Laurel Leaf (YAN 4)
66.11 acre parcel in Prescott National Forest
The Laurel Leaf Parcel (Map) is surrounded by the vast 1.25-million-acre Prescott National Forest in north central Arizona. It is a remnant of the Walker, Willow, Upper Sight, and Hillside Mining Claims patented in 1905, totaling 66.11 acres. Laurel Leaf is a private parcel of land locked inside the National Forest, commonly called an inholding.
This parcel is located southwest of the City of Cottonwood, Yavapai County. Cottonwood and the nearby town of Clarkdale are in the heart of the Verde Valley Wine Country offering numerous wineries that draw tourists to the area. Many visitors stop in Cottonwood/Clarkdale on their way northeast to nearby Sedona.
The Laurel Leaf Parcel is situated on the eastern slopes of Mingus Mountain and offers views of the famous Sedona Red Rocks to the northeast. Beyond the Red Rocks are views of the San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff Arizona.
The Laurel Leaf parcel is in Arizona Game and Fish Department Game Management Unit 19A. Wildlife in the area includes black bear, elk, mule deer, Merriam’s turkey, white-tailed deer, javelina, mountain lion, rocky mountain bighorn, sheep, tree squirrel, and waterfowl.
The Prescott National Forest surrounds the Laurel Leaf Parcel and offers significant recreational opportunities with more than 950 miles of trails and 100,000 acres of wilderness. The area’s moderate climate attracts visitors year-round.
The area’s moderate climate, along with its affordability, has attracted many new residents. New home development has occurred rapidly over the past few years to accommodate population growth.
Given the growth in the area and the attributes of this parcel of land, absent the proposed land exchange, this parcel would be desirable for residential development if it were available. However, the Yavapai-Apache Nation purchased the property with the intent to include it in the Nation’s land exchange rather than sell or develop this impressive property.
Making Laurel Leaf part of the Prescott National Forest will protect the wildlife habitat and aesthetic values and provide enhanced recreational value and public access to the Forest. As part of the National Forest, this land would be open to the public for outdoor recreationists and hunters.
Most importantly, adding this parcel to the National Forest will reduce the challenges the Forest Service faces trying to manage around a private inholding. Exchanging this parcel into ownership by the people of the United States is consistent with the Prescott National Forest Management Plan.