Verde Hot Springs — Local services in Four Corners States

Do not - I repeat - DO NOT follow the driving instructions on AllTrails (or Google or AppleMaps) that tells you to take Orme or Dugas Road. This is NOT a safe way (or THE way) to go to get to the Hot Springs Trail. We got into a pretty sticky situation (to say the least) in our Jeep. We also came upon someone else who had been given the wrong information (and was in a tricky spot) as well as a seriously messed up abandoned vehicle in a very questionable area.

The CORRECT way is:

To reach Verde Hot Springs from Camp Verde, follow these steps: From the White Bridge in Camp Verde, head east on Hwy 260 for 6.8 miles to FR 708 (Fossil Creek Road). Turn right and continue for 15 miles to the junction of FR 708 and FR 502. Go south on FR 502 for 6 miles to reach the Childs Power Plant and the Verde River. ** Be prepared for a rough and possibly muddy road, especially after rains, and consider a high-clearance vehicle for the final stretch of the road.

The best way to cross the river is where others said: follow the small rock placement on the path formed into an arrow (pointing left/West). However, the arrow was messed up when we got there, so we reset it into the shape it needed to be, to be helpful.

With that being said, this trail was fun (once we got past the excessive amount (about an hour) of washboard road to get there). The hot springs were fun to soak in but would I do it again?...

Please note that there is a 22 mile mountain you are traveling down, all gravel and bumpy road. It will take about an hour and a half to get down. Lots of homeless looking people at the bottom, living out a vans that look like they haven't moved in a while in the camping area. Also mind the naked people. The actual hot springs are not that easy to find if you don't know where you are going. I would park up above the camping area, if you do not plan on staying the night. There is a trail/road to the right going towards the tall stand alone palm tree next to the electric towers. Take the trail and eventually you will see a spray painted rock with an X and arrow spray painted on it.. You will see to the left a couple trails that a very hidden. Take these trails and go to the right opening where the water is, there is a clearing where you will have to cross the very cold water and heavy current about waist deep. Put backpack over your head and shoes tied around your neck. Go to the left on the trail and it will lead to the...

The verde hot springs and river are amazing to visit and relax in, IF YOU GO THE RIGHT WAY! DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS TO TAKE YOU THERE. USE THE US FOREST SERVICE DIRECTIONS TO CHILDS POWER CAMPGROUND. Google maps will take you from I-17 to Dugas road. Dugas road was the old road that was maybe used 60 plus years ago. It is not maintained or safe to take any vehicle down to the river. 2 years ago my bf and I made a mistake and went down this way. Luckily we had the right tools and equipment to get out. Our truck is 4x4 but we had to rebuild the road in certain places to get out of there.

We revisited (using the right way) this past weekend, and met two groups of guys who took Dugas road. Fortunately they had a master key to get pass the gate and crossed their trucks to the right side of the river and campground.

Google needs to take this route off to...