Dead Horse Ranch State Park
| Dead Horse Ranch State Park | |
|---|---|
Dead Horse Ranch State Park Location in Arizona | |
| Location | Yavapai County, Arizona, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°45′11″N 112°01′20″W / 34.753082°N 112.022116°W[1] |
| Area | 423 acres (171 ha) |
| Elevation | 3,300 ft (1,000 m)[1] |
| Established | 1972[2] |
| Administered by | Arizona State Parks & Trails |
| Visitors | 126,072 (in 2024)[3] |
| Website | Official website |
Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a state park of Arizona, United States, on the Verde River in an area known as the Verde River Greenway.[4] Located at approximately 3,300 feet (1,000 m) elevation, Dead Horse Ranch State Park covers 423 acres (1.71 km2) of land with 10 miles (16 km) of hiking trails, 150 campground sites and several picnic areas, along with 23 group camping sites. It also offers trailhead access to the Dead Horse Trail System, located on adjacent Coconino National Forest land. The ranch was originally named by the Ireys family, who sold the land to the state of Arizona to become a state park.[5]
Events
The annual Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival, the "Birdy Verde", with emphasis on birdwatching, is held each April. In 2010, about 70 field trips were offered for the four-day event, many led by nationally recognized experts. Headquarters for the festival is at Dead Horse Ranch, but events are held throughout the Verde Valley.[6]
Verde River Day is held annually in September at the park to celebrate the protection of the river's riparian habitat.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Dead Horse Ranch State Park Maps". Arizona State Parks & Trails. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "History of Dead Horse Ranch State Park". Arizona State Parks & Trails. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "Monthly State Parks Visitation Report" (PDF). Arizona Office of Tourism. July 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "Dead Horse Ranch State Park". Arizona State Parks & Trails. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "About Dead Horse Ranch State Park". Dead Horse Ranch State Park. "The story of the park's name begins with the Ireys family, who came to Arizona from Minnesota looking for a ranch to buy in the late 1940s. At one of the ranches they discovered a large dead horse lying by the road. After two days of viewing ranches, Dad Ireys asked the kids which ranch they liked the best. The kids said, “the one with the dead horse, dad!” The Ireys family chose the name Dead Horse Ranch and later, in 1973, when Arizona State Parks acquired the park, the Ireys made retaining the name a condition of sale."
- ^ "Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival". Friends of the Verde River.
- ^ "Verde River Day". Greater Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
External links
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park Arizona State Parks & Trails
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park Map Arizona State Parks & Trails