Eco-Friendly Recreation in The Verde River Valley
You will find plenty of fun eco-friendly things to do with your family in the great outdoors of Sedona and the Verde River Valley. You can take your kids fishing, hiking, mountain biking or even slide down a natural water slide!
- Sedona – Verde Valley Recreational Areas
- Sedona Recreational Information (fishing liscense, red rock pass)
Sedona-Verde Valley Recreational Areas
Coconino National Forest
“Welcome to Red Rock Country”
The Coconino National Forest is one of the most diverse national forests in the country with landscapes ranging from the famous red rocks of Sedona to Ponderosa Pine forests, to alpine tundra. Explore mountains and canyons, fish forest lakes and wade in lazy creeks and streams. Hiking and backpacking, horseback riding, and mountain biking opportunities in Red Rock Country are virtually unlimited, with over 200 miles of trail. Visitors may enjoy short and easy trips on urban trails or long and challenging adventures through remote back country areas. For more information visit the Coconino National Forest website.
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Dead Horse Ranch State Park
675 Dead Horse Ranch Road, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
The beautiful park with the unfortunate name sits on over 400 acres in Cottonwood Arizona and is right next to the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area. The temperatures at the park are often mild, due the park’s elevation, and make it an ideal place for outdoor activities. This state park is a short distance from Sedona and has numerous hiking trails, not to mention trails for mountain biking and horse back riding. You can even take along a nice picnic lunch for your family and take in the scenic view at any of the picnic tables around the park.
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Red Rock State Park
4050 Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, AZ 86336
Red Rock State Park is a 286 acre nature preserve and environmental education center with stunning scenery. Trails throughout the park wind through manzanita and juniper to reach the rich banks of Oak Creek. Green meadows are framed by native vegetation and hills of red rock. The creek meanders through the park, creating a diverse riparian habitat abounding with plants and wildlife. This riparian habitat provides the setting and the opportunity for the park to offer a focus on environmental education. Red Rock state park also offers a variety of guided hikes with knowledgeable and experienced guides. For more information visit the Red Rock State Park website.
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Slide Rock State Park
6871 North Highway 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
Slide Rock State Park, originally the Pendley Homestead, is a 43-acre historic apple farm located in Oak Creek Canyon. The park is named after the famous Slide Rock, a stretch of slippery creek bottom adjacent to the homestead. Visitors can slide down a slick natural water chute or wade and sun along the creek. The swim area is located on national forest land which is jointly managed by Arizona State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service.
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Oak Creek
Fishing, Water-play, Hiking, Biking , Sightseeing,
Wildlife viewing, Photography
This clear canyon stream may be one of the most scenic fishing and swimming holes in the world. Oak Creek flows through a narrow gorge it has cut along a fault line in the same rock strata that forms the Grand Canyon. But this smaller cousin of the world’s most prestigious chasm, is much more accessible than its more famous relative. A road leads right down the middle of it. And if you’d really like to get to know these crimson cliffs and crystal pools up close and personal, there are plenty of overlooks and picnic areas, hiking trails and creekside paths to help you do it. Drive north on 89A out of Uptown Sedona and you’ll find many places to access Oak Creek, including Slide Rock State Park and Grasshopper Flats.
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Verde River
Fishing, Boating, Water-play, Whitewater rafting, Hiking,
Biking , Sightseeing, Wildlife viewing, Photography
The Verde River is Arizona’s only wild and scenic river, yet it remains relatively undiscovered as a recreational resource. That doesn’t mean this clear desert stream has little to offer. It’s an excellent place to fish for a number of species including trout, which the Arizona Game and Fish Department has begun stocking on a put and take basis. The Verde River is also becoming more and more popular for recreational boating. Some stretches provide scenic canoeing among long pools and manageable riffles. Other sections become exciting whitewater runs during the spring snow melt or after late summer thunderstorms. Major river access points are at the White Bridge where State Highway 260 crosses the river east of Camp Verde, at Beasley Flats via FR 574 and FR 529, and near the Childs Power Plant via FR 708 and FR 502. The route into Childs is steep and winding. It can become very soft and slippery when wet.
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Verde River Greenway State Natural Area
2011-B Kestrel Road, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
The Greenway encompasses nearly 480 acres and is six miles long. The 3,300 foot elevation means mild temperatures for hiking along the Verde, canoeing, picnicking, fishing, or just wading in the cool water. Life along the river changes with the season, giving visitors a glimpse of great blue heron, black hawks, coyotes, raccoons, mule deer, beavers, ducks, frogs, and toads. The Verde River and surrounding riparian corridor support nearly twenty threatened or endangered species including river otter, southwestern bald eagles, southwestern willow flycatchers, and lowland leopard frogs. The Verde River Greenway State Natural Area is located next to Dead Horse Ranch State Park at 2011-B Kestrel Road in Cottonwood.
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Sedona Recreational Information
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Diverse climate and terrain found in Arizona offers of wide variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Being informed and educated is an important part of all outdoor activities. Because knowing the rules and regulations of your activity is important for both safety and fun.Find the latest information for all your favorite outdoor activities, including: riding off-highway vehicles, boating on a nearby lake, shooting stationary or clay targets, watching wildlife in its natural habitat or land access information for a hike with a friend. the Arizona Game and Fish Department provides an online service for purchasing many of the popular hunting and fishing licenses, specialty stamps, as well as temporary licenses for nonresidents.
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A Red Rock Pass (or America The Beautiful Interagency Pass, Golden Age or Golden Access) is required when recreating on national forest land in Red Rock Country, a high-impact recreation area. The pass must be displayed in the windshield of the vehicle.Vehicles parked on the National Forest in the red rock area that do not display a valid pass in the windshield are subject to receiving a citation. A pass is not required for incidental stopping to take a photograph or to enjoy a scenic vista (approximately 15 minutes or less). To see the various Red Rock passes available, prices of the passes or all the locations to purchase a pass visit Red Rock Pass.
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Red Rock State Park Visitors Center
4050 Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, AZ 86336
The Miller Visitor Center at Red Rock State Park includes an interpretive area, a gift shop and restrooms. There are many educational opportunities found in the Miller Visitor Center. Their hands-on exhibits are based on the theme of biotic communities. The panels bring to life the variety of habitats found within the park. You will also find information on the early human inhabitants of the area as well as roving displays showing a wide selection of the park’s wildlife. They also have a movie theater at the park which shows “The Natural Wonders of Sedona: Timeless Beauty.” The 45-minute film plays on request and covers Sedona’s history and wildlife and takes you on a flying tour of the red rocks providing you with some phenomenal aerial scenes.
