Verde River

The river begins below the dam at Sullivan Lake, fed by Big Chino Wash and Williamson Valley Wash in Yavapai County. The Verde flows freely for {{convert|125|mi|km}} through private, state, tribal and United States Forest Service lands,{{cite web | title = Friends of the Verde River | publisher = Friends of the Verde River | access-date = August 8, 2023 | url = https://verderiver.org/learn/http://www.rivers.gov/rivers/verde.php }} specifically the Prescott National Forest, Coconino National Forest and Tonto National Forest, before encountering the first of two dams that make Horseshoe Lake and Bartlett Lake. The cities of Camp Verde, Clarkdale and Cottonwood are the main population centers along the river. The Verde River and the Salt River converge on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Salt River flows into the Gila River west of Phoenix.

In 1984, the United States Congress designated {{convert|40.5|mi|km}} of the Verde River as Wild and Scenic through the National Wild and Scenic River program. The Scenic portion begins at Beasley Flats and extends downstream about {{convert|19|mi|km}} to the northern boundary of the Mazatzal Wilderness. The Wild portion extends from there to the mouth of Red Creek, about {{convert|22|mi|km}} further downstream.{{cite web|title=Verde Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive River Management Plan|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|url=http://www.rivers.gov/rivers/documents/plans/verde-plan.pdf|format=PDF|page=3|year=2004|access-date=November 13, 2012}}{{cite web |title=VERDE RIVER GREENWAY STATE NATURAL AREA |url=https://www.visitarizona.com/places/parks-monuments/verde-river-greenway-state-natural-area/ |access-date=2 February 2022 |ref=45}}

In 1986, a {{convert|6|mi|km|0|adj=on}} stretch of the river was identified by the state of Arizona as a critical natural resource. This reach of the Verde River and its associated riparian zone, between the town of Clarkdale (near Tuzigoot National Monument) and the Bridgeport State Route 89A Bridge, became part of the Arizona State Parks system. The park, called the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area, encompasses {{convert|480|acre|ha}}.{{cite web |title=Verde River Greenway State Natural Area |url=https://azstateparks.com/verde-river |access-date=2024-06-12 |publisher=Arizona State Parks}} Dead Horse Ranch State Park, near Cottonwood, is adjacent to the Greenway.{{cite web |title=Dead Horse Ranch State Park |url=https://azstateparks.com/dead-horse |access-date=2024-06-12 |publisher=Arizona State Parks}}

At Drake, Arizona, its canyon is termed "Hell Canyon", and it is spanned by the Hell Canyon Bridge, a road bridge built in 1923, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Plants found in riparian zones along the river include ailanthus,{{Cite news|last=Meiners |first=Joan |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Green is the Verde: How an Arizona river became a water conservation success story, for now |newspaper=Arizona Republic |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-water/2022/11/16/arizonas-verde-river-has-chance-water-conservation-success/8186470001/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/92XAZ?https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-water/2022/11/16/arizonas-verde-river-has-chance-water-conservation-success/8186470001/ |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |url-status=live }} Arizona alder, sycamore, and walnut trees; a variety of willows; reeds, cattails, box elder, and saltcedar, among others.Benke and Cushing, p. 537 Aquatic vertebrates along the Verde River include North American beaver, belted kingfishers, great blue herons, otters, Chiricahua leopard frogs, Sonoran mud turtles, and others. Among the 27 species of fish found in the river are carp, flathead catfish, roundtail chub, Gila chub, bass, desert sucker, mosquitofish, red shiner, and Sonora sucker.

Beaver were trapped "with considerable success" on the Verde River by fur trappers led by Ewing Young, and including Kit Carson, dating to 1829. Edgar Alexander Mearns wrote in his 1907 naturalist survey Mammals of the Mexican Boundary of the United States that beaver were present on nearly all streams of the Colorado Basin. Re-introductions of beaver in recent times have transformed even small desert streams into robust riparian habitat, increasing species abundance and diversity.{{cite journal |title=An Overview of Historical Beaver Management in Arizona |author=Christopher D. Carrillo |author2=David L. Bergman |author3=Jimmy Taylor |author4=Dale Nolte |author5=Patrick Viehoever |author6=Mike Disney |journal=Proceedings of the 13th WDM Conference |year=2009 |editor=J. R. Boulanger |url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/882/ |access-date=November 21, 2011}}{{cite web |title=Wildlife at Work: Beaver, Otter and Native Fish on the Verde River |author=Seth Ring |publisher=The Nature Conservancy |date=2009 |url=http://vimeo.com/6057846 |access-date=November 21, 2011}}

Floating the Verde River in rafts and kayaks is a popular pastime as it runs through scenic valleys and the Mazatzal Wilderness. The facilities described below are maintained by the Tonto National Forest authority. Kayak rentals, shuttles, boating gear and services are available in Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Camp Verde. Several commercial outfitters offer guided trips on the Verde River. Popular stretches for commercial boating include the Verde River @ Clarkdale, beginning at the Lower TAPCO River Access Point (RAP) and floating to the Tuzigoot RAP in Clarkdale; Skidmore RAP to Black Canyon RAP or Bignotti RAP on the Prescott National Forest between Cottonwood and Camp Verde; and White Bridge RAP to Clear Creek RAP or Beasley Flat RAP on the Prescott National Forest below Camp Verde.

The Verde River above Camp Verde has about {{convert|70|mi|km}} of fishable waters at an average elevation of {{convert|3800|ft|m}} above sea level. The nearest town with fuel, restaurants, lodging, groceries, and fishing tackle is Cottonwood. Fish species frequenting this stretch of the river include largemouth bass, redeye bass,Matthew Valente, Catherine Benson, Matthew Chmiel, Matthew Lewis, Eric Peatman, Hillary Eaton; A case of mistaken identity: Genetic and morphological evidence for the presence of Redeye Bass in the Verde River, Arizona. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 2021; doi: https://doi.org/10.3996/JFWM-21-013 sunfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, yellow perch, chub, carp, and, in winter, rainbow trout. Crayfish and bullfrogs are also found.Arizona Fishin' Holes, pp. 12–17

From Camp Verde to Horseshoe Lake, about {{convert|60|mi|km}} of fishable waters are at an average elevation of {{convert|2800|ft|m}}. The nearest town with fuel and other supplies and amenities is Camp Verde. Species along this stretch include largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, channel and flathead catfish, carp, crayfish, and bullfrogs.Arizona Fishin' Holes, pp. 30–35

The same species that are found between Camp Verde and Horseshoe Lake are also present along a {{convert|12|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the river from Horseshoe Lake to Bartlett Lake. The elevation along this stretch averages {{convert|1800|ft|m}} above sea level. The nearest town with fuel and supplies is Carefree.

Below Bartlett Lake, the elevation averages {{convert|1500|ft|m}} over the next {{convert|20|mi|km}}. Species here include largemouth bass, sunfish, channel and flathead catfish, tilapia, carp, crayfish, and bullfrogs. The nearest town with fuel and supplies is Fountain Hills.

{{Portal|Arizona}}

• List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers
• List of rivers of Arizona
• List of tributaries of the Colorado River

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{{reflist|30em}}

• Arizona Fishin' Holes: The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Guide to Public Fishing Waters and Facilities in Arizona (2010). Phoenix: Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Benke, Arthur C., ed., and Cushing, Colbert E., ed.; Blinn, Dean W. and Poff, N. Leroy (2005). "Chapter 11: Colorado River Basin" in Rivers of North America. Burlington, Massachusetts: Elsevier Academic Press. {{ISBN|0-12-088253-1}}. {{OCLC|59003378}}.

{{commons category|Verde River (Arizona)}}

• [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/recarea/?recid=70863&actid=62 Verde Wild and Scenic River] – Coconino National Forest
• [https://vivalaverde.org Viva La Verde] – Viva La Verde Documentary Film
• [https://azstateparks.com/verde-river Arizona State Parks: Verde River Greenway]
• [https://azstateparks.com/dead-horse Arizona State Parks: Dead Horse Ranch State Park]
• [http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/BoatingLocationsMap.shtml Arizona Boating Locations Facilities Map]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100920171711/http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/FishingLocationsMap.shtml Arizona Fishing Locations Map]
• [https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo68160 Synthesis of Upper Verde River Research and Monitoring 1993–2008] United States Forest Service
• [http://www.azgfd.gov/video/UpperVerdeRiver.shtml Video of Upper Verde River]
• [http://vimeo.com/6057846 Wildlife at Work: Beaver, Otter and Native Fish on the Verde River by Seth Ring]
• [https://www.clarkdale.az.gov/214/Verde-River-Clarkdale Town of Clarkdale – Verde River @ Clarkdale]

{{Rivers and streams of Arizona}}

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Category:Rivers of Arizona

Category:Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States

Category:Rivers of Coconino County, Arizona

Category:Rivers of Maricopa County, Arizona

Category:Rivers of Yavapai County, Arizona

Category:Coconino National Forest

Category:Prescott National Forest

Category:Tonto National Forest

Category:Tributaries of the Salt River (Arizona)