Verde River Greenway Trail

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a popular recreation location for campers, picnickers and hikers. There are over 20 miles of trails in the park, and some of them connect to trails in the Coconino National Forest. Unlike most of the park’s trails, which travel through desert environment, the Verde River Greenway follows the course of the river through a beautiful cottonwood glade. While it is a one-way trail along the river, a nice loop hike can be constructed by following the Lagoon Trail back from the eastern end of the Verde River Greenway.

The main Greenway generally stays away from the immediate shore of the Verde River, but there are many social trails that head down to the river itself. The flood plain of the river exhibits many signs of the flow of water beyond the normal banks—tree branches and debris are widespread. This area has some prime nesting habitat, making it the best birding location in the park. Following the Lagoon Trails back, there are nice views of the water and the picnic areas on the other side.