Verde Village

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.

Rooms are offered at 993 South Main Street in Cottonwood, close to the main road through town. The phone number is (928) 634-5575. Rates, room types, pet rules, and what is included with a stay are not posted here, so call or use the hotel website to check what is open on your dates. Asking directly is also the way to find out about late arrival, parking for a trailer, or an accessible room. Weekends and event dates fill first in this part of the valley, so book early if your trip is set. Confirm the cancellation terms at the time you reserve.

American food is served at 1041 South Highway 260 in Cottonwood, and breakfast is part of what draws people in. This is a sit down restaurant rather than a counter service stop, so plan on table seating and a server. The phone number is (928) 634-8188. Daily opening and closing times are not posted here, so call ahead if you are coming very early or late, or on a holiday. Weekend mornings tend to be the busiest stretch for any breakfast place, and a wait is possible. Ask about seating for a larger group when you call, rather than arriving and hoping for a big table.

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.

Burgers and other fast food are served at 2560 East Rio Mesa Trail in Cottonwood. The doors open at 6 a.m. and close at 11 p.m., and those same hours hold every day of the week, Monday through Sunday. There is a drive through for people who would rather stay in the car, and food can be ordered to take away. The phone number is (928) 634-5338. Early risers will find it open before most of the shops nearby. Holiday hours can differ from the regular schedule, so a quick call before a late night or early morning visit saves a wasted trip.

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.

Classes are held at 1500 South Monte Tesoro Drive in Cottonwood. The office can be reached at (928) 634-7039. Grade levels served, bell times, and the boundary for the area it draws from are not posted here, so call the office or check the school website for the current year. Registration paperwork, bus routes, and the calendar of breaks also change from year to year, and the office is the place to confirm them. Parents new to the area should ask what proof of address is needed before enrolling a child. Pickup and drop off traffic is heavy at the start and the end of the day.

Massage is the service here, run from an address on Broken Rock Dr. Appointments are made by phone at (978) 914-0727, or by email at Holistichealing711@gmail.com. Sunday hours run from 1 to 6 in the afternoon. Other days are not posted, so call to ask what times are open in the week ahead. Clients come from across the valley, including Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Cornville, Camp Verde, Rimrock, Village of Oak Creek, and Sedona. Session lengths and rates are not listed, so ask about both when you book. Since this is a small practice, a same day opening is not something to count on.