Verde River Kayaking: Private Paddle with a 4x4 UTV Ride

Stop by Stop

You park at the take-out in Cottonwood and meet the outfitter 10 minutes before your launch time of 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM. Show your ticket before departure. The group then rides the outfitter-driven 4x4 UTV upstream to the launch spot, with an off-road ride along the way.

On the water you paddle a private stretch of the Verde River with small, tame rapids and views of the back country around Cottonwood. There are water holes for swimming, and everyone must be able to walk their kayak through a short part of low water. The paddle ends at your parked car, which is the take-out.

Included, and What Comes on Top

The vehicle part of the trip, the 4x4 UTV ride to the put-in, is driven by the outfitter and covered by the price. Your kayak, paddle and life vest are provided, and water is carried along. There is no hotel pickup: you drive yourself to the Cottonwood parking spot and meet 10 minutes before launch. The listing states no deposit, fuel charge, insurance or damage waiver for this trip, unlike the UTV rentals on the site. You must have your ticket to show before departure.

If you want to add a swim, the river has several water holes that the listing describes as great for swimming and cooling off.

Limits Stated by the Operator

The minimum age is 10, and the booking runs adult ages 10 to 99. The listing does not recommend the trip for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Everyone must be able to walk their kayak through a small part of low water, and the trip suits all physical fitness levels.

The UTV ride is a bumpy off-road track, so the same advice about backs and necks applies to it. There is no hotel pickup, so you need your own car or a ride to Cottonwood. The trip is private, so your group has the river stretch and the UTV to itself.

If someone in your group is under 10, consider a guided jeep trip instead: the Cliff Hanger Hummer Tour takes ages 3 and up for $89 per person, and the Pink Jeep Scenic Rim Tour has no driving at all. If you would rather drive a machine yourself, the Cottonwood UTV Rental with Trail Maps from the same outfitter costs $200 per group of up to 4.

• Minimum age 10, booking ages 10 to 99.
• Not recommended with spinal injuries, in pregnancy, or with poor cardiovascular health.
• All persons must walk the kayak through a short section of low water.
• No hotel pickup, you drive to Cottonwood.
• Private trip, your group only.

Rules and Fees Around the River

The launch and take-out sit in Cottonwood near Dead Horse Ranch State Park, whose day-use entry is $10 for one person per vehicle, $20 per vehicle with 2 to 4 people, and $5 per individual or bicycle. If you only use the outfitter's parking spot, ask the operator whether any park fee applies to your booking. A Red Rock Pass at $5 daily covers Coconino National Forest fee sites in the Sedona area, not Arizona state parks, so it does not apply here.

The UTV ride uses the outfitter's own machine, so the Arizona OHV decal at $25 plus a processing fee is the operator's business, not yours. Under ARS 28-1179, anyone under 18 must wear a properly fitted US DOT helmet on an OHV on public land, so if a child rides the UTV the outfitter must supply the helmet. Eye protection is required when an OHV runs on streets and highways. If you rent a UTV yourself, ask the operator whether the vehicle carries the decal.

For the season, Red Rock State Park near Sedona averages a July high of 97°F with a low of 64°F, and a January high of 56°F with a low of 30°F. Summer launches at 10:00 AM beat the worst heat. Winter paddlers need warm layers, because the low is close to freezing even when the afternoon is mild.

Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get wet, bring sunglasses, sunscreen and extra water, and carry snacks since they are not included. Anyone under 18 on the UTV needs the helmet supplied.