HomeArizonaPrescott › James S. Acker Park

James S. Acker Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 197 Google reviews · Running trail in Prescott, Arizona · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
1 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from James S. Acker Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

1 miLoopScenicDog-friendlyHillyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parkingMile markers

Charming 80-acre park featuring a 1-mi. hiking loop trail, picnic areas & an open-air theater.

What runners say about James S. Acker Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (197 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“I love to walk in Acker Park with my dog, it has beautiful views of the city and the trails wine through beautiful shaded areas.”

Great place to walk the dog. I am traveling all across the USA as a full time house / pet / farm sitter, currently I am in Prescott for a dog. The house I am sitting is just a few blicks away from the Acker Park, so we go there hiking often.

★★★★☆ — Albgardis , Nov 2018

This was a fun smaller local park. We did a short 1.5 mile loop but it had some amazing views. It is very close to downtown Prescott and connect's to other local trails.

★★★★★ — James , Feb 2022

We walked the dogs here one morning and enjoyed our hike. Plenty of parking and doggie bags. You do gain a bit of elevation so expect a sweat to get the top. We enjoyed reading the signs with quotes along the way. They do have signage along the way with the park map.

★★★★★ — Abiracmd , Jun 2021

So this is my go to bike ride when I don't have too much time or just want a quick hill climb. Recently the rain has removed a lot of the topsoil and and made a slightly more sus decent at least if you are doing the loop counter clockwise.

★★★★★ — _ , Aug 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 197 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 13 mentions

“I love to walk in Acker Park with my dog, it has beautiful views of the city and the trails wine through beautiful shaded areas.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 7 mentions

“At the top of a hill there are benches to sit on every few feet along a path that enables one a 360° view of the area.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“I love to walk in Acker Park with my dog, it has beautiful views of the city and the trails wine through beautiful shaded areas.”

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🔁 Loop trail 6 mentions

“Recently the rain has removed a lot of the topsoil and and made a slightly more sus decent at least if you are doing the loop counter clockwise.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“We did not see any restrooms but we didn't access the park from a main parking area.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“We did not see any restrooms but we didn't access the park from a main parking area.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“No water is coming out of the water drinking fountains, so I assume it has been winterized.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

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Plan your run at James S. Acker Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • Loop distance1 mi back to where you parked
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteprescott-az.gov
  • Phone(928) 777-1100
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–10 PM
Thursday 7 AM–10 PM
Friday 7 AM–10 PM
Saturday 7 AM–10 PM
Sunday 7 AM–10 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find James S. Acker Park

421 S Virginia St, Prescott, AZ 86303

Get directions

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.