Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival
April 23-26, 2026
Come to the park for a fun festival of exploring birds, bugs and nature! This is an Outdors250 event.
READ MOREAbout Dead Horse Ranch State Park
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.
Explore Dead Horse Ranch
Park and Facility Hours
The park is open year-round.
Gates close at dark. Seasonal hours may apply.
Day Use
Fall Hours
7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily
Visitor Center/Park Store
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily
Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
Park Entrance Fee
Per vehicle (1 person): $10.00
Per vehicle (2-4 people): $20.00
Individual/bicycle: $5.00
Visitor Resources
Administration
