Arizona’s Verde Valley state parks are teeming with scenic vistas, historical monuments, and a vast array of wildlife. Each season brings its own unique charm to the valley, which is easily accessible from large cities like Phoenix and Flagstaff. Whether you are traveling alone or in a group, use this guide to help plan a well-rounded vacation that hits some of the region’s best state parks.
This story was created in partnership with Arizona State Parks & Trails.
For the History Buffs:
Fort Verde State Historic Park
Couple walking by building in Fort Verde State Historic Park
Chances are, the Indian Wars didn’t get their due in the history classes you took as you were growing up. That’s why visiting Fort Verde Historic Park is a must; you’ll leave with a better understanding of how the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land now known as Arizona were driven from their homes, as well as what a day in the life of a late 19th century pioneer in Verde Valley looked like. Expect well-informed staff and comprehensive exhibits at this park, which won the Arizona Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award in 2015.
To make the most of your visit, time your tour of the park’s 11.5 acres with one of the living history presentations. As you explore the historic parade grounds, administration building, and three houses listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places, you’ll be able to have all your questions answered by park staff, rangers, and volunteers. Before you leave, don’t forget to take a peek at the demonstration gardens, which house native plants like autumn sage and Apache plum, as well as crops grown traditionally using the three sisters method.
Jerome State Historic Park
Mining equipment in front of building in Jerome State Historic Park
Jerome, a town with less than 500 residents, was once home to an opera house, two churches, a school, and 15,000 residents. What funded all this rapid development at the turn of the 19th century? The short answer is copper. But if you want more insight into how one of the most famous mining towns in Arizona earned its title as “the wickedest town in America” while also creating jobs for thousands of people, then you’ll need to visit Jerome State Historic Park. Here, you’ll tour the park’s Douglas Mansion, which is now a museum filled with mining artifacts and audio-visual exhibits.
When you’re finished walking around the Douglas Mansion, head to the Jerome Historical Society’s Mine Museum down on Main Street to learn more about the immigrant communities who once worked in Jerome. If you consider yourself a true history buff, also check out the Jerome Historical Society’s archival collection, which contains maps, government records, newspapers, manuscripts, and over 11,000 photos. Finally, if you are entering or leaving town from the north on Highway 89A, there is an excellent viewpoint from which you can watch the sunrise or sunset over Jerome and Cleopatra Hill.
For those Who Love to Hit the Trails
Red Rock State Park
Group of hikers viewing Cathedral Rock from trail
With 286 acres of high desert and riparian zones to explore, you cannot miss paying a visit to Red Rock State Park. Conveniently located just 20 minutes from the town of Sedona, this park is well-suited for hikers who are on the market for easy trails featuring picturesque vistas and shady forests alike. Before doing anything else, join one of the guided walks the park offers each morning to learn more about the animals, birds, and geological features that you will see as you continue to explore the 5 miles (8 kilometers) of park trails on your own. Guided bird walks are also available twice weekly, and you might see varieties like herons, turkeys, and roadrunners.
Though the Apache Fire Loop, Coyote Ridge Trail, and Eagle’s Nest Loop are among the most beloved hiking routes in the park itself, you’ll also have access to trails that sprawl into U.S. Forest Service Land; these are especially popular among bikers, who are not permitted on the park’s loop trails. If you’re up for a longer adventure, take the 15 mile (24 kilometers) long Lime Kiln trail all the way to Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
View of Verde River at Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Over 20 miles (32 kilometers) of trails await hikers, bikers, and equestrians at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. These trails take users through several microclimates, such as the Coconino National Forest’s high desert and the Verde River’s riparian zone. Most of the trails are ranked easy to moderate, and several of them follow along the banks of the river, where you can cool off on a hot day (note that swimming in the lagoons is prohibited).
While you won’t find any dead horses at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, you are guaranteed to see a wide variety of other wildlife splashing in the Verde River and rustling through the deciduous forests. As you hike and relax by the water, listen for the whistles and chattering of river otters, search the trees for gray foxes, and peruse the rocks for red-spotted toads. Into birdwatching? You may want to time your visit to coincide with the annual Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival, which takes place during spring migration.
For the Water Lovers
Slide Rock State Park
Family enjoying Oak Creek and rocks on sunny day
Slide Rock State Park features exactly what you might expect, given its name—a smooth, slick rock down which you can slide into a creek—but also so much more. The park is located on land that primarily functioned as an apple orchard during much of the 20th century, and as you walk along the property, you can still see the original orchards, irrigation system, and cabins that were owned by the Pendley family until the early 1980s.
It’s named Slide Rock State Park for a reason, though. Renowned as one of the best swimming holes in the country, Slide Rock is a paradise for kids and adults alike. The sandstone slide stretches 80 feet (24.4 meters) in length and up to four feet (1.2 meters) in width. While it can attract major crowds during the warmer months, the slide is nestled in a half-mile stretch of Oak Creek that visitors love for sunbathing, swimming, and wading, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a spot to lay out your towel.
Rockin’ River Ranch State Park
Tree-lined trail at Rockin’ River Ranch State Park
If you’re traveling through the Verde Valley on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, visit the newly opened Rockin’ River Ranch State Park, which was dedicated in February, 2024. Here, you can hike, bike, or horseback ride along six trails, as well as enjoy the birds gathering along the Verde River. If casting a fishing line is the kind of relaxation you most enjoy, this park has you covered there, too. You might reel in bass, catfish, panfish, or rainbow trout, and while the park permits you to take a few fish home for supper, the catch and release method is largely preferred for largemouth bass.
As you relish your activity of choice, take the time to appreciate the plethora of species that thrive in this park. Here, the riparian nature of the Verde Valley is accompanied by an array of water-loving wildlife, such as river otters and blue herons. Meanwhile, savvy birdwatchers should be prepared to identify species like summer tanagers and Northern Shovelers, as well as waterfowl like mallards and wood ducks, depending on the season.
