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Has anyone run the verde river from beasley flat rec site to the verde hot springs area? If so any info on what class rapids and location and profile of rapids? I havent done much digging for info yet but saw someone on here had mentioned running the verde from beasley to the hot springs and that there were no permits needed?

If this is the case and you can run it to the hot springs....would it be feasible to then run the rest of the verde down to horseshoe reservoir as a multi-day packrafting trip? Any info and or advice would be greatly appreciated.

From what I understand basically most of the Verde is unraftable; gotta be kayaks or canoes. My friend has done the Verde, and I guess there's a couple waterfall portages, but that might be above/below where you're talking about.

The Tonto National Forest website has a pretty comprehensive guide to running the river. I've attached it here for convenience.

Do a search on the Coconino National forest website they have a boaters guide to the Verde there....Has all the rapids plus camping spots along the way. Shows all the way from Beasley to sheeps bridge 51.1 miles the guide is 25 pages long and is very detailed on the route....

chumley wrote:The Tonto National Forest website has a pretty comprehensive guide to running the river. I've attached it here for convenience.

well thank you so very much kind sir! all the info I was seeking and then some!


Has anyone here actually rafted any part of this river? I want to hear some personal experiences. I just purchased an alpacka packraft and want to put it to use on the verde.

Infra wrote:Has anyone here actually rafted any part of this river? I want to hear some personal experiences. I just purchased an alpacka packraft and want to put it to use on the verde.

Come on....60 views and not one comment? I am sure someone on here has had personal experience floating the verde? either in packraft, canoe, or kayak?

That river guide is very detailed and has great information in it. According to the guide it should be close to 52 miles from beasley to sheeps bridge. If I could just put in at the bridge at 260 instead of at beasley, that would add another 10.3 miles to the trip so it would be close to 63/64 miles. I figure if done at the correct time with a proper flow I could probably take a nice relaxing 3 - 4 day trip down the river stopping along the way to explore and relax. More than likely do this some time mid to late march or early april. Anyone with a canoe or kayak interested in joining me?

Perhaps you should try FloatArizona?
Seriously, I have one friend who might have done it, and I asked him yesterday on your behalf, but he hasn't.

chumley wrote:Perhaps you should try FloatArizona?
Seriously, I have one friend who might have done it, and I asked him yesterday on your behalf, but he hasn't.

hah...well according to the river guide it should be easily floatable with the right flow. I have found plenty of pictures of the area via a google image search and it definitely looks like it would be a fun trip. I just want to find someone who has first hand experience floating it...ya know..to pick their brain.

Maybe you could email Southern Arizona Paddler's Club or other paddle club. I have found they do respond to emails. They are a nice bunch of folks, (I'm acquainted with several of them) and maybe could refer you to someone with the info if they don't have it.

They can be found at soazpaddlers

azbackpackr wrote:Maybe you could email Southern Arizona Paddler's Club or other paddle club. I have found they do respond to emails. They are a nice bunch of folks, (I'm acquainted with several of them) and maybe could refer you to someone with the info if they don't have it.

They can be found at soazpaddlers

thanks....got hooked up with their yahoo group as well as 2 other az groups. In fact I may be joining a verde trip from childs to sheeps bridge march 12th - 15th that one of their members has planned.

Glad you found them. Now please do tell us all about it if you go rafting or kayaking down the Verde!