The Back Way to Jerome, AZ

Mary and I decided to take a solo trip to Jerome, AZ the back way, through Chino Valley and out Perkinsville Road and up a portion of Smiley Rock Trail. Jerome is a former mining town that has become a tourist attraction that trades on it's historic "ghost town" status. It is home to many restaurants, wineries and art galleries. Check it out!
#4x4 #4x4offroad #ghosttowns

[@kathleenentezari2561]

Really enjoyed this! Thanks for taking us along.

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DougDeYoung-gt4id]

That's not smiley rock trail. That's the old narrow gauge train bed from Jerome to Jerome junction it was for ore down to the pea vine before the cable car system was installed.

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

Thanks. Several people have pointed that out. I referred to it as a portion of Smiley Rock Trail because several maps and apps call the whole route from the mine in Jerome, around Woodchute Wilderness and up the “real” Smiley Rock Trail as “Smiley Rock Trail”. It’s too late to change the video now but I’m sure future viewers can read the comments and understand the context of the video. Thanks again.

[@leapinlizard9487]

Your video brought back some fond memories of traveling the Perkinsviile road to Jerome. My wife and I had dropped our two kids off at a summer camp south of Prescott for the week and we headed north in our 1989 Ford Aerostart. I told my wife I knew of a short cut to Jerome, but I missed the easy paved road. So we headed down the road until we saw another sign to Perkinsvile/Jerome. It had rained the day before and the road was very slick. Even though I was driving slowly, the Aerostar slide off the road into the bar ditch. I stuffed some dead plants under the rear wheels and was able to inch my way back on to the road. About 5 miles from Jerome there was a very large boulder in the middle of the road. A sheriff's Deputy was just finishing putting up a road block and said we needed to turn around. We were on a blind curve and I was not too excited about backing up around that narrow road. Suddenly a small convertible MG pulled up behind us, the guy got out and started arguing with the Deputy that he needed to go around as he wasn't turning around. The Deputy pulled the barricade back and let him thru. Then he looked at me and said, "go ahead if you thing you can". I had my wife get out of the van and I pulled up as close as I could with my right front fender almost touching the boulder. There was a blind curve road sign on the downhill side of the road and as I passed it the sign moved outward at a 45 degree angle. We proceeded into Jerome and to our disappointment all the shops were closed. For many years I use to tell my wife, "I know a shortcut", she would just groan and roll her eyes.

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

That is an awesome story! I’m glad the video reminded you of it and thanks for sharing!

[@7polkas]

Eleven years ago a friend and I took my 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis on Forest Rd. 318-A from Jerome Junction to Jerome . 3 hours to go 26 miles. I do believe that's the same road we took. I didn't know there was a name for it. We only knew it as FR 318-A.

[@TimmyCramer]

Subscribed!! Timmy C Arizona

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

Thanks!

[@theadster2702]

Love the Haunted Hamburger!!! Love Jerome.....great little town so close to home (Prescott)!!!

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

We love it too!

[@ghost4-6]

Just was in Prescott about a month ago. Appears to be nice Town. Came from south of Kingman down 40. Only thing I can say is lots of turnabouts going south. Love the A&W in Seligman.😊

[@tomardans4258]

We scattered my parents ashes at the scenic overlook in ‘17

[@monicapone4300]

Thank you for posting this. I didn't know there was another way to get to Jerome. Jerome is one of my favorite places, I have visited so many times. I asked a local if there were any other places to explore around the little town, like a hiking trail, a cave etc., he responded, "nope, this is pretty much it". 😒😅

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

Thanks for the feedback. If you take the road to Gold King Mine and continue on the dirt road there’s a lot to explore, and you can take that road all the way to Williams 👍

[@tomsisk6811]

​​@@Prescott4WheelerI've been part ways out Perkinsville rd , it's on my bucket list to run it to Williams . That was a nice loop you made there, great eatery. 👍

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

@@tomsisk6811 we have so much to explore out here. It’s pretty awesome!

[@user-zs1fr7im6l]

ALWAYS FUN TIMES HERE IN ARIZONA !

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

That’s what I love about living here!

[@user-zs1fr7im6l]

Me to ! @@Prescott4Wheeler

[@toddadamsaz]

Yea thanks for the Video and been on a lot of back roads but didn't know this one existed. Like a lot of people don't know the Cave Creek to Bloody Basin way I will leave it @ that. I do however have an older Infiniti FX35 AWD and was just asking do you think that could handle that trail?

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

Well, I didn’t even put my Jeep in 4WD so traction is not an issue. I recall a few sections where the rocks might have been 6-8 inches so ground clearance might be an issue. HOWEVER, you can always take Perkinsville Rd (70) all the way to the “Jerome to Williams” Rd (72) and you won’t have any trouble at all.

[@marideandyer7041]

My father was born in Jerome on June 5 1926 John c young

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

That’s very cool!

[@Every_Day_Adventure]

Was any part of that an old rail line?

[@Prescott4Wheeler]

Yes - the part that I called “Smiley Rock” is apparently properly referred to as the narrow gauge rail line. I called it Smiley Rock because OnX maps refers to the whole route from the mine in Jerome, around Woodchute Wilderness and up the real Smiley Rock trail as that trail. I’ve been told by numerous people that that section is not really the official Smiley Rock trail, which I’ve also been up several times.

[@Every_Day_Adventure]

@@Prescott4Wheeler thanks for the reply. We were just up in Cottonwood last week looking up around Jerome. That campground was still closed when I drove up there. I flew my drone over the Verde Central mine by the scenic overlook, I have that video up