Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Photos from Verde River Days
Check out the photo wrap-up gallery from the 21st Annual Verde River Days which was held September 26 & 27 at the park. Thanks to all the volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, bands, and community groups for making this such a success. See Photo Gallery 
Despite its distinctive name, Dead Horse Ranch is situated amidst an abundance of life along the Verde River.
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 the numerous species of raptors, neotropical migrants, resident songbirds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park and the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area are located next to each other in Cottonwood, Arizona. The Natural Area conserves the land in its natural state, so you won’t find restrooms or modern camping facilities in the Natural Area. Use Dead Horse Ranch State Park as your base camp to enjoy the hiking, canoeing, and natural surroundings of the Verde River Greenway. Please practice “Leave No Trace” ethics.
How Dead Horse Ranch Got Its Name
The story of the park's name begins with the Ireys family, who came to Arizona from Minnesota looking for a ranch to buy 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.
Arizona Game & Fish stocked both lagoons at the park.
Lagoons Stocked, November 2009
On November 2nd, 2009, as rangers and fishermen look on, Arizona Game & Fish brings the first load of rainbow trout to be stocked in Dead Horse Ranch State Park's lagoons since spring. Photo by Tony Viotti.
For information on fishing throughout the state, visit Arizona Game & Fish.
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