USFS•Cottonwood, AZ•13.5h from Austin

Prescott NF — Mingus Mountain (Black Hills District)

mountainsforestcanyon

Accessibility baseline: Sites on this platform are reviewed for access with a standard 2WD pickup truck towing a 21-foot travel trailer unless otherwise noted below.

Fee

$15–20/nt (Mingus Mountain CG) · Free (dispersed below)

Hookups

No hookups

Trailer

Accessible (2WD pickup + trailer)

Cell Signal

Fair

Water

Bring your own

Toilets

Yes

Best Season

Apr–Oct

Reservations

Recreation.gov (Mingus Mountain CG)

Max Length

28 ft

Highlights

▶ 7,023-ft Mingus Mountain offers panoramic views of the entire Verde Valley — Jerome ghost town and Tuzigoot NM visible from the top; Red Rock country beyond Sedona to the north
▶ Mingus Mountain CG (developed, $15–20/nt, Recreation.gov) sits just below the summit; free dispersed sites along FR 413 on the eastern approach from Cottonwood
▶ Dead Horse Ranch SP (Verde River camping, birding) is 30 min north in Cottonwood — natural one-two combination for a Verde Valley loop

Planning Notes

FR 413 climbs from Cottonwood (AZ-89A) toward Mingus Mountain — paved to approximately Mile 9, then graded gravel to the summit. 28-ft practical limit due to switchbacks above the pavement. Jerome is perched on the cliff side of Mingus — do not attempt to pull a trailer through Jerome's narrow historic streets. From Austin: ~13.5 hrs via I-10 W to Phoenix then I-17 N then AZ-260 W to Cottonwood.

Contact: (928) 567-4121

Always call ahead to confirm conditions, closures, and road accessibility.