Iron Springs Road

Prescott National Forest, Arizona · Prescott → Skull Valley

Leisurely17.4 mi25 min1,300 ft climbHigh point ≈ 6,200 ftOne way

Scan to drive it in CarvePoint a phone's camera here. It opens ready to drive.

Drive it in Carve, free

Opens this route in the app, or where to get it.

The drive

Iron Springs Road, Yavapai County Road 10, runs from the west side of Prescott down to Skull Valley, about 17 miles of two-lane road. Driven from Prescott it is a long descent from pine and oak country, through a canyon where cottonwoods and other broadleaf trees line the stream bottom, toward the desert.

Riders who know it describe a lightly travelled road with turns that are not often blind or slow, so a steady pace is easy to hold. It is a relaxed drive with gentle curves. The old Skull Valley General Store is the best-known stop at the bottom, and the town's cafe fills up at lunchtime.

Along the way

Prescott (Iron Springs Road)
Skull Valley (Iron Springs Road)

Elevation

1,300 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 6,200 ft

PrescottSkull Valley

Curves

Mostly gentle curves

PrescottSkull Valley

GentleHairpins

Good to know

Most of the pavement is in good shape, but older sections have tar snakes and loose gravel can collect on curves, so slow down on bends.
Skull Valley's cafe and store are busy around lunchtime.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Yavapai County Roads Division.

Questions about this drive

How long does Iron Springs Road from Prescott to Skull Valley take?

Iron Springs Road from Prescott to Skull Valley is 17.4 miles and takes about 25 minutes.

Is Iron Springs Road paved?

Yes. Iron Springs Road (Yavapai County Road 10) is paved, though older sections have tar snakes and some loose gravel collects on curves.

Is Iron Springs Road twisty?

Not very. Iron Springs Road is a leisurely drive with gentle curves, and riders describe the turns as not often blind or slow.

What is at the end of Iron Springs Road?

Iron Springs Road ends at Skull Valley, home of the historic Skull Valley General Store and a popular lunchtime cafe.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.

Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.

Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.

Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.

Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.

Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.

Download on theApp Store Early access onGoogle Play

More drives near here

All 37 drives in Arizona ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

+ Plan a new route