Lots of twisties and Suguaro cactus on this ride to the mining town of Bagdad.  Warmer desert weather and outstanding vista points.  Leading up to the high desert via Yarnell Hill continuing on back up the mountains through the twisties in the Prescott National Forest ending up at Whiskey Row in Prescott.

This is a good 6 hour ride taking into consideration all of the tight twisties along the route.  Leave Prescott via the Iron Springs road heading directly west out of Prescott.  Take the wide sweeping curves to the small community of Skull Valley and on to the Kirkland Junction. 

At Kirkland Junction, and old Wells Fargo Stage Stop make a right over the railroad tracks and head west on highway 96.  Highway 96 provides unsurpassed desert mountain scenery pack with twisties and giant suguaros.  The suguaros are right next to the road so you can stop several different places for photos.  Highway 96 ends in Bagdad where you can get a sandwich at a deli or buy something to eat a Basha’s supermarket.

Bagdad is a copper mining town owned by Phelps Dodge.  You can fuel up here for the rest of the ride.  To continue the ride head back out of town on the same road you came in on.  Just a few miles and you will make at right, that is, head west on highway 97.  Highway 97 takes you through the desert for about 12 miles and ends at highway 93.  A little caution on this nicely paved road for you speed demons.  Since this is the desert the highway has several cement rain washes built across the road.  Some of them are a little uneven with the pavement surface..so slow down when you see one coming up!

Head south on Highway 93 about 30 miles.  Highway 93 is a divided highway and you can travel up to some high speeds.  Get off the highway at the Highway 71, Congress, exit.  Take a left, head east under the highway overpass on Highway 71 about ten miles to Congress, and Highway 89.

At this intersection you will take a left on Highway 89 and head north.  But before you do there is a fuel stop and market at the intersection.  Take a rest here as you are now headed up north to take on Yarnell Hill.  Going up Yarnell Hill there are two lanes.  You will rise from the desert floor up to the high desert  passing through high desert cattle country, the town of Yarnell, Peeples Valley (both have fuel stops), through the small community of Wilhoit and up the Prescott National Forest twisties back to Prescott downtown.

This is an all day ride with fantastic change of scenery.  Don’t forget to take your camera!