Cottonwood, Arizona: Outdoor Activities, Wine Tasting and More

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is situated along the Verde River just north of the small town of Cottonwood. Home to an abundance of plant and animal life, the area is filled with Willow, Cottonwood, Arizona Ash, Cattail, Netleaf Hackberry, and Mesquite trees as well as coyotes, Javelina, grey fox, jackrabbits, and cottontail rabbits.

The park is also home to an extensive list of birds including several sensitive, endangered, and threatened species.

There are four trailheads within the park that lead into Coconino National Forest and 20 miles of shared-use, single-track and double-track pathways.

Visitors to the park can engage in several outdoor recreation activities including canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

675 Dead Horse Ranch Road, Cottonwood, AZ, Phone: 928-634-5283

For over 20 years Blazin' M Ranch has been providing visitors with an Old West experience in the heart of Historic Old Town Cottonwood. A perfect replica of a Western Frontier Town, the Ranch features a boardwalk lined with Western shops, saloons, a museum, a shooting gallery and the Old-Tyme Photo Studio.

Visitors can participate in various interactive adventures including a vintage tractor pull ride, ropin’ lessons, shootin’ lessons, and a critter walk; where they can interact with goats, miniature horses, donkeys, peacocks, turtles, and geese. After a day exploring the town, guests will end the day in their expansive, climate-controlled barn for a traditional chuck-wagon dinner serving baby-back ribs and chicken with all the cowboy fixin’s.

1875 Mabery Ranch Road, Cottonwood, AZ, Phone: 928-634-0334

The Verde Valley Wine Trail is located in Northern Arizona, roughly 100 miles from Phoenix, the state’s capitol.

A popular destination for wine enthusiasts it was established in 2009, the area is known for its beauty, rich history, and wine production.

The Trail originally consisted of just seven tasting rooms and four wineries, but over the years this has grown exponentially to include approximately 20 cellars, wineries, tasting rooms, vineyards, and bodegas.

Alcantara Vineyard & Winery, Burning Tree Cellars, Four Eight Wineworks, Pillsbury Wine Company North, and Bodega Pierce are just a few of the stops along the way. Each provide a collection of skillfully and artfully crafted wines to satisfy any palate.

849 Cove Parkway, Cottonwood, AZ, Phone: 928-634-7593

Alcantara Vineyards and Winery is a sustainably-farmed, family-owned winery located in the foothills of the Verde Valley.

Surrounded by the Verde River and Oak Creek on three of its sides, Alcantara is an expansive 87 acre property opened in 2005 by husband and wife, Barbara and Bob Predmore.

There are more than 13,000 vines on the property producing 16 different varietals creating a diverse assortment of red, white, and dessert wines.

They offer 1.5-hour long guided tours of their impressive grounds where they share information on the philosophy of growing grapes, irrigation, trellising, and varietals along the way.

The winery also offers wine tastings in their rustically designed tasting room, they include five 1oz samples of the guest’s choice.

3445 S. Grapevine Way, Cottonwood, AZ, Phone: 928-649-8463

Managed and supported by the non-profit organization Verde Historical Society, Clemenceau Heritage Museum preserves and exhibits the heritage and artifacts of the Verde Valley. It is housed in the south end of the former Clemenceau Public School, a historic building originally built in the early 1920s. The museum’s exhibits include displays of early 20th century kitchens, bedrooms, and classrooms as well as a collection of photographs and artifacts used by European settlers in the early days of farming, ranching, and mining during the 19th century. Clemenceau is free to enter and offers guided group tours by appointment only. They also have an onsite gift shop where visitors can purchase apparel and Cottonwood souvenirs.

1 N. Willard, Cottonwood, AZ, Phone: 928-634-2868

Wild and untouched, the Verde River Greenway in Cottonwood is a lush oasis against Arizona’s desert landscape. While tourism is encouraged in the area, many efforts are also made to conserve the river and its thriving ecosystem. As such, visitors are welcome to enjoy soft recreation activities such as swimming, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and picnicking. Whatever the activity, a variety of wildlife can be admired in the area including black hawks, bald eagles, river otters, and many more. Visitors with a valid fishing license are also welcome to fish along the river. Camping is not allowed within the greenway, however a number of campsites and cabins are available nearby.

2011-B Kestrel Road, Cottonwood, Arizona 86326, Phone: 928-639-0312