trail. (Right) Point
of Rocks along the
Peavine and Iron
King Trails.
Under an old railroad trestle, still
thick with the scent of creosote,
I soak up the atmosphere of lush
greenery, leaves shimmering and
birds chirping all around me.
Back on the Peavine, I continue
on toward Watson Lake, a beautiful
manmade reservoir that once held
irrigation water for the farms of Chino
Valley to the north. The city of Prescott
bought the lake and surrounding open
land in 1998 and has developed recre-
ational uses along the shore.
The Peavine and accompanying
single-track trails that branch off to
the massive rock formations of the
Granite Dells are among those ame-
nities. The rail-trail route runs along
the eastern shore of Watson Lake,
offering stellar views of the blue
water against the ruddy rock. I often
venture off the wide, flat surface of
the Peavine onto the narrow up-and-
down trails that fan out through the
spectacular Granite Dells.
An ingenious system of white
dots guides hikers through and over
the top of the granite formations.
Just when I think I may have lost my
way, I always spot another white dot
up ahead and know I’m on track.
For another change of pace, I
head east from Point of Rocks along
Prescott Valley’s Iron King Trail.
Almost immediately the landscape
changes again, transitioning from
green-tinted granite walls to rolling
ranchland. Taut barb wire fences
bracketed by squared-off wooden
gates border the rugged area—all
framed by the gentle slopes of mas-
sive Glassford Hill.
In commemoration of the railroad’s
past link to the Iron King Mine, rusty
old train cars are scattered along the
route. Surrounded by browning cacti
and faded thistles, the weathered rel-
ics can take on a slightly forlorn look.
Still, the vast landscape approaching
Prescott Valley is classic desert high-
lands, with gnarly piñon oak, brittle
and Iron King (along with a weight-
lifting regimen and healthier eating)
have taken him from 267 pounds
eight years ago to his current 195.
“This trail has been a blessing,
because I can’t ride on the single-
track,” McKeller says, referring to the
steep, rugged trails common in the
Arizona mountains. On the Peavine
and Iron King, he regularly puts in 15
to 20 miles a day.
After a passing cyclist shouts,
“Hey, Cleave,” McKeller explains that
he is far from the only regular user
of the Peavine. “We have a Peavine
alumni club,” McKeller says, noting
that a group of 50 to 100 regulars
meet up at Watson Lake each fall.
“It’s a real family atmosphere here—
especially on the weekends.”
Kathy Carpenter, who volunteers
to help maintain the Peavine, says
the written comments she collects
attest to the affection locals and
visitors have for the rail-trail route. In
the words of reviewers: “Absolutely
beautiful!” “Very enjoyable,” and
“Great trail for easy morning walk.”
Carpenter says, “Everybody loves
the Peavine Trail. It has good access
to the Watson Wood riparian area
and it has great views. Also, it’s flat,
and great for all ages.”
•
Learn more about the Peavine and Iron King
trails at
TrailLink.com.
tumbleweeds and sweeping views.
The surroundings transform again
heading north on the Peavine from
Point of Rocks. Here Black Angus
cattle dot the landscape, and far-off
creek canyons break up the undulat-
ing browns with layers of green. The
northbound trail ends about a mile
north of Highway 89A at a rundown
wooden railroad trestle that once
crossed Granite Creek but has long
since been washed out.
A Family Atmosphere
Along with the sheer beauty, the
Peavine and Iron King routes are
well known in the community for
their user-friendliness. On this sunny
weekday morning, I’ve arranged
to meet up with Prescott Valley
resident Cleave McKeller. As he
joins me, he is quick to say that he
will be turning 80 years old soon.
He doesn’t look 79, and I tell him so.
That prompts him to fill me in on
how his regular rides on the Peavine
ALL PHOTOS: CINDY BARKS
ALONG WITH
THEIR BEAUTY,
THE PEAVINE AND
IRON KING ROUTES
ARE KNOWN
FOR THEIR USER
FRIENDLINESS.
IN
COMMEMORATION
OF THE
RAILROAD’S PAST
LINK TO THE IRON
KING MINE, RUSTY
OLD TRAIN CARS
ARE SCATTERED
ALONG THE ROUTE.
D E S T I N AT I O N
26
RAILS TO TRAILS FALL 2016