Verde River
Yavapai Co. · 170 mi · Class I–II
62.3CFS/ 1.68 ft
Below Optimal→Stable
Optimal: 300–2000 CFS · USGS #09504000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Verde River Greenway State Natural Area · Arizona's Last Free-Flowing River
Arizona's last major free-flowing river — 170 miles through the Sonoran and semi-desert grassland from the Prescott National Forest to the Salt River. The Verde River Greenway protects a remarkable riparian corridor: nesting bald eagles, river otters, great blue herons, and over 100 bird species in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Best paddled November through April.
Trip sections
Paulden to Clarkdale — Class I–II, upper verde
Clarkdale to Bridgeport — Class II–III, best whitewater
Bridgeport to Horseshoe Reservoir — Class I–II, lower desert corridor
Outfitters
Verde Adventures
Verde River canoe and kayak trips
Sedona Adventure Tours
Verde Valley paddling
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.