Dead Horse Ranch State Park

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Parks

Arizona

Nearby: Cottonwood Kids Park Tuzigoot National Monument

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a 423-acre park located in Cottonwood, Arizona.

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Summary

The park offers a range of recreational activities, including camping, fishing, hiking, and boating. Here are some good reasons to visit the park:

1. Natural Beauty: Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a beautiful location that provides visitors with stunning views of the Verde River, surrounding mountains, and wildlife.

2. Camping: The park has several campsites available, including RV sites, tent sites, and cabins. The campsites offer modern amenities such as water and electricity, and some even have fire pits and grills.

3. Fishing: The Verde River, which runs through the park, is home to a variety of fish, including rainbow trout, bass, and catfish. The park offers a fishing pond that is stocked with trout and catfish.

4. Hiking: The park has several hiking trails that provide visitors with a chance to explore the natural beauty of the area. The trails range from easy to difficult, and some offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and river.

5. Boating: Visitors can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats to explore the Verde River. The park also has a boat ramp for those who bring their own boats.

Some specific points of interest to see in Dead Horse Ranch State Park include the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area, which is home to several species of birds and fish, and the historic Dead Horse Ranch, which was used as a cattle ranch in the early 1900s.

Interesting facts about the area include that the park was named after a dead horse that was found on the ranch in the early 1900s, and that the park is home to several species of wildlife, including coyotes, bobcats, and javelinas.

The best time of year to visit Dead Horse Ranch State Park is in the spring or fall when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors in all seasons.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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