People really need to be better educated on the permit process and the strict requirements that are…read morenow being enforced. We had our permit that one of our husbands printed for us but since he was not in vehicle, they would not allow us to enter!! Worse than our problem were 2 women in thier turn around lot at thier gate and those 2 women were still stranded in the heat nearly 6 hours later. We the park rangers failed to relay a hugely important message to those ladies about thier spare tire being In the middle of the road 10 miles back !! Again a huge disappointment for those park employees who witnessed these women being stranded, and we feel with 3 employees and 2 trucks could have easily assisted these women or at the very least let them know where thier spare was located ! We were hugely inconvenienced by driving back several miles to pile into one car as the option they offered us, but these poor ladies we believe were clearly suffering unnecessary while not one of those employees told them where thier spare was located or possibly offered to get it for them .

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.

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.

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 renew our pass for the state park every year. We love to come here as a family. The park is dog…read morefriendly. We bring our little puppy. There are very nice trails around three lagoons beautiful water views. There are benches and picnic table tables all around the park, this is a perfect spot to have a picnic at on a nice sunny day. They do have both shaded and unshaded picnic tables and seating. We walked around the park first and then had our picnic. It is very peaceful here there were lots of dogs and families out together. The bathroom here were very clean and well-maintained. There is a kids park up top where kids can hang out and zip line. There is lots of wildlife to see their birds, ducks fishing. We saw two eagles . There is also horseback riding that can be purchased separately. Overall a great experience we will continue to come back time and time again.

We were visiting Sedona and saw this park before heading over there. Our kids had a great time and…read morethe park was big enough! Very clean and well maintained, with shade which was amazing! I recommend it for a chill hang out for the kiddos and the adults too!

This is a fantastic park located just minutes from downtown Sedona. We met several locals who were…read moreincredibly friendly and gave us great recommendations for local food and entertainment. My children and I loved having enough space to toss a softball around on the large, grassy field--it was such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. If you have a few hours to spare, don't miss this little gem. Enjoy your day!

Montezuma Well is a separate unit of Montezuma Castle National Monument. It's 20 minutes east of…read moreMontezuma Castle and well worth a stop! There's no entrance fee, but there's a small ranger station at the trailhead and a very enthusiastic volunteer who gave as an orientation speech of the human history of the area and the geology of the area. Without him, the visit would have been less impressive. The water in the sinkhole contains high levels of arsenic and carbon dioxide, so no fish are in the water...but don't worry there are plenty of leeches! Don't enter the water because of that, and also because you do not want to disturb the five species endemic to this spot of water. They're found nowhere else. Interestingly enough, there's near-constant volume of spring water even in times of severe drought, which would have seemed miraculous to the people who lived here. If you look from the rim, you can see several prehistoric dwellings right under the rim on the other side. Hiking down gets you close to more dwellings. Well worth a trip, especially as it's less crowded than the Castle.

My friend and I stopped to see the Montezuma Castle first. This Well is only a couple miles up from…read morethe Castle. It is another short trail loop to see the Well and it's FREE (no entry fee). It's a amazing site when you reach the top of the well with the view of the well and dwellings. There is a board with some facts. The best part though was there was a wonderful, very friendly Park Ranger stationed at the top to answer any questions and to talk about the Well and surroundings if interested. She also told us of the hidden path to actually go down onto the well. We were there around 3pm, on a Monday and there were no crowds at all. A must see!

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is beautiful, I'm so glad I had the opportunity to finally check it…read moreout! It costs $10/person and you can pay at the entrance booth with cash or go inside to pay with card. We did not hike down to the creek/observation bridge but will definitely check it out on another visit. There are four easily labeled viewpoints that show different angles of the bridge. There was a lot of wildlife when we went and we even got to see a Coati! This place is great, definitely check it out.

Awesome Father's Day at Tonto Bridge! Got there at 9am when the gate opens and even when we left…read morearound 11:30am on a Sunday there were plenty of parking spots still available in each parking lot. My husband had my 17 mo in a baby carrier and we did the whole loop. We spent a little over 2 hours here. Some parts were super slippery even without water present, esp more towards the bridge, but wear hiking boots and be sure of your footings and you're going to be just fine! Take your time. Stop every now and then and just look up. It's beautiful all the rocks and mountain cliffs. It's beautiful the whole loop trail. Under the bridge the breeze and spray from the water coming down is a treat after being sweating. We saw plenty of young children take on the rocky trails. If you can physically, do the entire big loop. It's worth it.

Too expensive! $15 to get in and the trails aren't even that long. It was $10 just a year ago…read more Also, $2 for a map - absolutely bonkers charging money for a piece of paper when there's a map once you get inside. We paid $15 to sit at a picnic table and hiked a quarter mile :/

Second time being here, so lovely! So glad we got a nice spot on a Friday afternoon during the…read moresummer as I heard it can be very busy and if they're full they'll turn you away. We took our 3 pups to walk around and chill by the water for a few hours and it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. Highly recommend! Bring some beach or camping chairs and or a hammock!

We had a blast! Easy to access, zero hiking required! Plenty of shade and areas to sit as well. The…read morejumping rock area isn't too too deep so I would caution when jumping from the rocks. We did not do the hike down to the "crack" we asked multiple people and they suggested since there's no shade it's not the best for a 5 year old. We will be back to this creek for sure :)

Really enjoy this swimming hole. BEWARE THE BLACK FLIES they bite :(( cover up well if you can?…read moreMaybe keep moving? Idk that kinda sucked, but otherwise love this hike.

They are dry as a bone, it sure would be nice if they would fill them up and keep them full and…read moreadd fish . This would be great for the community.

This is a community park lake that is actually divided into two halves a larger Lake and a smaller…read morelike it is called Crystal Lake to all the residents here at Cordes Lakes. It has a small picnic area with three picnic tables and a grill it also provides a volleyball net. It also has great views of the surrounding area of Cordes Lakes the only sad part of it is that the lake is completely dried out and empty.

Today's adventure took us to the Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site, where we discovered that people…read morehave apparently been leaving messages on rocks long before Facebook, Instagram, or questionable TikTok dance trends. These ancient artists carved their stories into stone, and unlike my photos, their work has survived for centuries without needing cloud storage or a software update. The hike was short, the views were spectacular, and the petroglyphs were fascinating. Standing there looking at markings created hundreds of years ago really makes you wonder what they meant... a hunting story? A map? Ancient Yelp reviews? "Water nearby. Scenery: . Would carve again."

The Crane petroglyph site is an amazing location in central Arizona, a little bit off the beaten…read morepath, but well worth it! Approximately 3 miles from the highway, the roads are very passable, if not the monsoon season - .4 mile trail from parking lot to the site, a visit is well worth it! Make sure you stop by the visitor center to sign in and say Hi, they have wonderful air-conditioning on a hot day...