Tuzigoot National Monument

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.

Bones Trail is 6.05 miles long on native material, so the tread is dirt and rock rather than gravel or pavement. Grades run 5 to 8 percent, which is a steady pull rather than a sharp climb, but the length adds up. It is rated trail class 2, meaning a built path that stays rough in places. The route is numbered 180 and falls under the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest. Carry more water than you think you need, since there is no posted water along the way, and check with the ranger district for closures and current conditions before heading out.

Taawaki Inn offers lodging at 441 S. Broadway St. in Clarkdale, and guests use it as a base for Cottonwood, Jerome and Sedona as well. To book or ask a question, call (928) 365-9668 or write to hankarensdesigns@gmail.com. There is no posted desk schedule, so agree on an arrival time when you reserve instead of turning up late without notice. Ask what room types exist, how many each sleeps, what is included in the morning, and what the cancellation terms are. Rates here move with the season, so compare a few dates if your travel plans can bend.

Blazin' M Ranch is a tour and dinner show business in Cottonwood, Arizona. The ranch serves a chuckwagon dinner and follows it with a live show. Gates open in the late afternoon, dinner is served in the early evening, and the show runs after dinner. The schedule is Wednesday through Sunday, and the ranch is closed Monday and Tuesday. Tickets come in three levels: the Blazin' M Experience, a dinner and show package, and a VIP package. Prices for each are listed on the ranch's own site. The ranch lists the show as kid friendly. The ranch lists Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Sedona as the towns it serves. Call the ranch to check the night you want.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park

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.

Fort Verde State Historic Park

Fort Verde State Historic Park sits at 125 East Hollamon Street in Camp Verde. Arizona State Parks runs it, and there is an entry fee. The park is open every day from 9 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, with shorter hours on December 24, and closed on December 25. The site is wheelchair accessible. Each fall the park hosts Fort Verde Days, set for October 10 and 11, 2026. Old fort buildings and a museum tell the story of the place. The phone number is (928) 567-3275. Call to check hours before holidays, since they change.

Gold King Mine & Ghost Town

Out on Perkinsville Road above Jerome, Arizona, this is an open air site of old mining buildings, vintage vehicles and a working sawmill, with gold panning for visitors. It opens Wednesday through Monday and is closed Tuesdays. From March through November the gates are open from 9 to 5, and from December through February from 10 to 5. Admission is $12 for ages 13 to 79, $7 for ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under and for anyone 80 or older. Call (928) 634-0053 to check the hours before a long drive.

Jerome State Historic Park

The park sits at 100 Douglas Road in Jerome, Arizona, on ground about 1501 meters above sea level. Its centerpiece is the Douglas Mansion, and the displays inside cover the mining that built the town. Doors are open every day from 9 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. There is a fee to enter, so bring a way to pay. The building is wheelchair accessible. Arizona State Parks manages the site. Call (928) 634-5381 to ask about current fees, tours or a group visit before you drive up the hill, since times can change around holidays.