DEAD HORSE RANCH STATE PARK, COTTONWOOD, AZ

Our Opinion: Recommend.  This is a large state park in an interesting location.

Date of Stay: March 21-25, 2012

Weather During Stay: Plenty of sunshine; highs in the 70’s and lows in the 40’s.  Often breezy in the afternoon.

Site Description:  The campground here has four loops, one of which is for tents only.  The remaining three have 110 sites with water and electric hookups (50 amps), the majority of them back-ins.  Each loop has its own host (with firewood for sale), dumpster and restroom with showers.

Quail Loop is closest to the entrance station, with 45 sites.  Further into the park and up a hill, sites in Red-Tail Hawk Loop and Cooper’s Hawk loop have expansive views.  Roads and pads are asphalt, almost all sufficiently long for big rigs.  Each site has a substantial picnic table in good shape.

We were in Red-Tail Hawk loop, site 70, long and level, with a little shade provided by a tree (unusual here).  Although the sites are spacious, the sparse vegetation provides absolutely no privacy.

Rate:  $25/night for 50 amps and water.  Add a $5 reservation fee (one time, not per night) if you make a reservation.  We were here during spring break and all sites were reserved.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service, both phone and aircard, is excellent.  No obstructions for TV satellite dish; several local channels on the air antenna, including PBS.  Several NPR stations, including 102.5 and 103.3 FM.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This hilly state park covers 423 acres at 3,300 feet in elevation.  Vegetation is sparse; very limited shade.  The upper camping loops (Red-Tail Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk) have expansive views to the town of Cottonwood and mountains beyond.  Quail Loop, lower down the hill, has many more trees and bushes and more privacy (but no distant views).

Lighting/Noise: Quiet and dark, though each restroom has a couple of unobtrusive amber lights on all night.

Favorite Sites: We preferred the sites in the two loops up on the hillside, which are sites 46 through 110.  We would not be likely to reserve sites 46 through 52 - they appear to be more sloped than we like. Arizona’s online reservation site has descriptions and photos of each site, a big help when making a reservation at an unknown campground.

Hiking/Walking: GREAT!  Trails of varying lengths run through the park, including the day use area with three large, pleasant lagoons for fishing.  Trails connect to public lands outside the park, including the Verde River Greenway.  It’s possible to walk to nearby Tuzigoot National Monument - if you can get accurate directions!

Comments: We used Dead Horse Ranch State Park as a base camp to visit Tuzigoot National Monument, Sedona, Jerome and the historic section of old Cottonwood, but there is plenty to keep campers busy in the state park, too.  Grocery stores, restaurants and other services are nearby.

ESCAPEES NORTH RANCH RV PARK, CONGRESS, AZ (NW OF PHOENIX)

Our Opinion: Recommend.  Roomy, well-maintained, friendly park.  400+ deeded lots create a varied and interesting RV-friendly community.

Date of Stay: March 9 through 20, 2012

Weather During Stay: Warm and sunny, with cool nights - though we extended our stay to allows a spring storm to pass by.

Site Description: 107 large, level, FHU sites (30 amps) are arranged in 3 long rows, two facing each other, the third facing the deeded lots owned by Escapees. We are in site 97, facing east.  Sites are on gravel, and each has a wooden picnic table.  Sites are spacious, with plenty of room for slides, awnings, tow or towed, picnic table, chairs, etc.

This is an Escapee park; you must be an Escapee to stay here. Besides the rental sites, the park has a huge neighborhood of mostly well maintained, deeded lots that can be built on and bought/sold like normal real estate - very interesting mix of everything from unimproved lots (very few) to large, site-built homes (mostly southwest style) and everything in between.  (Click here for more information and photos of the deeded lots.) The park’s activity center is located in the deeded-lot neighborhood, but accessible to all guests of the park.

Two of three rows of rental sites	North Ranch clubhouse

Clubhouse has library, activity rooms, laundry room.  Easily accessible dump station located near entrance, along with trash and recycling. 

Rate: FHU (30 amps) sites are $14.50 plus electricity (currently 12.3 cents per KWH) daily; $85 plus electricity weekly.  No reservations - first come, first served. 

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon cell service for phones and WiFi.  No obstacles for satellite TV dish.  Several stations (including PBS) on antenna.  Local NPR on 91.5.  I believe Tengo Internet is available here for a fee; we didn’t use it, but did see “tengointernet” on our WiFi connection list at our site.
 
Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Arid, slightly sloping terrain at 2,500’.  Near views are of neighboring rigs or RV’s, park models or homes on adjacent deeded lots; distant views are of arid mountains.  Very appealing desert views.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet at night, with subdued night lighting.

Favorite Sites: Not much difference between the sites for travelers.  We asked for a site facing east to catch the morning sunshine.

Hiking/Walking: Plenty of interesting walking in this huge park, or head out the back gate for unlimited walking on the BLM land surrounding the park.

Comments: North Ranch is an interesting, relaxing, friendly park in a rural desert setting.  Congress, the nearest town, is tiny; drive 12 miles south to larger Wickenburg for groceries and sightseeing.  Easy day trips to Prescott (higher elevation) and Phoenix.  Full list of park activities during winter season.  Click here for more information on their website.

TURQUOISE VALLEY GOLF & RV PARK, NACO, AZ

Our Opinion: Odel (a golfer) recommends it; Laurie is neutral.  This exceptionally friendly park is the place for RV’ers who like to golf!

Date of Stay: February 27 through March 2, 2012

Weather During Stay: Plenty of sunshine; highs were mostly in the 60’s and lows below freezing at night.  The spring winds kicked up most days.

Site Description:  This gravel RV park has 103 very level sites, 17 of which are 50 amp FHU; the remainder are 30 amp FHU.  All sites have cable TV with many, many channels.  Sites are typical of many commercial parks - just enough room for slides and the awning - a mix of back-ins and pull-throughs.  We were in site 52, a 50 amp FHU back-in site next to the road.

Roads are gravel and dirt, sufficiently wide for big rigs; turns are easily negotiated.  Laundry, showers and restrooms are available; we didn’t use or inspect them.  Propane is sold on site.

Rate:  With taxes, we paid just under $27/night for 50 amp FHU with cable TV.  Golf packages are available, along with monthly rates.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service, both phone and aircard, is good in Naco (rhymes with taco).  Didn’t bother with TV antenna; many channels on cable TV at each site.  No obstructions for TV satellite dish.  Free WiFi, sometimes blazing, sometimes crawling.  And something new and unexpected: NPR from Tucson on 91.7 FM! 

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, dirt and gravel roads at around 4,600 ft. elevation.  A bit of desert landscaping and some tall, narrow evergreens have been planted in the park; the surrounding area is scrubby desert.  Distant views are of arid mountains.

Lighting/Noise: Usually quiet except for the occasional passing vehicle. Bright nighttime lighting in many sites.

Favorite Sites: No real favorites here, but we always ask for a 50 amp site when making a reservation (current phone number is 520-432-3091)

Hiking/Walking: Not good around the park (narrow roads), and the park itself is not large enough for much exercise.  Good hiking within 30 minutes to a hour (by car).  Many renowned birding sites within an hour drive.

Comments: This is a VERY friendly park, very welcoming to new arrivals.  Most of the folks in the RV park are golfers who pay for a month or more (usually more) and are eager to have new golfers join them.  The golf course is just across the street; the pro shop building also houses a restaurant that serves very good Mexican food for breakfast and lunch.    Entertaining Bisbee is nearby; Safeway is 5 miles north, Mexico a short walk away.  Lots of good birding and history in the area.   Website: www.turquoisevalley.com