Absolute gem of a state park and what the model should be for all parks:…read more 1. Incredibly helpful and informed staff 2. Cleanest restrooms of any state or national park I've ever seen 3. Phenomenal fishing for the kids in the lagoons 4. The little cabins are a must for families! Will be on our regular rotation now. Pro tip: if staying in the cabins, there is only one wall outlet inside. Bring an electric water kettle to heat up water for ramen, coffee, cider, oatmeal, and for doing a quick rinse of any cooking pans and utensils. We would died without our hot water kettle. Great job, Arizona State Parks!

We've stayed at the basic tent sites many times and LOVE that you have a place to throw away trash,…read moreaccess to public restrooms, and showers. Beautiful inside and I believe you can stay two weeks out of a month.

FYI: If you're planning to go during the government shutdown, you can't drive all the way to the…read moreparking lot -- it's about an 8-mile hike (a lot of it on gravel). But honestly, it's worth every step! Just when you think you've reached the falls... you haven't. Keep going! The road in is pure washboard -- about 13 miles of bump city -- so make sure you have a 4-wheel drive and that nothing inside your car is loose. Fossil Creek is absolutely stunning, and bonus -- no permit needed after October 1st. The other thing says this trail is easy. No, it's not to be careful if you're taking somebody elderly over that doesn't have good mobility because there's some rocks you had a climb and what not also make sure you take plenty of water to drink and a little snack everything you pack in your pack. I would also suggest leaving the house by three 330. No later you don't wanna be hiking in the pitch dark.

I didn't know anything about this place beforehand. If my boss had never been here and my cousin…read morehad never told me about the Permit, I would've made a wasted trip. I wish I knew more before going. I need to know more information about how things work at Fossil Creek. Even after going, though we enjoyed ourselves, I still don't know how it works. There were no signs telling you where you can access trails to get to the creek. You just had to guess. I found a trail at our Homestead parking lot, but it was very steep and a little dangerous. We found a spot okay in the shade but was very small for our party of 6. We worked so hard getting down there that we just made it work. After leaving we went up the road a little way in our vehicle to see what the other spots looked like, but I saw no bridge or easy access from The Bridge parking lot either, and the road was just way too bumpy. I hope my wife's suspension is okay on her Mazda CX-5. The information before going should've told us about the road and what to expect, basically how to plan. It's all a guessing game. I could've asked the Ranger lady more questions, but I didn't know what to ask. My boss made things sound different. Apparently you can't drive people to the waterfall trailhead anymore. You have to walk over 2 miles on a dusty dirt road in over 100 degrees with vehicles driving by kicking up dust. That makes no sense whatsoever. We enjoyed our time at the water. Everything else leading up to it and after it we could've done without. I don't see us coming back unless we have someone with better suspension and/or better knowledge of the area. Thank you.

We parked at the Tuzigoot River Access point after visiting the National Monument. This is a large…read moreparking lot, suitable for boat trailers. We went in January to walk along the river. It was very scenic, even though most of the leaves had fallen form the trees. There is a small beach at one location and small rapids for kayaking. Several dog walkers and a few mountain bikes were using the pathways. This would be a lovely place in the spring to fall when the trees are full.

This natural area is located next to Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood. There is no…read morecamping or campfires in the riparian zone, but you can camp at Dead Horse Park. The river is stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegill. In the winter they stock it with trout. There is a lot of wildlife in this region to see. The Verde River is a great spot to canoe or kayak because of all the twists and turns in the river. You can load your boat at the ramp at the Tuzigoot River Access Point which has plenty of parking nearby. Swimming is at your own risk.

This stunning lake is just outside of Prescott. The scenery is spectacular, with amazing rock…read moreformations around and in the lake. There are several hiking trails around it. There is some boating/kayaking allowed. Boat ramps, some playground equipment, picnic tables. It costs to get in, but you can buy an annual pass which gets you into other parks in the area. We love coming here when we're in the area.

Beautiful trail with lots of pathways and cool scenery. Also can get a really nice view of the lake…read moreand hear the ducks. Would for sure recommend checking this trail out if you can and just enjoy the scenery.

This is a neat national monument - expect to spend 1-2 hours here exploring the visitor center and…read morewalking up to the pueblo structure. The visitor center has a lot of artifacts and information about the history of the area and how it was excavated, as well as how the name came to be. It's a Tonto Apache term for "crooked waters," from nearby Pecks Lake. There's also a gift shop with the usual assortment of NPS offerings. Out off to the side of the visitor center is a paved pathway to the 2- to 3-story pueblo. You can even climb up to the top of a reconstructed room to view the area. It's impressive in size - Tuzigoot is the largest and best preserved of the many Sinagua pueblo structures. There was a volunteer out in the structure to answer any questions one may have - very nice touch. I saw a deer wandering out in the marsh vegetation and a lot of birds flying around.

Tuzigoot is a cool National Monument near Sedona! You see the ruins from over 900 years ago. It's…read morereally cool to see how they built places for survival. I would recommend a tour for more information if you can get one. I just walked around and explored, but would have gotten more history with a guide. There is a small gift shop and museum to check out as well. If you are there around lunch time, there are picnic benches available to sit on if it's not too hot! Overall, it's a great stop if you like history!

We rented ATVs and rode up here, which took about 20-30 minutes to reach the top. Once you arrive,…read morethere's a $5 fee to park your vehicle. They have a small area with restrooms, trash cans, and even complimentary ice water, which was a really nice touch, especially after riding in the heat. From the parking area, it's about a 5-minute walk up to the site. It's pretty cool to see, and there's a short path where you can walk around and take it all in. The walk itself is very quick, but the site is still interesting and worth checking out if you're already in the area. Overall, it's a neat stop and a nice break during the ride. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way just for this, but if you're nearby it's definitely worth a quick visit.

Recently, I visited the Honanki heritage site in Sedona. The road to arrive is a little rough and…read moreit is a dirt road so you will want a high clearance vehicle. Once you arrive, there is a short and accessible hike to arrive to the cliff dwellings. The place is truly magical and historical. There are many pictographs and petroglyphs on the walls. The Sinagua people inhabited the structures in AD 1150-1530. I went in the mid afternoon and it was very quiet there ... only saw a few people.

We stopped in Jerome and was not disappointed. It is a cute town in Arizona's Black Hills. It…read morepromotes being a ghost town, and is considered one of the most haunted places in Arizona. We were able to park on the street for free, but there is also areas to pay for parking. We spent a few hours walling the town, going in and out of shops, galleries and wineries. Many of the buildings had plaques stating what the building was in the past. A nice way to learn about the history of the town. The views of the Sedona's Red Rock , Verde Valley and the San Francisco Peaks were beautiful. Worth spending a few hours visiting.

Used to be a great place just like many have said but it's no longer the case. This place turned…read moreinto a money making machine with nothing left from a "ghost town" aspect. What kind of ghost town charges six dollars for parking and has parking enforcement ? There are renovations and constructions everywhere and someone's trying to sell you things in every corner. This is no longer Jerome I used to love.

Short and sandy. Nice and shady during our walk June of 2024. Morning temps were in the high…read moreseventies. Take water for sure. Enjoy the shade of the trees and graffiti under the bridge. We extended our hike to 2.5 miles by looping out to River Walk by the ball fields and community gardens. Boots recommended for the soft sand but not necessary.

This is a fun popular hike in Cottonwood that is good for hiking, walking, and trail running. It is…read morepretty easy and is accessible from historic old town Cottonwood near the old jail parking lot. It is 1.6 miles through a dense riparian forest where you can spot many species of birds. This trail is great for birdwatchers. The trail itself connects Old Town Cottonwood with Riverfront Park and the Verde River. I have walked the Jail Trail a couple times when visiting Cottonwood and have always enjoyed the peacefulness it offers.