With winter looming over our shoulders and the kayaking season in the White Mountains coming to an end, I was ready to head south and take my chances on the Verde River in Cottonwood. I had never paddled the Verde but had read about it and I wasn’t ready to hang up my paddles. Neither were a couple of friends, Lee and Jackie, who are as passionate about kayaking as I am. 

We drove to Cottonwood the night before and stayed at the Lux Verde Inn. The room was so big that stacking three kayaks inside was no problem. It was the perfect room — ground floor, on the corner so loading our kayaks was a piece of cake, and breakfast was included.

The next morning we took off for the River. We had two trucks so we unloaded at the Lower Tapco River Access and then dropped off a truck at the Tuzigoot Bridge, about 2 miles away. The River was calm and the weather was beautiful. Contrary to what you might envision a paddle in December would be — it was perfect. We hit some white water a few times but it was invigorating and a great way to be present in the moment. It’s one of those challenges in life that you are just thrown into and you have to do it, there’s no way around it — and you’re glad you did.

When we reached the Tuzigoot Bridge, we pulled our kayaks up on shore, drove back to pick up the other truck, and then loaded everything up. Our 2.8-mile paddle began at about 9 a.m. and we finished at about noon and we enjoyed every minute.

Tuzigoot National Monument is just up the road from where we pulled out, so I stopped and climbed to the top. On my way home, I stopped by to meet the group, Friends of the Verde River and get some more information about the Verde. They are a hard-working organization dedicated to keeping one of the last flowing Rivers in the American southwest, healthy. Read the information below for more information. If you like to kayak, this is a great organization to support.

  I’m ready to load my kayak and check out more of the Verde. It’s 190-miles long so there is so much more to explore.

Friends of the Verde River – 

a short history

Kegn Moorcroft

Stewardship & Development Manager

Ten years ago, on December 27, 2011, an intrepid band of river-lovers formed a new organization: Friends of Verde River Greenway. Their goal was to preserve, enhance, and promote the scenic, natural, historic, cultural, and recreational resources of the Verde River Greenway corridor, a unit of Arizona State Parks. Along with the Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition, we started out restoring habitat along with riverbanks.

In 2017, we had the opportunity to consolidate three groups with similar goals and Friends of the Verde River was born out of the merger of Friends of Verde River Greenway, Verde River Valley Nature Organization, and Verde River Basin Partnership. We took on hosting the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival along with more community events.

Today, our mission is to work collaboratively for a healthy, flowing Verde River system that supports our natural environment, vibrant communities, and quality of life for future generations. We work proactively to restore habitat, sustain river flows, and build supportive communities.

Our reach is broad. The watershed of the Verde River encompasses 6,600 square miles, six percent of Arizona’s land area. The list of the creeks and springs that feed the river is long. Together with all tributaries, the Verde system includes over 580 river miles. In addition, the only two wild & scenic rivers in Arizona are found in the Verde system.

To date our work has had the following impacts:

• Restored 10,357 acres of riverside forest to native vegetation;

• Employed over 200 Conservation Corps youth and military veterans for habitat restoration; 

• Kept 19 million gallons of water flowing in the Verde River since 2016 through the Verde River Exchange; 

• Mobilizes countless volunteers to restore habitat, clean up the rivers, and promote the Verde River and its tributary  streams; 

• Each year brings about 450 people to the region for the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival, along with other conservation-focused events; and

• Contributes significantly to the regional economy.

The founding members of the Board of Directors comprised a hardy group of people dedicated to river conservation: Steven “Max” Castillo, Peggy Chaikin, Marsha Foutz, Tony Gioia, Diane Joens, Jane Moore, Delbert “Chip” Norton, Bob Rothrock. Others who have served in the past on the Board of Directors include Denise Lerette, Kim Schonek, Siera Russell, Susan Culp, and Shelley DiGiacomo. 

There is a long list of staff members who have served the Verde, but key to the early success of the organization were our first employees, including Anna Schrenk, Laurie Parker, Steve Estes, Laura Jones, and Greg Goodwin. Over the last decade we have employed and trained many interns, crews, and staff all of whom have been dedicated to a healthy, flowing Verde.



Go to verderiver.org