dead horse ranch state park

Dead Horse is a very nice State Park. There are a few campgrounds and three lakes for fishing. The lakes are stock often with fish and what we observed the fishing was very good. There are also hiking trails around the lakes and along the Verde River. We hiked around the lakes and talked to the friendly fisher people. There are a couple of hiking trails we plan on hiking when we visit again. They also have a few cabins for rent. And it is a Beautiful Park. Saw our first Road Runner ever so that was nice, Bald Eagles Quail ,Blue Herons , a assortment of Ducks and many smaller birds. Also some Whitetail Deer with three nice Bucks . Will return for sure for some fishing.

Quiet and clean. Unfortunately it rained the entire three days we were there so our outdoor activities were limited. One day we rook off and went to Jerome where we saw it snow sideways lol. Went to Cottonwoodp. Will come back and try it again. The sites are paved and plenty of room. We stayed in Quail Loop. Fire rings and tables. Go for a walk to find trash receptacles.

We have come back to this park time after time. We like the campground, the surrounding beautiful terrain, the view, the trails, and the friendly folks running the place.The campground is most excellently laid out. Electric and water hook ups are available at most campsites. There is also a picnic table and a fire pit/grill. Camp spots have paved parking spots that are fairly level and for the most part are well drained. There is a dump station. We enjoy stunning views of Cottonwood and Jerome. There are a bunch of trails for exploring the area. Some trails are for horses and bikes as well. The park is next door to Tuzigoot National Monument. A concessionaire offers horseback riding. We tried it one time and really enjoyed the ride and tour of the area. The river and a lake offer fishing. Town is nearby, so if you forgot something it is a short ride to the store. The area offers other sightseeing opportunities such as Jerome (old mining town on the hill) and a train ride out of Clarkdale. Sedona is within 20 miles. Montezuma's Well and Montezuma's Castle National Monument are fairly close as well.This is a good place for a family, retirees, a group wishing to camp together. It is important to make reservations for the campground since it is quite popular. Staff and volunteers are always helpful and friendly.

Trailhorse Adventures has a corral in the park -- the people and the horses are wonderful! The state park is alongside the Coconino National Forest, and the trails run from one park to the other with no interruption. The elevation of this park keeps the temperatures cooler than Phoenix, and it's not that far a drive. Love the riparian area.

Me and my mum went horse riding here, we were very happy with the staff they are very friendly. The horses are very well trained and look very well looked after which is always good. I would definitely recommend this if you are thinking about going.

We camped at Dead Horse Ranch State Park for two weeks in a travel trailer. Sites have electric and water hookups and a dump station is located at the entrance of the park. Sites are closer together than some parks we have visited, but they are desert sites with little vegetation between each site. There is fishing, horse back riding available and hiking trails. Restrooms are older and clean, although the showers being old were not very inviting to my taste. The park is convenient to Old Town Cottonwood, Sedona, Jerome, golf courses, hiking, etc. Lots to do and lots of fun.

There are 3 lagoons with walking paths (2 interconnect). If you are a fisherman, the lagoons are stocked and there is a fish cleaning station. If you are a camper, there are several camping areas. Very nice state park.

My son & I went horseback riding with Dead Horse Ranch in the park of same name. Their horses are well trained and very healthy looking, so do not worry about name of park. My son was a little concerned since he had not been on a horse since he was a kid After ride, he was very happy to have gone and will be willing to try more rides. . It was a wonderful experience, great wrangler, taught us about scenery, plants, etc. Had lunch by the river, so peaceful and quiet. Highly recommend this ride.

Stayed in a cabin two weekends in a row. First weekend was great got there at 11 fished until 4 and I caught 25 trout and my girlfriend caught 7. Mind you we practice catch and release. The second weekend we went up the with her family stayed in a cabin and went fishing right at sunrise, myself and her brother caught six in one lagoon then they stopped buting went to another lagoon and we each ggot another 20 to 25 fish from 7 to 12. It was great the only problem I had was the second lagoon is full of weeds so there is no chance of jigging for trout which I love to do.

We came to the park for horseback riding, but really enjoyed visiting the park. We took a few small hikes and watched people fishing in the lagoons. We had packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed eating it, next to the lakes. We saw a few people catching fish, and enjoyed seeing a Great Blue Heron flying overhead. Worth visiting, especially if you'd like to take a horseback ride too.

Dead Horse is an uncrowned king/queen Amidst Cottonwood. From paved paths for those who need it, to traversing paths along the Verde River, to a great scape in every direction of the beautiful terrain/area, it's a stop not to be missed. RVers can stay, see birds unique galore and in the same area is the city's park, a big dog park, and a very unique and quite lovely nationally certified 18 hold disc golf course.its cheap to see and u will be glad you did. Horseback rides to birdwatching dog walking or walking the wooden laid path alon the marsh seeing wild life galore. Come one come all. Named Dead Horse for a"dead horse" seen by the daughter of the original claimed' of the land, maybe it is time to consider a name change, perhaps something more welcoming...

We have been going horseback riding at Thanksgiving for several years. This was the best one yet.My wife had a great horse, for a change, the scenery was guite varied for this area. We even got to cross "live water" .

Four of us (two couples) and our three dogs decided to go for a nice short, basic, flat-geography hike within a two-hour drive from Peoria, AZ, during the month of November, 2014. So after doing a little advanced research, the Dead Horse Ranch State park in Cottonwood, Arizona at 3,100 feet elevation seemed to fit the bill. The first thing that we learned was that there are no dead horses at this park, only live horses for riding. Historically the original ranch got it's name by a family that purchased the property back in the early 1950s and came across one (1) dead horse... according to the story, albeit the namesake.We entered the ranger gate and paid our entrance fee. Be sure to ask about the reduced fee for US military veterans with a valid ID. The park is nicely laid out with three lagoons and numerous hiking paths. There is ample parking (at least at this time of year) and there are very clean and comfortable picnic facilities and clean, well-equipped brick & mortar restrooms throughout the park. We noticed that there was at least one fish-cleaning table for cleaning the fish from the well-stock lagoons. We also noticed a large motor home parked nearby so there are most likely some accommodations for those types of visitors. We decided to have a noon-time picnic prior to embarking on our hike around the lagoons. If you go to the park web site there is a very accurate map of the park, parking, picnic tables, restrooms and hiking trails and the Verde River to the South of the park. We had our picnic near the facilities that are positioned in-between the second and third lagoons which afforded us with a nice view of the two lagoons, the reeds and the surrounding cliffs, mountains and tree lines. By the way, dogs must be on a leash at all times and pet owners are responsible for cleanup. After lunch our first hike was around the third lagoon (furthest East). It was a nice short hike with ample views of the cliffs to the North, we could clearly see the town of Jerome nestled in the mountains looking West and nice views of the trees along the Verde River. This hike is appropriate for beginners or families with small children, as it is an easy hike. After a short break, we decided to drive our cars to a parking lot near the westernmost lagoon in order to be close to the “Ditch Trail” and the “Verde River Greenway Trail”. These short hikes do have some challenge, as there are spots where it might present some concern for someone that has difficulty with an uneven path or going up a few inclines like a river bank. For a seasoned hiker – no problemo.The hike along the Verde River was very pleasant and somewhat isolated visually from the rest of the park, which was quite refreshing. For the short hike on the riverbank, one could almost forget that there was a park with facilities nearby. We highly recommend the Dead Horse Ranch State Park for a daytime getaway, hike or a picnic. There are numerous other attractions at this park. But this review is only focused on our personal experience with the picnic facilities, scenic views and the hikes near and around the lagoons. For other attractions, we recommend going to the web site for this Arizona State Park for information about camping, cabins, motor homes, horseback rides, fishing, etc.

Excellent campground! clean, warm bathrooms. Great staff, and camp hosts are super nice! Clean sites, and alot of activities like hiking, riding, fishing, ect... FUN!!

A group of friends make an annual weekend camping trip to Dead Horse Ranch State Park and this year was our first time joining the group. Stayed at the cabins. They are heated, which was delightful in November. The State Park has some hiking trails, you can go on a horseback ride, and there are fish stocked in the lake that is fed by the river going through the park. The park has all levels of camping... look at AZ State Parks website for more details. It was fun, even having to dig out my flashlight to trot over to the communal bathroom, which was also heated (no frozen toilet surfaces!). Dead Horse Ranch State Park is right on the edge of Cottonwood, so if you forgot something, you can always hop in the car and drive 1/2 mile to a Circle K or other local places. You're not stranded in the wilderness, but it feels like it.