Verde River Trail

[survivalhike]

I saw the older threads on this, and no one that I saw actually did the trail route in question so I am re-posting this to see if anyone has any experiences to share on the Verde River Trail. I am thinking of making the trek in October/November, starting at the Twin Buttes Trail Head (the one outside Strawberry) and working down to either the Sheep Bridge or more likely the Horseshoe Lake Campground (via the access roads on the north east side of the lake). It looks to me that other than the first 10-11 miles of the trail which is a steep down hill climb, the rest of the trail is fairly level and as far as hiking goes it would be considered easy walking. I would also stretch the trip out to 4-5 days, leaning heavily on 5 days so that the hiking portion of the experience only eats up maybe 4 hours or so per day on the flats, maybe 5 if route finding becomes a challenge. The thought would be to break it up into 10-12 mile segments, and go at least that far per day before making camp.

My big question is...has anyone done this and can they offer advise? I'm not saying not to chime in if you haven't done it, I look forward to hearing from anyone willing to advise me. This has been a trip I have dreamed about for years, and it really looks like I'll have the chance this October/November, so I really want to get my ducks straight. Thank you all in advance.

[survivalhike]

Wow...come on folks, someone out there has done this trail before or knows something about it. Lots of lookers, no writers. lol I'm just antagonizing a bit, however if you know something don't be shy, lay it one me.

[big_load]

I haven't done that hike, but I'm pretty sure your travel times are too optimistic. The daily mileage should be feasible, but I'd expect it to take more hours.

[joebartels]

Wow...come on folks, someone out there has done this trail before or knows something about it. Lots of lookers, no writers. lol I'm just antagonizing a bit, however if you know something don't be shy, lay it one me.

Members that know something about it
triplogs in the area

Photos and such via this page
Verde River Trail #11

[survivalhike]

Thanks for the info, I wasn't able to find the articles you linked on my own, the only thing I found was a single posting by a member who never actually hiked the trail, just the first few miles of it. I'll check these out, I really appreciate it. I'll also look into travel times. I really don't want to be hiking for more than 5-6 hours a day. I want to spend time fishing the Verde, exploring, and other things that don't involve a merciless march that leaves me beat afterwards.

[kevinweitzel75]

I went fishing at Horseshoe a couple years back (after the lake had filled back up), and ran into two lost bear hunters that had started up by Strawberry. They had no water and had lost a horse in the process. They had no idea where they were, except they saw a lake and headed torward it. They had been gone for 6 days and had been waiting at the lake for almost a full day. Have no idea if they took a trail or bushwacked it. Took them into Cave Creek to a phone. I don't really see them bushwacking with a horse, so maybe that will give you an idea of time.

[azbackpackr]

It's relatively popular to do multiday kayak and raft trips down the Verde in spring. Maybe it is like the Black River, where the Forest Service says there is a trail where there isn't one (such as between the confluence and Bear Creek.)

[chumley]

As previously posted, there's a pretty good guide for running the Verde. It only goes through Sheep Bridge, so the last stretch to Horseshoe isn't on it. Reading about the take-out points, road access, and campsites along the way may help with some of your hiking plans, plus the included maps have the trail marked on them.

See previous topic: http://www.hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtop ... ide#p35365

[joebartels]

Route traced on topo

[survivalhike]

@kevinweitzel75
That doesn't sound good...I wouldn't think that people with horses would bushwhack either, but who knows with the effects of dehydration setting in, lack of food, lack of sleep too possibly, they could have been making bad decisions the whole way down the trip. It happens. Especially if they could see the lake in the distance and kept on saying to themselves "it's just a little farther, keep going," not realizing that the lake was a few days march away. The problem with panic is that everything seems like it should be right over the next ridge, and when it's not, the natural tendency is to speed up and that's when poor decisions can cost you a water, food, and in this case a horse. They are lucky you found them.

I have the Verde river kayak guide, and from that it looks like the Verde walk would be a piece of cake. There seems to be areas of relatively flat land surrounding the river where walking would be easier, and with all the pull outs and camp spots listed in the guide it seemed like finding a nice flat space to camp wouldn't be hard either. I was also off on my estimate in a good way (for once), and the trail I'll be taking looks like it's only about 40 miles total, vs the 55 I originally planned for. That's a win.

I'm going to keep researching. I don't know why I have always come back to this particular trip, but it has been calling me for years. I know it's not exactly the PCT, but 40 miles of hiking, camping, and fishing is plenty of adventure for me. I think I finally might find the testicular fortitude to make this trip happen. Like I said, I just want to get the research right before I go. SAR is expensive. lol

[azbackpackr]

Ok, I have waited to tell you about a book, because it does NOT have any information that gives names and places. It is a self-published book, usually easy to find at Bookman's, used, or on Amazon. It is called Trek! Man Alone in the Arizona Wild, by Geoffrey Platts. I own a copy, (although I don't have it here in Flag) and used to often see it at the public library. All copies are signed by the author. The trips he describes are almost certainly mostly along the Verde and its tributaries, but he never says exactly where they are. He used to go in summer, when it was too hot for most folks. Anyway, the book is kind of entertaining, and also may give you some idea of hiking along the Verde.

Here are some other books, (I just realized I have these here with me in Flag), all mostly out of print, but you should be able to find them at Bookman's or on Amazon.

Verde River Recreation Guide, by Jim Slingluff, Golden West Publishers, 1993.

Streamside Trails: Day Hiking Central Arizona's Lakes Rivers, & Creeks, by Steve Krause, Pinyon Publishing Co. 1994. This addresses several sections of Verde River.

Arizona Rivers and Streams Guide, Arizona State Parks, 1989, 1993. Addresses the entire Verde watershed.

Arizona Trails: 100 Hikes in Canyon and Sierra, By David Mazel, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1991, Wilderness Press, Berkeley Ca. One of the best guidebooks EVER written about Arizona, although it is WAY out of print, and does not cover the entire state, but it does cover the Verde River.

You might also look at Paddling Arizona, by Tyler Williams, who also wrote Canyoneering Arizona.

[Phathaway]

@survivalhike

I am reviewing these postsn in 2013. So did you ever do the Verde River hike? I am now thinking about it for early November. If you did i'd like some intel from you if possible.

[azbackpackr]

@survivalhike

I am reviewing these postsn in 2013. So did you ever do the Verde River hike? I am now thinking about it for early November. If you did i'd like some intel from you if possible.

Sorry to disappoint, but a quick search showed me that "survivalhike" has not posted in this forum for 2 and a half years...maybe he didn't survive his hike? (Just kidding...) Someone else may have done it, though.