A 10.5-acre property along the upper Verde River has been permanently protected after ownership of Upper Sullivan Canyon was transferred to the Town of Chino Valley.
Trust for Public Land announced the development Sept. 21 in partnership with Chino Valley, the Prescott Climbers Coalition and Yavapai County. The canyon is north of Prescott and sits at the headwaters of the Verde River, making the property important for recreation, history and watershed protection.
### A long-standing climbing destination
Upper Sullivan Canyon has attracted climbers since the mid-1970s. Its columnar basalt formations create crack-climbing routes that can be used by people with different levels of experience. The canyon’s north- and south-facing walls have also supported climbing throughout the year.
The site has been used for training by local fire departments preparing for search-and-rescue work. The Prescott Climbers Coalition, which helped lead fundraising for the purchase, is expected to continue working with Chino Valley on stewardship. That work includes installing and maintaining signs and removing trash and graffiti.
The Town of Chino Valley now owns the property. Mayor Tom Armstrong said the town intends to protect the area while keeping it available for people to enjoy.
### Connection to larger conservation area
Upper Sullivan Canyon borders other protected or planned conservation lands. To the west is a 148-acre property purchased by Trust for Public Land in March 2024 and now owned by Arizona State Parks & Trails. That parcel is planned as Verde River Headwaters State Park and includes Sullivan Lake, identified as “mile zero” of the Verde River.
To the east, the canyon connects with the Upper Verde River Wildlife Management Area, managed by Arizona Game and Fish. The canyon is described as the only privately held parcel along the first 20 miles of the river.
Conservation organizations identify the Verde River as one of Arizona’s important waterways because of its wildlife habitat, ecological diversity and role as a water source for the Phoenix metropolitan area. A coalition is also seeking congressional designation of the Upper Verde River as a Wild and Scenic River.
### Cultural resources and future trails
The property contains more than climbing routes. Features identified at Upper Sullivan Canyon include petroglyphs, prehistoric cave shelters with pot sherds, remains of a one-room prehistoric structure and the remains of a historic railroad bridge crossing the canyon.
The transfer to Chino Valley places those resources under permanent protection, according to the announcement. The property may also become an important connection for a future recreational trail along the Upper Verde River, an initiative identified as a priority by the town and local recreation organizations.
Funding for the town’s acquisition came from a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant administered in Arizona by Arizona State Parks & Trails, Yavapai County and the Prescott Climbers Coalition’s fundraising campaign. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust provided Trust for Public Land with significant funding to cover project costs.
For residents of Prescott, Chino Valley and surrounding communities, the protection preserves access to a distinctive basalt climbing area while adding another conserved property to the Verde River headwaters landscape. It also gives the town responsibility for future stewardship of a site that combines outdoor recreation, archaeological and historic resources, and a connection to one of central Arizona’s major rivers.