Visit Vibrant Verde Valley

From the gorgeous red rocks of Sedona to the haunting town of Jerome, Verde Valley offers travelers a destination with great adventure, lovely views, and lots of things to do. We have made several visits to the area. In fact, our first trip to Sedona was our discovery trip to find out if we would like RVing. Sedona is a magical and mystical town certainly worth visiting. Thousands do every year! But don’t stop there like so many tourists! The Valley has many other great small towns to visit including Cottonwood, Page Springs, and the spooky Jerome among others.

A Valley of Adventure

Verde Valley is a playground for anyone who loves to explore on foot, bike or four wheels. The variety of terrain is remarkable — gentle river paths, wide-open desert trails, red rock viewpoints, and remote backcountry canyons where you can escape. You can choose your level, from peaceful nature walks to serious workouts on bike or foot that leave you happily sore.

Hikes

Sedona offers several great hikes among its famed red rock formations. But venture away from the crowds to find equally stunning trails with less human intersections.

• Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood – With over twenty miles of trails, you are sure to find one that fits your desires. Winding through canyons, desert greenery, and along the Verde River, you will have views toward the Mingus Mountains. Keep an eye out for wildlife including coyotes or wild javelinas. This is also a surprisingly great spot for bird watchers who might like the blue herons and kestrels.
• Bell Trail, Rimrock – Head to one of the most popular trails, Wet Beaver Creek. Here you can find shady pools and majestic scenery. A historical trail, when you walk here, you are walking in the steps of the first Spanish visitors who came in 1583, looking for gold.
• Tuzigoot National Monument, Clarkdale – If you like your hike with some history, explore the 110-room ancient pueblo built by the Sinagua people. Perched along a hilltop, it offers sweeping views of the cliffs below.

Mountain Biking

Verde Valley is the sweet spot for mountain bikers. The varied terrain, well-maintained singletrack, and smaller crowds combined with great scenery make this a dream destination for those who like to challenge themselves on two wheels.

• Dead Horse Ranch, Cottonwood – The trails of Dead Horse Ranch have a little bit of everything: flowing descents, punchy climbs, technical rock gardens, and overlooks that make the climbs worth every pedal stroke.
• White Hills Singletracks, Cornville – Fast and flowy, this area is amazing for advanced riders who like a challenge and great views.
• Mingus Mountain, Cottonwood – With trails varying from moderate to very difficult, there are many with technical sections, steep climbs, and lots of scenery over Verde Valley. Beginners might enjoy Viewpoints Trail as they hone their biking skills.
• Black Canyon and Verde River Loops, Camp Verde – If you like long, challenging rides, then the Black Canyon Trail offers you 100 miles leading into Prescott National Forest on a singletrack trail system.

And for those who prefer their wheels to be motorized, the area is rich with trails for off-roading in your Jeep or ATV. You know it is popular when the area tours are offered in a pink Jeep! So whether you like harrowing climbs or Sunday drives with your amazing views, you can find an off-road trail.

Adult Beverage Anyone?

The Verde Valley offers a little of everything for those who like a cold drink after their adventures. With a thriving craft beer scene and a growing list of wineries, you can enjoy your view with live music and great libations.

A Growing Wine Scene

We didn’t expect to find a wine region in the high desert, especially one with such tasty wines and amazing views. With fertile river bottoms, warm days and cool nights, the Verde Valley is quickly becoming known for its wineries.. To show off their product, the local winemakers have created unique tasting rooms. Many offer an experience along with your wine whether that is live music or just the gorgeous setting. You can find one set in historic buildings or tucked along the river in postcard-worthy settings. While we were visiting, we enjoyed live music and great weather outside while sipping our tastings.

• Page Springs Cellars, Cornville – We stumbled across this one while touring around in our Jeep. With several acres of farm land set along the river and multiple outdoor decks and patios, you can enjoy your tasting with a gorgeous view. They also offer tasty dishes and snacks.
• DA Ranch, Cornville – Another winery near Page Springs, this rustic location runs out of a former ranch house. Wander the grounds to enjoy the views or pet the farm animals who seem to enjoy company.
• Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria, Cottonwood – One of two wineries owned by Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenan, they recently opened a new space with a beautiful view of the Valley. Offering tasty food and great flights, make sure you check this one out.
• The Original Jerome Winery, Jerome – Perfectly located between the lower and upper portions of Jerome, this family run winery grows more than 30 unique grapes and has an extensive list of wines. The bottles all feature images from the family albums and might be the only time you have tasted these grapes.

Craft Breweries With Local Flavor

Beer lovers are equally spoiled here. Cottonwood’s brewery scene is small but mighty, with charming spaces, hand-crafted tap lists, and a friendliness that reflects the personality of the region. Often offering live music, the breweries here embody everything travelers love about the Verde Valley: character – creativity and a sense of community.

• Belfrey Grill and Brewery, Cottonwood – Located at the entrance to Cottonwood, this is a great stop for lunch and a good brew.
• Smelter Town Brewery, Clarkdale – While officially located in Clarkdale, this local brewery is a friendly gathering spot a stone’s throw from Cottonwood. We enjoyed a splendid burger from a food truck along with a delicious flight of beers.
• LazyG Brewhouse, Prescott – Located in the historic downtown of Prescott, you will find award-winning brews and good food to share.

A Place Where Evenings Are Something Special

Maybe it is the nearby vortexes of energy or the beauty of the red rocks, but the Verde Valley seems imbibed with magic. Nothing can beat a campfire under the canopy of stars with the desert air encouraging you to just relax and let go. However, if you like your evenings to have a little less nature than you can easily find a spot to entertain.

Looking for More

There is plenty to do and see in Verde Valley with options from Prescott to Sedona and all points in between.

• Old Town Cottonwood – The historic Main Street is full of great bars and restaurants to satisfy your appetites. Have a great dinner at Pizzeria Bocce where you can enjoy authentic Italian pizza made from ingredients imported from the mother land, a great list of cocktails, and a fun game of Bocce. Then wander Main Street to find a winery or bar playing live music.
• Jerome – This former ghost town built on a hill is so worth a day trip. Enjoy a ghost tour or tour the old mining company. Marvel at the buildings literally handing off the cliff and stop for a burger at the famous Haunted Hamburger. Don’t forget to stop by the art galleries and shops for very eccentric and unique gifts.
• Sedona – If you haven’t been to Sedona, you must! With its famed vortexes, artsy community and gorgeous setting, a day trip is a must. Many great restaurants offer meals from hamburgers to date night high-end fare. The Mariposa Latin Grill is worth at least a stop for a drink on the patio if just to see the amazing crystal door and interior artwork.

Or Just Relax

While the days in the Verde Valley are filled with discovery, the evenings might be what you remember most. The night skies here are dark and wide, the kind that tempt you to pull up a chair and stay outside long after the sun disappears. After a day of tasting rooms, trails, or mountain roads, sitting under a canopy of stars with the desert night air drifting around you feels like the perfect exhale. The Verde Valley may have all the adventures you could ask for, but it also knows how to slow you down in all the right ways.

RV Campsites

Visiting this area in a RV, you have many choices on where and how to camp. Multiple private campgrounds offer a variety of sites on the river or near to town. Enjoy boondocking where your view in the morning is the red rocks of Sedona. Or choose from one of the small towns, close to your favorite type of adventure. Verde Valley is popular with Snowbirds escaping winter. Many of the private campgrounds are very large and still fill from October to spring.

• Rancho Sedona, Sedona – Located right along Oak Creek, this shady campground allows you want to stay in Sedona. You can walk to town and easily drive to many attractions, avoiding some of the crowds that fill the town.
• Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood – We have mentioned this Park several times for its great trails. It also offers excellent RV camping with full or partial hook ups. And the location at the end of Main Street allows you to easily walk to restaurants and bars in Cottonwood.
• Rain Spirit, Clarkdale – Rain Spirit is very conveniently located off the highway. Offering a variety of amenities, it has a great desert feel appropriate for the area. The only drawback is no shade.
• Rio Verde RV Park, Cottonwood – This looks like a great spot, conveniently located outside of Cottonwood. Located on the river, it has a variety of sites and several hiking trails are right outside the campground.
• Verde River RV and Cottages, Camp Verde – When you want to be center to all that the Valley has to offer, this is a great campground. With a very friendly staff and full hook-ups, this campground offers RVers a great variety of shaded and unshaded spots.
• FM 525 Boondocking – This is truly our favorite place to camp! There are several areas in and around Verde Valley with BLM land on which to boon dock. Offering amazing views and great solitude, FM 525 is where we came to appreciate boondocking. Sadly, not everyone appreciates and takes care of the area. To combat this, they made changes on where you can park, but it is still one of the most beautiful places to sip your morning coffee.

Is Verde Valley on your Destination List?

What makes the Verde Valley special is you can do a little bit of everything—outdoor adventure, food and drink experiences, small-town charm. You can enjoy the magic of Sedona or get a lot of the same beauty and adventure without the crowds in the many other small towns down the road. You can watch the sun light up the canyon walls in the morning, sip wine beside the river in the afternoon, bike twisty singletrack at golden hour, and settle under a blanket of stars after dark. It is a place to slow down, breathe deeper, and savor the simplicity of a beautiful day well spent.

If you’ve been craving a destination that offers scenery without stress, adventure without overwhelm, and small-town warmth with big experiences, the Verde Valley deserves a spot at the top of your list. It’s a region that respects the past, celebrates the present, and invites travelers to sink into the beautiful rhythm of desert life—one trail, one sip, one golden sunset at a time.

With so much to offer, why wouldn’t you visit this gorgeous area?

If we missed one of your favorite things, please leave us a comment and let us know below.