Take a weekend camping trip to the Prescott area. There's a campsite at the top of Mingus Mountain, about 20-30 miles from Prescott. To get there from Prescott, DRIVE your car down HWY 89 from Prescott, about 5 miles north, and turn right onto HWY 89A. Take 89A to the top of Mingus Moutain, passing the back side of Prescott Valley along the way. Once you come to the top of the Mountain, you'll see a dirt road off to your right, (at the top, before going down again towards Sedona.) Once you get towards the end of that road, about 2-4 miles the road will fork, so take the left fork, past the lookout area and up the steep road. The hangliders jump off the back side of Mingus Mountain and that's where you'll be starting the trail-ride, about 500 feet to the left of the hang-glider launch-pad. The View is totally awesome, and well worth it especially if there are any hang-gliders to watch, before you set sail yourself. Once you get to the crest of the rim, a diminished walking trail veers off to the left, following the rim. Don't go right, or you'll fall off the cliff. At the trailhead, (appropriately named 7400, since the altitude is 7400 feet or more,) you'll turn sharply to the left. This is where the trial is more visable. Take it to the bottom, over rocks and swithbacks, all DOWNHILL! You'll find the trail turns into a road after about 5 miles, and you'll see a large oak tree, with a natural spring, to fill up your bottles. Follow the road to the west, to run directly into HWY 89A, and take a left, following 89A to come back up to the top of the mountain, then another left onto the dirt road you drove on to get to the top. There are many trails along the back side of the mountain, so take a compass. YOU CAN GET LOST.

12-14 miles

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Jerome