Cabins will be closed July 18 to August 26 for construction improvements.
Camper Mail Notice: Park cannot accept mail for campers - please use general delivery at the post office or make other arrangements. Packages delivered to the park will be returned to sender.
Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
April 25-28, 2024
This beloved celebration of birding and nature during peak migration in the Verde Valley began as a celebration of birding at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in 2001. The founders of the festival sought a way to provide a fun and educational birding experience to both the local community and visitors. We knew we had an undiscovered treasure in the diversity of habitats within the Verde Valley, as well as great birding in Dead Horse Ranch State Park.
The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival gives participants the opportunity to experience birding during the peak spring migration season. The four-day festival is held at Dead Horse Ranch State Park on the banks of the Verde River. With close proximity to the Verde, Oak Creek, Sycamore Creek and other perennial waters, festival participants are invited to choose from a wide selection of offerings such as guided tours, hikes, and workshops in one of Arizona’s richest birding habitats. Visit the festival website for details and specifics!
This year's festival theme is bird migration and its impact on riparian areas in our environment. The keynote speaker, Richard Crossley, will lead discussions, and the featured bird for the year is the common black hawk. There will be armchair birding and guided bird walks all across the Verde Valley from April 25 - 28 that require registration at verderiver.org/events/verde-valley-birding-and-nature-festival-2024.
The Free Family Nature Festival at the event will be in the lagoon area on Saturday, April 27.
