Black Canyon City is in Central Arizona. It is in Yavapai County. The town is situated near the Bradshaw Mountains, along the Agua Fria River below Black Mesa in Black Canyon. It is on Interstate 17 at exits 242 & 244, just 30 miles north of Phoenix. It is a small town that began as a stage stop between Phoenix and Prescott.

Today Black Canyon City’s population is around 4,000. The town sits at an elevation of 2,000 feet. Black Canyon City has smog-free, sunny weather throughout the year. The warm desert climate has a winter low temperature of 40 degrees and a summer high temperature of 103 degrees. The town usually does receive a bit more rainfall than Phoenix, and even an occasional snowstorm.

The name Black Canyon City can be misleading for it is not an incorporated city. The community offers opportunities for new businesses and a great place for winter tourists to use as a refuge. There are grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations, restaurants, gift shops and various businesses to serve locals and visiting tourists.

There are several lakes that are located close to Black Canyon City and offer fishing and boating.
Arcosanti is located minutes north at the Cordes Junction exit. This is also the turn off for Prescott, Az.

Also located between BCC and Cordes Junction east of I17 is the new 71,100-acre Agua Fria National Monument Its ancient ruins offer insights into the lives of those who long ago inhabited this part of the desert Southwest. The monument is located in central Arizona approximately forty miles north of central Phoenix. The monument encompasses two mesas-Perry Mesa and the adjacent, smaller Black Mesa - the public land to the north of these mesas, and the canyon of the Agua Fria River. Elevations range from 600 feet above sea level along the Agua Fria Canyon to about 4,300 feet in the northern hills. At least 450 prehistoric sites are known to exist within the monument, and there are likely many more. Many intact petroglyph sites within the monument contain rock art symbols etched into the surfaces of boulders and cliff faces. The area also holds an extraordinary record of prehistoric agricultural features, including extensive terraces bounded by lines of rocks and other types of landscape modifications. In addition to its rich record of human history, the monument contains other objects of scientific interest: a diversity of vegetative communities, a wide array of sensitive wildlife species, and native fish. The area, vital open space on the northern edge of the rapidly expanding Phoenix urban area, has already suffered from extensive vandalism.

The scenic drive to the town of Crown King is a great day trip. The town of Crown King is located just 20 miles north of Black Canyon City. You will travel up a zigzag dirt road to the top of the Bradshaw Mountains, where you will arrive in the tiny town of Crown King. Once you are in town you can camp, fish or just take a stroll.

Sunset Point Scenic Rest Area is located just north of Black Canyon City on top of the rim... It has spectacular views of the Bradshaw Mountains. The best time to make your stop is just as the sun is setting. The colors that bounce off the landscape are mesmerizing.

 

There are several ghost towns that are accessible from the area via 2wd or 4wd. This link is a great starting point if you are into exploring ghost towns of Arizona...Yavapai County Ghost Towns