Yarnell, AZ

Home of the famous St. Joseph Shrine, Yarnell, AZ is about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix.   This quaint western town was founded in the late 1800s, when gold was discovered in the area.   Like many gold towns, it grew quickly, and then faded away.

Today, it has  a population of under a thousand, but it also has a unique collection of small shops and restaurants.  Yarnell  is a good summer destination, as the higher elevation makes for pleasant temperatures.   The drive has good scenery, and should take about an hour and a half.

We enjoyed a visit the famed Shrine to St. Joseph of the Mountains.  This non-denominational shrine has a short walk with meditations on the passion of Christ and statues by a local artist.  You can then spend an hour or two browsing the local shops. 

Because Yarnell is so small, we recommend spending a morning there and then continuing on to Prescott, AZ for the afternoon.  Just keep following scenic Highway 89. 

View map to Yarnell, AZ.