Treasure Hunts

In Acker Park and Other Yavapai County Venues

An outdoor activity for kids of all ages.

This activity is intended to get kids away from virtual reality and into the real world, help them to enjoy the natural world, and learn a few things along the way.

If children learn to enjoy being in nature, they may want to preserve it!

Hidden in natural areas in the Prescott area are numerous “treasures''. Plastic containers hold the treasure. Each container has a small notebook and several stickers of plants and animals. Consider buying a small pocket-sized notebook for each child. Once found, they can take one sticker (only one please) from the box and put it in their notepad. They can write their name and date on the notebook in the box, or sometimes folks have stamps made at an office supply store (about $20) with their name on it. E.G. ‘Connie was here’, or whatever you’d like.  

NOTE TO TEACHERS:

While this activity was designed for families, school and other youth groups are encouraged to participate. They’re not enough stickers to accommodate groups, so please ask the kids not to take stickers. Some sites have small, self-inking stamps for kids in groups, so that they can stamp their notebooks.

FINALLY:

These Treasure Chests are available to all, as such may be broken, emptied of their contents, or just may be used so much that they no longer have the proper supplies.

Please leave a note on this

E-mail Address

Alert us to the situation, and we will reload/replace/repair it ASAP!

Also: if you had a good time, a not so good time, would like to just share your experiences... or offer suggestions... Pease share with us, we would love to hear about your hunt and constantly make it more enjoyable/educational.

BTW ***** means not quite finished

Reference:

"Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder"

by Richard Louv

And above all

HAVE FUN!

ACKER PARK main entrance

Start at the main entrance to Acker Park, at the south end of Virginia Ave.

PINYON SITE

Cross the bridge. Go up the Ridge Trail. Look for a telephone pole on the right, about 8 feet from the trail.Turn left and go uphill. Look for a cluster of oak trees. One of them holds the treasure.

ACKER SITE

Cross the bridge and stay right on the Ridge Trail. At the first trail junction, turn left. Look for a dead double tree on the right. The treasure is hanging around a nearby juniper.

CREEK SITE

Start at the main entrance to Acker Park, at the south end of Virginia St. Cross the bridge and walk up the Ridge Trail. Walk past post # 2. Look for a large cairn (pile of rocks) on the right side of the trail. Walk down the path toward the creek. The cairns will show you the way. The treasure is rooted in a big juniper tree downstream a short distance.

HILLTOP SITE

Start at the main entrance to Acker Park, at the south end of Virginia St. Cross the bridge and turn left on the Hilltop Trail. Follow the trail up to the top until you get to a flat area with a structure on top. Go left and walk up the log steps to the hilltop. The solar panel points the way to a large Juniper tree. The treasure is hanging around here.

PICNIC SITE (2 treasures here)

Start at the main entrance to Acker Park, at the south end of Virginia St. Turn right before the bridge on the trail through the picnic area. At the first picnic table on the left, follow the trail down to the streambed. Walk up the stream bed about 100 feet. Two big juniper trees on the bank are holding the treasures.

GRAMA GRASS SITE

Start at the main entrance to Acker Park, at the south end of Virginia St. Cross the bridge and turn left on the Hilltop Trail until you get to the flat area on top. The treasure is hidden in the grass below one of the picnic benches on the flat area.

ACKER PARK south entrance

Start at the south entrance to Acker Park, at the end of Autumn Breeze St.

BLUEBIRD SITE

Walk straight ahead on the Ridge Trail. At the first junction turn left. Pass the picnic table. Go straight at the junction. Walk downhill to a bench on your left. There are bluebird houses on both sides of the trail. The treasure is nesting in one of them.

ROBIN SITE

Walk down the Ridge Trail. At the first trail junction continue to go straight. Look for signpost # 6. Walk to the right to a green Juniper tree with dead branches coming out of the top. Continue downhill and look for a large tree stump. The treasure is hiding in a nearby bush.

COYOTE SITE

Walk straight ahead on the Ridge Trail. At the first junction turn left. Turn left at the next junction and follow the trail that honors female scientists. Dr. Chien-Shiung is guarding the treasure.

WATSON WOODS RIPARIAN PRESERVE - Peavine Trail Head Start at the Peavine Trailhead on Sundog Ranch Road

MAVERICK SITE

Follow the paved trail past the picnic tables. Walk up to the Peavine Trail and go down the steps leading down into the forest. Turn left at the trail junction and follow the trail to the highway bridge. Just past the bridge, turn right on the footpath. Go past two dead trees and keep walking to the plaque mounted on a rock. The treasure is holed up here.

FLOODPLAIN SITE

Follow the paved trail past the picnic tables. Walk up to the Peavine Trail and look for steps leading down into the forest. Turn left at the trail junction and follow the trail to the highway bridge. Continue on the road about ¼ mile until you find a large culvert. The treasure is hiding near the culvert.

COTTONWOOD NORTH SITE

Follow the paved trail past the picnic tables. Walk up to the Peavine Trail and look for steps leading down into the forest. Turn right at the trail junction. Continue walking until you see a giant cottonwood tree. (There’s a sign there). The cottonwood is guarding the treasure.

WILLOW SITE

Follow the paved trail past the picnic tables. Walk up to the Peavine Trail and look for steps leading down into the forest. Go down the trail and into the forest. At the trail junction go straight ahead. Follow the trail as it bends to the right. Continue walking through the willow thicket. Look for a small metal sign with a yellow sticker on it. The treasure is hiding in the willows behind you.

WATSON WOODS RIPARIAN PRESERVE - South Watson Woods trail head

Start at the south trail head of the Watson Woods Riparian Area at the southeast corner of the US 89 and Rosser St. intersection.

MORNING GLORY SITE

Walk south (right) on the trail and into the forest. Follow the trail as it drops into the steam bed and go up the other side. Follow the trail along Granite Creek until you see a sign about Southwest Rivers. Continue walking. The first big cottonwood on the left is guarding the treasure.

COTTONWOOD SOUTH SITE

Follow the road with the red gate to the north. Look for a wellhead. Walk down to the well and keep going straight on the trail. After you enter the cottonwood grove, look for the “Gallery Forest’ sign. A group of three cottonwoods are hiding the treasure.

SUNFLOWER SITE

Start at the south trail head of the Watson Woods Riparian Area at the southeast corner of the US 89 and Rosser St. intersection. Walk through the gate on the left and follow the trail until you get to Granite Creek. If passable, rock-hop across the creek. It may be dry in the spring and early summer. Follow the trail to a T-junction. The treasure is guarded by a large cottonwood tree.

HIGHLANDS CENTER FOR NATURAL HISTORY

The Highlands Center for Natural History is on Walker Road (turn at COSTCO). The Highlands Center is located two miles north on the left

SQUIRREL SITE

Walk in front of the visitor center and down the ramp to the covered ramada. Take the hiking trail that starts at the lower left side of the ramada. Turn right at the trail junction. Continue straight until you get to the junction with trail # 305. Go straight ahead and then make a quick left. Walk past a bench and look for large dead trees on the ground, upslope from the trail. One of them is hiding the treasure.

PONDEROSA SITE

MOUNTAIN LION SITE

Walk in front of the visitor center and down the ramp to the covered ramada. Take the hiking trail that starts at the lower left side of the ramada. Turn right at the trail junction. Continue straight until you get to the junction with trail # 305. Turn right on # 305. Continue walking down hill until you get to a meadow. Cross the meadow and look for a box high up on a pole. Who lives here? Walk uphill to the large culvert. Carefully walk through the culvert. Shout really loud and see what happens! Climb over the little wood gate and look uphill to the left. Look for a big stone outcrop. The treasure is rockin’ up there.

LYNX SITE

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FAIN LAKE – PRESCOTT VALLEY

To get to Fain Lake, drive east from Prescott. In PV, turn right onto Prescott Highway East, turn left on 2nd Street, then follow the signs to Fain Lake.

COOT SITE

Walk down to the lake. Turn right and follow the paved path. At the end of the pavement, turn right and walk through the grass to a sign with animal silhouettes. Follow the path up the stairs. A large orange rock is hiding the treasure.

MALLARD SITE

Walk down to the lake. Turn right and follow the paved path. When the pavement ends, continue to follow the dirt path. Cross the bridge over Lynx Creek. Turn left and follow the path along the shore. Look for a large patch of cattails growing in the water. Turn left and walk out to the rocky point. The treasure is hiding in the brush.

DIPPER SITE

Walk down to the lake. Turn left and follow the paved path. Just before the dam, turn left onto the Cavalry Trail. At the rocky point at the top of the hill, carefully walk down to the Lynx Creek overlook. The treasure is tucked into the rocks.

GLASSFORD HILL TRAIL – PRESCOTT VALLEY

Drive to Prescott Highway East in PV and turn left. Drive about one mile north and turn left at the Glassford Hill Trail sign. Follow the sign as the road turns right. Keep going to the parking lot on the left.

PRONGHORN SITE

From the parking lot, turn right and walk down the flat trail. Turn left, walk through the gate, and head up the Glassford Hill Trail. Walk by the horses. (Don’t shout and make them run away.) Look for a small group of Juniper trees. One of them is guarding the treasure.

RED-TAILED HAWK SITE

From the parking lot, turn right and walk down the flat trail. Turn left, walk through the gate, and head up the Glassford Hill Trail. Walk all the way up to the large water tanks. As you pass them to the right, look for the biggest tree growing down in the wash. Carefully walk down to the tree. The treasure is rooted here.

THUMB BUTTE TRAIL

Follow Gurley Street west until you get to the Thumb Butte Recreation site. Turn right into the Thumb Butte Trail parking lot. Walk back across Gurley to the Thumb Butte Trailhead.NOTE: This is a steep trail. Bring water, good walking shoes, a hiking stick if you need one.

MULE DEER SITE

From the Thumb Butte trailhead, turn right on Trail #33. Walk up to the bench on the right side of the trail. Look for a big pile of rocks and branches. Walk to the left side of the rocks and down to the stream bed. Walk upstream. The treasure is hiding in a small manzanita bush (red bark).

HAWK SITE

From the back parking lot, follow trail # 315 to the north. Climb up the trail until it turns left and levels out. Look for a group of tall ponderosa pines on the left. One of them is guarding the treasure.

PEREGRINE SITE

From the Thumb Butte trailhead, turn left on Trail #33. Climb up the trail until you go through a fence line. Look for a low block wall on your left. The treasure is hiding at the uphill end of the wall.

STRICKLIN PARK

To get to Stricklin Park, drive west on Gurley until you reach the Hassayampa Village community. Just past the road into the community, turn left onto Sherwood Dr. When Sherwood turns right, Stricklin Park is on your left.

BUTTE CREEK SITE

At Stricklin Park, follow the trail across the bridge. Follow the trail as it bends to the right. Look for a plaque honoring Mr. Stricklin. The treasure is hiding in the rocks above.

ACORN WOODPECKER SITE

At Stricklin Park, follow the trail across the bridge. Follow the trail as it bends to the right. Hike up the trail until you see a red bridge. Look for a large dead tree with woodpecker holes in it. The treasure is hiding below the tree.

WILLOW LAKE west entrance.

Drive north on Willow Lake Rd. until you get to the dog park, on the right side of Willow Creek Rd. just past the intersection with Commerce St. Turn right into the dog park road, and continue to the end, where you’ll see a kiosk for Willow Lake.

CORMORANT SITE

Walk left on the trail behind the kiosk. When you get to a sign about birds, turn right on the path into the forest until you reach the blue sign at the end of the trail. One of the surrounding cottonwoods holds the treasure. If it’s spring or early summer, look up for cormorants and herons nesting in the top of the trees!

WILLOW LAKE south entrance.

Drive north on Highway 89 and turn left at the roundabout onto Willow Lake Rd. (Or drive north on Willow Creek Rd. and turn right onto Willow Lake Rd.) Look for a gravel parking lot on the north side of Willow Lake Road, across from Britni Drive.

OSPREY SITE

Walk left on the trail, cross the bridge and continue until you see a bench. Just before the bench, turn right on the path that leads to granite rocks. Circle the rocks on the left. Turn right and follow a faint path down to the stream bed. Walk down the stream bed until you reach a small group of short, nearly-dead trees. The treasure lies there.

WILLOW LAKE north entrance.

Drive north on Willow Creek Rd. to the entrance to Embry-Riddle. Turn right onto Heritage Park Rd. and follow the signs to the zoo.

PELICAN SITE

Drive to the self-pay station and turn right into the first parking lot. Follow the trail that has the blue signs. When you see a piece of artificial turf, turn left and walk down towards the lake until you see a gate with a chain. The treasure is around here somewhere.

SWAN SITE

At the self-pay station, continue driving down to the lake and park in the lot near the dock. Look for a black bench on the left. Walk past the bench to the large granite outcrop. You’ll find the treasure somewhere in the rocks.

HERON SITE

At the self-pay station, continue driving down to the lake and park in the lot near the dock. Take the trail to the right above the trees. When you come to the last big tree on the left, walk down to the two trees on the shore. One of them is hiding the treasure.

WILLIAMSON VALLEY TRAIL

Drive west on Iron Springs Road and turn right onto Williamson Valley Road. Drive about 6 ½ miles to the trailhead parking lot on the left.

GOLDEN EAGLE SITE

Take the trail to the left of the restrooms. Go through the gate. (Don’t trip over the bottom bar.) Turn right and follow trail #308 until it crosses a sandy wash. Walk upstream. Two large juniper trees are hiding the treasure.

SUNRISE SITE

Take the trail to the left of the restrooms. Go through the gate. (Don’t trip over the bottom bar.) Turn right and follow trail #308. Follow the trail until it goes in between two large juniper trees. At the next juniper turn left and carefully make your way up the slope. The treasure is hiding under a downed tree surrounded by rocks.

TURKEY VULTURE SITE

Take the trail to the left of the restrooms. Go through the gate. (Don’t trip over the bottom bar.) Follow trail # 347 until you get to a small wash. The treasure is hiding in the grass somewhere around here.

COMMUNITY NATURE CENTER

Drive west on Iron Springs Road and turn right onto Williamson Valley Road. In about ½ mile turn right into the entrance of Granite Mountain Middle school and park in the lot on the left.

RAVEN SITE

Go through the gate and turn left at the trail junction. At the next junction, turn right onto the gravel trail. Follow the trail until you can figure out what time it is. The treasure is hiding in the rocks at 11:00.

PINYON PINE SITE

Go through the gate and turn left at the next two trail junctions. Follow the trail to the top of the ridge and turn left. The treasure is tucked away in giant granite boulders.

GOPHER SNAKE SITE

Go through the gate and follow the trail to the right. Keep right at the next junction. Walk past the shade ramada and stay right. Look for a spot with big dead branches and boulders. The treasure is hiding in there.

MANZANITA SITE

Follow the trail and turn left onto the Prairie Trail. Look for a red box on top of a tall pole. What’s going on here? At the junction where the trail splits into three trails, follow the trail past the pond and you’ll find the treasure near the benches.

MILLER CREEK SITE

When you drive in from 6th Street, park in the first lot on your right.

Follow the path on the north side of the parking lot along the Story Trail. When you get to sign # 7, follow the trail under the highway, cross the bridge and walk until you see the big green sign, then head downtown. Where the trail divides near Miller Creek, turn right. A big rock wall is hiding your treasure.

YAVAPAI COLLEGE

SCULPTURE GARDEN SITE

The sculpture garden is adjacent to the Performing Arts Center. Enter the sculpture garden and walk down the trail. Look for a dancing frog. Keep following the trail until you see the Permian Corridor sculpture. Walk through the corridor and continue downhill until you find the Deodora Cypress tree. The treasure is hiding under one of its branches.

CREEKSIDE SITE

Enter the sculpture garden and follow the trail downhill. Look for a sign that says ‘Creekside Trail’. Turn left on the trail and then right at the junction. Cross a bridge and continue until you see a second bridge. Just before the bridge take the path on the right. A large tree is guarding the treasure.

VETERANS SITE

Go to the Yavapai College tennis courts on Washington Ave. Park by the picnic table. Cross the street and follow the CrossFit Trail. Walk up the trail until you see the white buildings of the VA hospital. A path on the left takes you to a bench. A metal box on the bench holds the treasure.