Water Wheel, Verde Glen,
1st, 2nd & 3rd Crossing Day Use Areas

 

 

 

All of these day use areas except Verde Glen cover about a 1 1/2 mile stretch of the East Verde River. None of these day use areas have water, trash or toilet facilities. To get to these day use areas, you will begin by heading north out of Payson and turning right on Houston Mesa Road (F. R. 199). We will start with the most downstream day use area, 1st crossing.

1st Crossing is 7 miles up Houston Mesa Road and as its name implies, is the first time you cross the East Verde River.

Water Wheel is 7 1/2 miles up Houston Mesa Road and you will see a parking area on the right. The East Verde crosses under a bridge and there is a nice hike upstream to a variety of waterfalls. The last time I was there, rappelling equipment was in place to scale down the largest waterfall some 30ft. You can hike upstream farther to a swimming hole with a fallen tree that has been carved with stairs in it to climb up and jump into a refreshing if not cold pool. Be advised, the rocks by the upper pool are extremely slippery I have seen people slip and injure themselves on the wet rocks.

2nd Crossing is 8 miles up Houston Mesa Road and is the easy to notice as you actually cross the river (your tires get wet). Parking is immediately on your left and a small campground (now a day use area) sits on the stream. If you cross the street from the parking area, you will climb a hill and descend down to a swimming hole with a 20 foot waterfall at its head. There are places to cliff jump across the river and you must be careful here as it can get relatively slippery on the rocks. This area makes for a nice day use picnic area.

3rd crossing is another former campground turned day use picnic area 8 1/2 miles up the river. There are picnic tables and the East Verde River flows adjacent to it.

Verde Glen is up Houston Mesa Road 10 miles then turn right at the Control Road and drive 1/2 mile to the camp area.

Rainbow trout on the smaller size can be caught along each of the camp areas except Verde Glen.