Detour: Urban Camping at Dead Horse Ranch State Park

If you’d like to try camping but are not sure that you would last one night in the wilderness, try urban camping – that is camping within or in proximity to a city or town. There are several sites in Arizona that I would classify as “urban campgrounds.” One in particular, that I visited last month, is Dead Horse Ranch State Park, in the quiet community of Cottonwood.

One reason I enjoy urban camping is that you can go on a whim. Not much is needed to get read and go. All we packed in the truck was our tent, camp chairs, the satellite radio, a flashlight and lantern, a cooler of beverages and snacks, as well as a couple of good books, some toiletries and a few extra clothes to keep warm after the sun went down. We also took wood for a campfire, but that was unnecessary. Bundles of wood are available for sale from the camp hosts, for a small fee.


At Dead Horse Ranch State Park you will find a number of camping facilities to suit any style of camper – from more rugged individuals to those less adventurous. There are five camping areas in all; three with electric service, one designated for groups and one that’s more secluded and specifically for tent camping. If you don’t have a tent (much less know how to set one up) or a fancy motor home with all the bells-and-whistles, quaint camping cabins near the Verde River are also available by reservation. All the sites have picnic tables and grills, perfect for BBQs and bonfires. There are also several clean restroom facilities with private, hot showers.


The obvious reason urban camping is so easy is location, placing you close to amenities. If you forget the hamburger buns for the family cookout, don’t worry, there is a Safeway a little more than two miles away from Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Better yet, skip the outdoor cooking entirely and dine at one of the many restaurants in Cottonwood. My pick: Casa Bonita. This family-owned restaurant serves traditional home-style Mexican meals. Try the Chili Verde with its tender morsels of slow-roasted pork in a spicy green sauce. Don’t forget to order a cool and refreshing margarita to wash it all down.

While Dead Horse Ranch State Park offers visitors a number of activities, including fishing in one of three lagoons and trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, its location also puts it near a number of other area attractions. You can stroll through the shops in Cottonwood’s Historic Old Town or take a short drive to the scenic towns of Sedona and Jerome. You can also visit Mingus Mountain in the Prescott National Forest, Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and Tavasci Marsh, as well as the ancient ruins at Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle, two of the state’s National Monuments.

While location can be a benefit to urban camping, it can also be a disadvantage. Parks close to metropolitan areas are more crowded and fill up fast. They also lack the feeling of peace and tranquility found at more secluded campgrounds. At Dead Horse Ranch State Park you can easily hear the traffic on Main Street and see the lights of the Verde Valley and the hillside town of Jerome, which illuminate the night sky. But these are not reason enough to pass up Dead Horse Ranch State Park. If you are planning a trip to the Cottonwood area, I would suggest you give it a try.

Detour: Remember the Alamo (Lake)

Night was filled with a number of unique sights and sounds. A million stars flickered like fireflies dancing against a black backdrop that covered the night sky. The moon, only a sliver of white light, was peeking out to watch the performance. The “hoot” of an owl, the “howl” from a pack of coyotes off in the distance and the distinguishable two-pitched “hey-haw” from the wild burros coming down from the hills were the only sounds I could hear. It was the music that serenaded me to sleep in the desert at Alamo Lake State Park.

Alamo Lake State Park is located in a rugged stretch of the Arizona outback, nestled below the Rawhide Mountains Wilderness. Yet, it is only a two and a half hour drive northwest of the sprawling metro Phoenix area. It’s highly acclaimed as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the state and is stocked with a wide variety of warm-water fish, including large-mouth bass, catfish, bluegill and crappie. But if fishing isn’t for you, there is still plenty to do. The area attracts visitors for camping, water skiing, desert hikes, bird watching and, for some, a chance to ride quads and dirt buggies along the maze of dusty trails that extend from the lake.

It’s best to visit Alamo Lake State Park in the Spring and Fall, when temperatures are mild. Summer’s sizzling heat can reach above 110 degrees, while night time lows in winter can plummet to near freezing. But do visit Alamo Lake State Park. Its spectacular views and abundant native wildlife are unique features of the Sonoran Desert best enjoyed in person.

Note: Because of Arizona's extreme financial crises, Alamo Lake, along with many other State Parks will soon close. You can help keep them open, for all to enjoy. Donate to the Arizona State Parks Foundation.