Park Rules Camping Cabins

Trails
Trails are located within the park and
the Coconino National Forest. Trails were
developed and are managed by trail users,
the Dead Horse Ranch Trails Coalition,
Arizona State Parks Rangers & Volunteers,
and the Forest Service. Bring extra water
and get an early start in summer months.
Trailheads are located north of the lagoon
area or at the end of Flycatcher road.
Dead Horse Trail System: A nonmotorized 20+ mile shared-use mix of
doubletrack & singletrack. Four trailheads
throughout the park lead up to the high
desert of Coconino National Forest. The Lime
Kiln Trail leg follows a portion of the historic
Lime Kiln Wagon Road from Cottonwood
to Sedona. Hikers & equestrians are
encouraged to travel counterclockwise on
the the basic loop—Lime Kiln, Thumper,
and Raptor Trails. Mountain bikers
usually find that starting at the Roadrunner
trailhead and riding the loop clockwise is
more fun. For most cyclists, the trail is rated
intermediate to expert.
Forest Loop: 0.5-mile loop. Shared-use.
Circles around and through a diversely
forested area with river access.
Canopy: 0.25 mile ADA accessible trail
looping under a Freemont Cottonwood tree
canopy. Bird watching & wildlife viewing.
Mesa: 1-mile interpretive loop. Circles top
of hill west of Red-Tail Hawk Campground
with scenic views.
Tavasci Marsh: 1-mile shared-use trail.
Quail Wash: 0.25-mile trail. Hike & bike.
Stairs and bridges prevent equestrian use.
Intersects with Hickey Ditch Trail.
Hickey Ditch: A 0.5-mile trail. Shared-use.
Follow along the historic Hickey irrigation
ditch through a canopy of Willow, Netleaf
Hackberry, AZ Black Walnut, & Mesquite
trees. Intersects with Quail Wash Trail.
The trailhead is located at north end of the
West Lagoon parking lot.
Park Rules
Camping Cabins
Eight one-room log Camping Cabins
are available at the park by reservation.
They are tucked away from the other
campgrounds, making them an ideal
getaway for a weekend or for the week.
The cabins are variably furnished with a
full size bed, a bunk bed, table & chairs,
dresser-drawer, ceiling fan with overhead
light, and electricity. Campers must supply
their own linens. Each cabin also has a
barbecue and picnic table outside. Familystyle shower facilities are only a short
walk from all of the cabins. There is an
electrified ramada with barbecues and a
fire pit in the area that can be shared by
cabin guests. Cabins have heating and
cooling systems. Cabin Check-in time:
3 pm. Cabin Checkout time: 10 am.
Annual Events
Activities at Verde River Day (Fall)
promote preservation and care of the
environment by showcasing informative
exhibits on the Verde River’s riparian
habitat. Some of the day’s events
include environmental exhibits, handson-activities, fishing, canoeing, and live
entertainment. Check website for date.
The Verde Valley Birding & Nature
Festival (Spring) celebrates nature with
workshops and field trips where expert
guides take visitors to the area’s birding
hot spots. More than 70 field trips are
offered throughout the event, many led by
nationally recognized and local experts.
Help us protect this special park:
675 Dead Horse Ranch Rd.
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Park Phone: (928) 634-5283
Reservations: (520) 586-2283
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.
A six-mile reach of the river is known
as the Verde River Greenway State
Natural Area. Its unique ecosystem, the
Cottonwood and 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 numerous species.
How the Park Got Its Name. The Ireys
family came to Arizona from Minnesota
looking to buy a ranch in the late 1940s.
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.
• Maximum of 2 vehicles per campsite.
• Camping fees are per vehicle.
• When leaving your campsite
unattended, please demonstrate
occupancy.
• Pets must be kept on a leash and may
not be left unattended. Please clean up
after your pet. Pets are not permitted
in park buildings.
• Gathering firewood is prohibited.
• Check-in time for visitors with
reservations is 2 pm.
• Checkout time is Noon.
• Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 8 am.
• Generators are prohibited.
• Amplified music / public address
systems are prohibited.
• Park stay is limited to 14 nights in any
30 day period.
• Vehicles and trailers must be parked
on paved surfaces only (including at
campsites).
• Grey water must be contained.
• R.V. and vehicle washing is prohibited
in the park.
• Swimming is prohibited in the lagoons.
• Oar powered boats are permitted
in the lagoons. Boats must be
Coast Guard approved and personal
floatation devices must be worn.
• Discharging firearms is prohibited
in developed areas within the park
(including BB & pellet guns, bows, and
slingshots).
Group Day Areas
Two Group Day Use Areas are available.
The River Day Use Area near the Verde
River and the Los Alamos Day Use Area
near the lagoons has 8 reservable ramadas.
One Group Camping Area, Raven Loop,
is available with 23 sites, restroom
facilities with hot water & showers, a large
ramada, and a group fire ring. Available
by reservation. Contact Ranger Station.
Raven Loop
Camping Cabins
Group/Equestrian
20
20 8
20 7
20 6
20 5
4
20
3
20
2
20
1
21
3
21
2
21
1
21
0
20
9
Cooper’s
Hawk Loop
Host
21
9
22
0
22
1
22
2
*22
3
Host
21
6
21
7
21
8
Trail
ino
con
Co
Blackhawk
Loop
21
4
21
5
Ri
Accveer
ss
Tent
s on
ly
or Hill Tr a il
Rapt
1
Eq
u
Co estr
rra ian
ls
To Tavasci Marsh Trail
Mesa In terpretive Trail
3
6
5
KIN
G
RO FISH
AD ER
Creo
CH
Showers
Self-Pay Station
Equestrian
Trash
Lagoon
Maps not to scale
Please Recycle
ADA Accessible Sites:
53,108,109,127
64
ADA sites should only be
used by visitors requiring the
sites, unless campground is full.
Quail Loop
DEAD HO
RSE
RA
N
Woodpecker
Circle
6
Verde River
Greenway
SNA Offices
Lagoon
11
Ve
rd
e
Green w
er
Riv
Trail
ay
29 26
28
8
32
12
13
27
26
43 42
31
10
Camping
Cabins
30
7
To R
ang
er S
tatio
n
2 1
3
4
5
9
oon
Lag
River Day
Use Area
Shared Use Trail: Hiking,
Biking, & Equestrian
Shared Use Trail:
Hiking & Biking
94
93
92
91
53
75 74
73
Red-Tailed
72
Hawk Loop
57
71
Electric
Host
76
58
77 70
59
51
78 69
60
50
79 68
49
61
80 67
48
66
81 65
62
47
82
46
63
Electric
P
HERO
N
NORTH 10TH STREET
Fish Cleaning Station
Los Alamos
Reservable Ramadas
55 54
44
33
34
45
14 15 16
ADA Accessible Site: 30
* Site 25 is non-electric
25*
Host
r
ate
the
phi
Am
Cottonwood
LR
D
Rest Rooms
.
RD
rail
LoopT
t
s
e
r
Fo
Hicke
y Ditch
Fishing
Park Phone: (928) 634-5283
Reservations: (520) 586-2283
.
Canopy
Trail
W
Trail Horse
Adventures
Dump Station
CH
.
RD
O
sot
Kayak/Canoe Launch
O
PH
EA
SA
NT
D.
LE R
AG
NE
E
Ranger Residences
LD
GO
Emergencies Only
First Aid
O
JAY L
RS E
DEAD HO
N
RA
eT
rail
Quail
Loop
R D.
Ranger Station
& Gift Shop
Playground
Picnic Area
RD .
e
Lim
Raven
Loop
il
Tra
Kiln
Host
95 110
83
96 109
97 108
85
116
98 107
86
99 106
100 105
87
101 104
Cooper’s 88
103
89
Hawk Loop
102
90
Electric
56
Ranger Station
Picnic Shelter
e Kiln
im
Trail
L
c
e
c
s
o
s
t
A
Cemetery
Dead
End
Road
Cabins 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
are ADA Accessible
Legend
Red-Tailed
Hawk Loop
R OADRUNNER RD.
RD.
ER
CH
AT
YC
FL
Kish Trail
7
4
Tents only
111
112
118 117
113
119 127
114
120 126
125
121
115
124
122
123
8
2
* Site 223 is electric
Equestrian
Parking &
Corrals
Blackhawk Loop
35
17
24
23
Host
39
22
36 38
37
18
19
21
20