Trails in Cottonwood

Trail 9705 runs 2.4 miles over native dirt, with no paving and no surfaced tread. Grades sit in the 8 to 10 percent band, so the climbing is steady rather than gentle. Hikers, riders on horseback, and people on bicycles may all use it. Motorized vehicles are not among the listed uses. It is rated trail class 2, which means a basic route with light construction and few built features. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Check with the ranger district for current conditions, since washes and storms change dirt tread quickly. Carry water and wear shoes with grip.

Riders on an ATV share this one with people on foot, on a bicycle, and on horseback, so expect to meet motorized traffic. It runs 3.07 miles on native dirt, with grades in the 5 to 8 percent range, which makes for a moderate and fairly even pull. Trail 0546 is rated class 3, a step more developed than a rough footpath, with a wider and better defined tread. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Dirt tread can wash out after a storm, so ask the ranger district about conditions before a long ride. Yield rules matter here, since users travel at very different speeds.

Grades of 0 to 5 percent make this one of the flatter routes in the area, and it runs 4.29 miles on native dirt. Trail 1000 is rated class 3, so the tread is wider and better defined than a rough footpath, which suits a steady pace over a longer distance. This is Red Rock Ranger District land, on the Coconino National Forest. Allowed uses are not listed here, so check with the ranger district before bringing a bicycle, a horse, or anything motorized. Gentle grade does not mean short, so carry water for the full distance and ask about conditions after any storm.

Bill Ensign Trail runs about 1.76 miles and is numbered 182 in the national forest trail system. The tread is native material, meaning dirt and rock rather than gravel or pavement. Grades along the route run roughly 8 to 10 percent, so expect steady climbing in places. It is rated trail class 2, which points to a simple path with little in the way of built structures. The Coconino National Forest manages it through the Red Rock Ranger District. Conditions change with weather and season, so check with the ranger district before heading out. Carry water, and wear footwear with grip, because loose ground on a native surface moves underfoot.

At 7.67 miles, this is the longest of the routes in the Verde Ranger District listed here, and the grades are the steepest band on offer at 10 to 12 percent. The tread is native dirt throughout. Hiking, horseback riding, and bicycles are the allowed uses, and motors are not on that list. Trail 0114 is rated class 3, so the tread is better defined than a rough path, though length and grade still make it a full outing. The Prescott National Forest manages it. Start early in warm months, carry more water than you think you need, and ask the ranger district about conditions first.

Short and mostly gentle, this route covers 1.35 miles with grades in the 5 to 8 percent range. The tread is native dirt. It is open to ATV riders, bicycles, horses, and people on foot, so a quiet walk is not guaranteed and it pays to listen for engines. Trail 0526 carries a class 2 rating, meaning simple construction and few built features. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Its length makes it a reasonable choice when time is short or when you want to link it with something longer. Conditions in a wash change after rain, so check before you go.

Cottonwood Loop is 6.01 miles near Verde Village, in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, as trail number 0514. It is a loop, so you should finish where you started without arranging a shuttle. The typical grade is 5 to 8 percent, moderate across a fair distance. Native material underfoot, class 2. Hiking, horses, bicycles and ATVs are all listed as allowed, so expect shared use and possible motorized traffic. Six miles in the open is a water and heat question more than a fitness one. Check the district for closures first.

Steep is the word for this one. Grades run from 12 to 20 percent across 2.4 miles of native dirt, which is the sharpest pitch among the nearby routes. Motorcycles and ATVs are allowed here, along with bicycles, horses, and people on foot, so the mix of users is wide. Trail 9703 is rated class 2, so the tread is simple and lightly built. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Loose dirt on a steep pitch gets slick when wet and chewed up after heavy use, so check with the ranger district before you commit to it.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is at 675 Dead Horse Ranch Road in Cottonwood, managed by Arizona State Parks. The features listed are lagoons, fishing, canoeing, hiking trails, a campground and camping cabins, which makes it the park in this valley you can stay at rather than just visit. Entry is $10 per vehicle for one person, $20 for two to four people, and $5 to walk in or cycle. The visitor center is open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily. Call (928) 634-5283 about camping, which books up, or see azstateparks.com.

Barely more than a third of a mile long, at 0.38 miles, this is a short connector rather than a day outing. Grades still reach the 10 to 12 percent band, so the little distance it covers is climbed quickly. The tread is native dirt. Bicycles, horses, and hiking are the allowed uses, with no motorized travel listed. Trail 9706 is rated class 2, meaning light construction and a simple tread. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Its length makes it most useful as a link between longer routes, so look at a district map before you plan around it.

Covering 3.2 miles of native dirt, this route holds to the 5 to 8 percent grade band, so the climbing is moderate and spread out. ATVs, bicycles, horses, and people on foot may all use it, which means engines and quiet travel share the same tread. Trail 0525 is rated class 2, a simple route with light construction. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. A wash route can change shape after a storm, filling with loose sand or cutting new lines, so ask the ranger district how it is holding up before a long day out. Bring water and a map.

Running 2.05 miles on native dirt, this route keeps grades in the 5 to 8 percent range, an even pull rather than a hard climb. ATV riders, bicycles, horses, and people on foot are all allowed, so expect mixed traffic and give way where the tread is narrow. Trail 0512 is rated class 2, which points to simple construction and few built features. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Distance and grade together make it a reasonable half day outing for most people. Ask the ranger district about current conditions, since dirt tread shifts with weather and with heavy use.

Raptor Bones Connector Trail is short, about 0.18 miles, and it links other paths rather than going anywhere on its own. It carries the number 181B. The tread is native material, so dirt and rock underfoot. Grades run around 5 to 8 percent, which is gentle. Trail class 3 points to a clear, well defined path. The Coconino National Forest looks after it through the Red Rock Ranger District. Because this is a connector, look at a map of the whole loop before setting out so you know what it joins. Check with the ranger district for closures, and bring water even on a short walk.

Raptor Hill Trail runs about 4.69 miles and carries the number 181. The surface is native material, which means dirt and rock rather than anything laid down. Grades sit around 5 to 8 percent, steady rather than steep. Trail class 3 describes a path that is easy to follow and holds up to regular use. The Coconino National Forest manages it through the Red Rock Ranger District. At that length, plan for a few hours and take water, a map and sun protection. Weather turns the tread slick and can change how long the route takes, so check conditions with the ranger district before you go.

Length is what sets this one apart among the nearby wash routes, at 4.3 miles of native dirt. Grades stay in the 5 to 8 percent band, so the distance rather than the pitch is the work. ATVs, bicycles, horses, and hiking are the allowed uses, and motorized traffic is part of the mix. Trail 0527 is rated class 2, with light construction and a simple tread. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Plan for a longer day, carry water, and tell someone your route. Conditions change after rain, so check with the ranger district before setting out.

A loop of 2.02 miles on native dirt, with grades held to the 0 to 5 percent band, so it stays close to level for its whole length. Trail 1002 is rated class 3, meaning a defined and reasonably built tread rather than a faint path. The Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest manages it. Allowed uses are not listed here, so ask the ranger district before bringing a bicycle or a horse. A flat loop of this length works well for an easy outing or a walk with children. Conditions on dirt change after rain, so check before you drive out.

Under a mile at 0.92 miles, this is a short route, but the grades reach the 10 to 12 percent band, so it gains height fast for its length. The tread is native dirt. Bicycles, horses, and hiking are the listed uses, and no motorized travel is included. Trail 0516 carries a class 2 rating, meaning a simple tread with light construction. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Short and steep suits a quick workout or a link in a longer loop. Footing on a steep dirt pitch turns slick when wet, so check conditions with the ranger district first.

Thumper Trail covers about 2.3 miles and is numbered 131. Its surface is native material, so dirt and rock rather than gravel or pavement. Grades run about 5 to 8 percent, a steady pull rather than a scramble. It is rated trail class 2, which means a simple path with few built features and less signing than a busier route. The Coconino National Forest manages it through the Red Rock Ranger District. Take a map, since a class 2 path can be faint in places. Water, sun protection and sturdy shoes matter on open ground. Check with the ranger district for closures before you set out.

Very short at 0.14 miles, this is a connector rather than a destination. Grades run from 0 to 5 percent, so it is essentially flat, and the tread is native dirt. Trail 1000A is rated class 3, which means a defined and reasonably built surface despite the short distance. It sits in the Red Rock Ranger District, part of the Coconino National Forest. Allowed uses are not listed here, so ask the ranger district before bringing a bicycle or a horse. Because it exists to join other routes, look at a district map to see what it connects to before planning around it.

Zalesky Loop is 0.38 miles near Verde Village, in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest, as trail number 1001. It is a loop, so you end where you began, and at this length it is a short one. The typical grade is 0 to 5 percent, effectively flat, and the surface is native material. It is recorded as trail class 3. The allowed uses are not posted, so ask before you ride. Short, flat and a loop makes this about as approachable as anything we list, and it works well as an add on to a longer walk nearby.