TONTO NATIONAL FOREST

It is usual in the Southwest. Mine props, poles, and other forest products can be made available in large quantities from needed thinnings and improvement cuttings, thus returning a revenue from the forest while the land is left fully stocked with thrifty growing timber.

Nearly 20,000 cattle graze on range allotments inside the Prescott forest's boundaries. Although no sheep are grazed here, sheep use two driveways across the forest. Early each summer, sheep herds come bleating along on their way up north to summer range. Their numbers aggregate 80,000 or more.

Livestock was more numerous in the pre-Forest Service days, but the numbers were bigger than the range could carry with safety. That was before operators had learned the necessity of leaving a reasonable percentage of the forage at the end of one grazing season, to insure a good growth of the new forage crop next season. Men who could not make a living at mining joined the ranks of the ranchers and learned there is no easy wealth in the cattle or sheep business. Drouth and overgrazed ranges forced retrenchment. Today the number of cattle on each grazing allotment is held to the carrying capacity of that allotment.

Where once the Indian, the soldier and the settler hunted game as a matter of necessity, hundreds of hunters each year find sport. An estimated 700 antelope and 10,500 deer range the Forest, along with a small population of turkey, elk, bear and lion. Quail are numerous. The annual "take" of 700 deer by hunters is thought to be considerably less than the number killed by predatory animals.

A benign climate makes the Prescott's scenic beauties all the more enjoyable. Sultry heat is unknown, nights are cool, days are sunny and invigorating. Winter adds just enough snap to lend zest to the hunting trip and preserve the snow at the two winter sports areas.

Mingus Mountain ski area, eight miles west of Jerome, has a 1,000-ft. ski run at 7,300 ft. elevation. Indian Creek ski area, six miles south of Prescott on U. S. 89, is at 6,000 ft. It has two runs, each 1,500 ft. long, suitable for skiers with intermediate to expert skill. The Forest Service also installed a novice practice slope.

The northeastern tip of the Forest is in the 46,000 acre Sycamore Canyon Wild Area, where the Prescott, Kaibab and Coconino national forests have common boundary. Pine Mountain Wild Area, covering 17,000 acres, extends from the southeastern corner of the Prescott forest into the upper part of the Tonto forest. These Wild Areas, set aside to preserve primitive forest conditions, are rugged enough for anyone who wants to leave roads behind and "rough it."

Several summer cabin colonies are on or near this Forest. One of the largest and oldest is at Iron Springs, seven miles west of Prescott. When the thermometer threatens to bubble in summer's hot days in the low country, Prescott offers eight free Forest Service campgrounds as cooling-off spots. They are Granite Basin picnic and campgrounds, eight miles northwest of Prescott; Horsethief Basin and campgrounds, eight miles southwest of Crown King; Thumb Butte picnic ground, four miles west of Prescott; Mingus Mountain picnic ground, not far south of Jerome and two miles off State Highway 179; Indian Creek campground, five miles south of Prescott on U. S. 89; Wolf Creek campground, 10 miles south of Prescott via Senator Highway; Powell Springs campground on the Dewey-Camp Verde road near Cherry Post Office, and Granite Creek campground, 3 miles south of Prescott on U. S. 89.

Granite Basin campground is at a lake of the same name, created by the Civilian Conservation Corps under Forest Service supervision. The basin, surrounded by mountains, contains small flats separated by spectacular rock ridges. The lake nestles among the ridges and mountains and is ringed by a shady forest of pine and oak. A Forest Service trail up Granite Mountain gives many exciting views of the picturesque country.

Horsethief Basin, near the once thriving mining town of Crown King, has historic interest blended with cool, inviting scenery. Ancient Indian ruins are one of the attractions. Here not far from populous Salt River Valley, the City of Phoenix has developed a summer resort area, with camping and picnicking facilities, under a cooperative agreement with the Forest Service.

Thumb Butte picnic ground is at the peak which formed from a volcanic flow in centuries past. A good road leading past the north foot of this butte extends west to the rim of Copper Basin, where the view extends for 50 miles across mountain ranges.

Mingus Mountain picnic ground is so attractive that some people make camp outings there. A good road leads from State Highway 179 to the top of the mountain. The timbered crest, overlooking Verde Valley and its "billion dollar" copper mine and smelter, also gives a breath-taking view of Mogollon Rim for distances of over 40 miles.

Senator Highway, to the south of Prescott, leads to such points of interest as Spruce Mountain, Mt. Union, Groom Creek, Wolf Creek and the headwaters of the fabled Hassayampa River. Prescott's munici pal reservoir, Lake Goldwater, is just off this highway.

A visit to the Forest Service lookout towers on Spruce Mountain and Mt. Union, when the towers are manned during fire season, will give you panoramas of a magnificent expanse of forest, foothills, mountains and valleys.