KINGMAN – Successful Phase 1 development of the White Cliffs Wagon Wheel hiking/biking trail will be celebrated during a Monday ribbon cutting that is open to the public. The ceremony at the trail head located at 1706 N. White Cliffs Rd. starts at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 7.

Attendees will be able to access and experience the trail after the ribbon cutting.

Phase 1 features a 1.1-mile-long Lower loop with a 112 ft. elevation gain, linked with a 2.3-mile-long Upper loop with an elevation gain of 223 ft. The Flagstaff- based American Conservation Experience began building out Phase 1 last Dec., completing the effort in April.

The brand new, pristine pathways have enjoyed strong use by appreciative hikers and have been praised by elected officials as new amenities for Kingman’s arsenal of trail marketing opportunities. Phase 1, funded by a $30,000 Arizona State Parks and Trails grant, was so successful that Kingman’s application for Phase 2 development has been approved in full.

The city of Kingman must provide $18,200 in matching money for the $149,000 Phase 2 grant aproved by the AZSPT Board of Directors on May 20.

“The funding comes from the Recreational Trails Program which we administer,” said State Parks and Trails Chief Mickey Rogers. He said he was very impressed with his spring tour of Phase 1 and that the board supports adding six more loops to the trail network at the park.

Rogers said the state board doesn’t usually fully fund such projects but that Phase 2 gained approval due to the success of Phase 1, plus city efforts to complete environmental assessment and other tasks to have the project close to shovel ready. That the trail network will also connect uptown and downtown Kingman was another selling point, he said.

“This new grant will allow us to expand our While Cliffs Park by 5miles of trails which is really good news for all of us who enjoy getting out,” said Mayor Jen Miles. She said the White Cliffs Wagon Wheel, Badger Trail and Hualapai Mountain hiking options have a unique mix of diversity and appeal to local and visitors alike.

“The trail system is a great niche for the marketing of Kingman and I think we’re already capitalizing and leveraging it to some extent and will continue to do so as our trails get better and better.

Parks and Recreation Director Mike Meersman said the city will very likely again use ACE for Phase 2 trail construction that could begin as early as November, and possibly be finished by May 31, 2022.