Another benefit of moving to Clarkdale has been the close proximity to many of Arizona’s State Parks. We purchased an annual AZ pass a few years ago and have continued to get one every winter since. We found if we had the pass we tended to use the parks a lot more. With most parks charging a daily $7.00 to $10 entrance fee it was hard to justify just “checking it out”. Now we don’t hesitate to explore them all.

One of my favorite state parks in the Arizona system is right down the road from us. Dead Horse Ranch is filled with hiking and mountain bike trails that can take you the twelve miles up to Sedona if you desire. Most are best left for the months of fall/winter/spring as there’s not a lot of shade. During late spring though it’s time to hit this particular park for the ability to watch for migrating birds. The lagoons and the Verde River provide excellent habitat for not only an abundance of birds, but I have seen javelinas, rabbits, and even a bobcat on one hike along the river. Three large lagoons with a walking path surrounding them provide a shady and peaceful walk for all seasons. I’ve seen bald eagles, loons, black hawks, herons, and a variety of ducks. It’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon, especially when there are puffy white clouds on the horizon.