Dead Horse Ranch State Park — Attraction in Cottonwood

Update: 8/5/15 Stayed in Quail. Some morons were walking around til midnight yelling for their dog, then even later, a couple guys shuffling and talking loud right outside our tent woke us and put us on edge. (apparently there's a trail literally 2 feet from our tent. (Great design--NOT) TONS of houseflies around the picnic table anytime we were eating, and we keep things clean. Could be due that their dumpster was bursting to the top with garbage and stunk to high heaven. Emptying this more frequently, as well as washing it out periodically could logically help this problem. Old guy patrolling lakes chases everyone out by 7, says you can drive out of lot & park outside the gate and re-enter but can only stay til 10. In other words, difficulty fishing when it's just getting good (evening/night). This time no sign of previous camp host, their trailer spot was empty. Next morning when leaving, we got some verbal pressure by a male fill-in camp host questioning us if we're leaving, for being just two minutes past noon (checkout time) while folding up tent. And this is on a Monday with about all campground visitors gone. How Rude! It was a weekday and there were not cars lining up to get into the campground. Gee thanks Dead Horse, you never fail to disappoint in some way.

10/15/2014 Our camping spot was across from a big trailer. Upon arriving, I got nothing but a nasty suspicious sideways look from the lady walking into the trailer. No "Hi" or introduction or anything. I had to wave at her for her to even wave back. Later I find out this is the camp "host". Each campground has one, and they wear no uniform & look like any other t-shirt/shorts-wearing tourist. Not sure, but I assume they get to live there for free and probably a paycheck too? in exchange for "watching things". Sweet job I guess, since all I ever saw them doing was driving around in golf carts in a circle around the camp loop. Then there was a late night party from neighboring campers. I didn't mind up until a generous 11p.m., but their drunk hoots and hollers kept up past midnight, and none of us could sleep. And per the rules, it's supposed to be quiet after 9. We later discovered the "camp host" was with them.

Also, at one point I got lost in the Park, and after walking for a couple miles in 100+ temps I came upon a 2nd camp host (driving a golf cart with her dog on it). I asked if she knew where my campsite was and she pointed in the direction, but not even a "Can I give you a ride?", even after she saw me exhausted, completely out of breath and sweating. I guess her dog was more important than a human being.

Restrooms had lots of bugs/webs in the corners of the ceiling. At night, lots of cockroaches all around the entire campsite, even by our tent and car. Also, someone had tracked their excrement out from a shower stall with a trail going outside the bathroom. Wasn't cleaned up the entire time we were there.

One thing though, the ladies in the front office (entrance) were very, very polite and helpful. Sorry I couldn't say the same for the...

To begin, the state park, itself, is delightful. The campsites are very well kept, the lagoons are beautiful and fun to fish, and the hiking trails are scenic and clearly marked. That said, this is a 3 star review. It lost 2 stars because the staff and the way in which they conduct business was close to unacceptable.

First of all, the host that we had the pleasure of dealing with was disrespectful and tactless. After watching me set up my hammock, which was my only form of shelter for my trip (it’s a hammock-tent), watching me sit in it for hours, and then waiting for me to leave the site for a moment, our host walked over and informed my family that “we can’t have anything in the trees”. After triple checking the park and campsite regs, nothing is mentioned about the ban of hammocks. Not to mention the fact that there were multiple other campsites with hammocks that were not harrassed about it. Upon my return, I politely (albeit visibly irritated) confronted her about it, mentioning that I would have made other sleeping arrangements, had it been in the regs, to which she replied, “That sucks”. I informed her that if she could provide it in writing, I would take it down. She returned a while later with a make-shift brochure, to which a hammock clause had been freshly added. Apparently they’re “working on updating the website”. I took it down, in an attempt to enjoy the rest of our trip unharrassed, and slept on the ground for a portion of the night. (Rattlesnakes prompted me to put it back up halfway through the night. Sorry, Tracey.)

After that interaction with our host, Tracey, she frequently wandered past our site, peering into our activities to make sure we were abiding by her unwritten rules.

Maybe check the host schedule before you camp at Quail Loop, and camp there any day that she is not on duty. Again, her name was Tracey.

Lastly, if you’re camping here in the summer months, make sure you prepare for animal encounters! Not that they’re a huge deal, but we were invaded by at least 8 skunks for the entirety of the night! Also not mentioned in any park...

This is a great state park to stay at! We really liked staying here because it seems like you are far from town. The park is clean and very nice, great paved roads throughout and the spots are paved. We stayed in spot 61 in redhawk at the top of the hill. We have a 38’ and had plenty of room for the trailer and our full size GMC 2500. The spots have a built in medal fire/bbq pit with grill, picnic table and the pads were pretty level. They are not full hook up, only water and electric 30/50 amp (NO SEWER HOOK UP). However they do have a dump station, when you leave you can hook up and drain all waste just like most state parks. The views are great, there are 3 different lagoons that have nice walking paths around them. People were kayaking and people were fishing and some just relaxing there. There are a lot of places to have a picnic in grass fields. We walked around one lagoon and hiked a hill that had many trains connecting to it. They have horse stables to go horseback riding. We will be back to this place for sure. It is less than 5 minutes to old Town Cottonwood with shops, plenty of restaurants and tasting rooms a plenty! They have many camp grounds to choose from as well i think like 4 of them. We found Our new favorite place just over an hour from PHX. This is a huge state park with lots of room to roam. This is the second time we have stayed at space 61 and from our spot you can walk up a trail and be on top of a small mountain(easy hike)you will have 360 degree views. You can see the town of cottonwood, Jerome on the mountain to the west and Tuzigoot Indian ruins are right there, very visible form here. We have electric bikes and we rode them to town and it was 2.5 miles away. A few places that are our go to; Breakfast: la Crema Burgers/bbq: Colt grill (best burger!!!) Pizza: Bocce - amazing wood...