Deadhorse Ranch

Area Scenic Attractions:

Cottonwood - Verde River Greenway Natural Area, Historic Old Town, Mingus Mountain in Prescott National Forest and Tuzigoot National Monument. Jerome Ghost Town and Jerome State Historic Park. Camp Verde/Fort Verde State Historic Park and Montezuma Castle National Monument. Red Rock State Park (a nature center), Slide Rock State Park. Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Tavasci Marsh, and the Town of Sedona.

Verde River Greenway:
The nearly 180-mile long Verde River is a significant resource in Arizona. It is one of the desert's last free-flowing rivers sustaining a large regional wildlife population and a lush riparian community. In 1986, the state purchased the area that is now known as the Verde River Greenway between the Tuzigoot and Bridgeport bridges.

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 most significant natural resource in the Greenway, besides the year-round flowing river, is the dense forest of riparian trees and shrubs along its riverbank. This Fremont Cottonwood/Gooding Willow Riparian Gallery Forest is one of five remaining stands in Arizona and one of 20 such stands in the world.

Trails:
The trails in this system are in Dead Horse Ranch State Park and in the Coconino National Forest. Trail users, the Dead Horse Ranch Trails Coalition, Arizona State Parks, and the Forest Service have worked together to develop and manage this system for you enjoyment

Forest Loop: A 0.5 mile loop. Multi-use. Starts and ends in the River Day Use Area. Circles around and through a diversely forested area and provides river access by way of short narrow side trails.

Lime Kiln: A 2.1 mile trail, one way. Multi-use. This trail follows a portion of the historic Lime Kiln Wagon Road. Originally the Lime Kiln Trail, then a road, provided access to a Kiln that was constructed in the 1800's. This Kiln was used to burn limestone to create lime, which is an ingredient of the mortar needed to construct fireplaces and chimneys. Soon after the construction of the kiln, the road to the kiln was extended and used as a route between Sedona and Jerome. The remains of the kiln can still be seen beside the trail. The Lime Kiln Trail is also the southern leg of a multi-use trail loop that includes the Thumper Loop Trail of 2.5 miles and the Raptor Hill portion of 2.5 miles. Average mountain-bike time is approximately 1 hour to complete the loop.

Mesa: A 1.2 mile loop. Interpretive. Trail can be accessed from all areas of the park. It circles on top of the hill west of the North Campgrounds and provides overlooks of the valley.

Tavasci Marsh: A 1.0 miles one way trail. Multi-use. Access from the West Lagoon parking lot or the Mesquite Day Use Area. Follow along the historic Hickey irrigation ditch through a canopy of Ailanthus and Mesquite trees.

Hicky Ditch: A 0.5 mil trail, one way. Multi-use. Access from the West Lagoon parking lot or the Mesquite Day Use Area. Follow along the historic Hickey irrigation ditch through a canopy of Ailanthus and Mesquite trees.

Quail Wash: A 0.25 mile trail, one way. Hikers, stairs, and bridges prevent equestrian use. Access from West Lagoon parking lot or the Mesquite Day Use Area. Plant diversity and flowing water in the wash make this trail popular.

Creosote: A 0.5 mile trail. Multi-use, shortcut.

Lagoon: A 0.25 mile loop. Hike, bike. Accessed from any of the lagoon parking lots, this trail allows you to take a stroll around the lagoon. We do request that horses not be taken around lagoon banks.

Verde River Greenway: A 1.5 mile loop. Multi-use. Access from the West Lagoon parking lot or the VRG interpretive building. The trail weaves through some of the best nesting habitat in the area, a bird watchers' paradise.

Riverfront: A 0.5 mile trail, one way. Multi-use. Trail is accessed from either the south end of the Dead Horse Ranch State Park Bridge or from Riverfront Park. The trail runs along the south side of the Verde River and is good for walking.

About The Park:

Despite its distinctive name, Dead Horse Ranch is situated amidst an abundance of life along the Verde River. A six-mile reach of the river is known as the Verde River Greenway. Its unique ecosystem, the Cottonwood / Willow riparian gallery forest, is one of less than 20 such riparian zones in the world. Life along the river changes with the seasons, giving visitors a glimpse of the numerous species of raptors, neotropical migrants, resident songbirds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

The developed portion of Dead Horse Ranch State Park covers 423 acres. The 3,300 foot elevation accounts for the mild temperatures that are ideal for camping, mountain biking in the Coconino National Forest, hiking along the Verde River, canoeing, picnicking, fishing, or just wading in the cool water.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park has a USGS weather station on the premises with a real time data page available through the USGS site. Check it out!

How Dead Horse Ranch Got Its Name:
The story of the park's name begins with the Ireys family, who came to Arizona from Minnesota looking for a ranch to buy in the late 1940's. At one of the ranches they discovered a large dead horse lying by the road. After two days of viewing ranches, Dad Ireys asked the kids which ranch they liked the best. The kids said, "the one with the dead horse, Dad!" The Ireys family chose the name Dead Horse Ranch and later, in 1973, when Arizona State Parks acquired the park, the Ireys made retaining the name a condition of sale.

Amenities: Modern restroom facilities with hot water showers, large ramada, and group fire ring in the group campground, horse corrals and trailheads that connect to miles of developed trails. Multiple use trails provide access to the Verde River, a four-acre fishing lagoon, stocked periodically, and the Coconino National Forest.