Verde

My friend and I ran the river with an inflatable and hard shell kayak between Beasley Flats and Childs in late March 2020 at 3000- 4000 cfs. Diverging river channels at many sections throughout the run make it difficult to determine the main channel without significant scouting. Choosing the wrong channel leads to a fast ride through brush and trees or worse. Mean looking keeper across most of the Verde Falls with a large boulder in the middle of the river below the falls, completely covered with water and with a hole below. Lined both of our kayaks around Verde Falls. Assisted two rafters in extracting their raft from brush after they flipped at the falls. Chased down a kayak which got away from another boater who flipped at the pre-falls. On the other hand, observed a paddler in an inflatable kayak run the falls on the extreme river left. The high flows create many rapids which are not discussed in the USFS Verde River Guide. In summary, at high flows and given the remote location, take your time, scout the rapids and be prepared for sweepers and trees in the channels.

Richard Olm

Fall Verde Trip 2010 - Mike on the bank.

Got munched by Big Pink Rapid

On Tonto National Forest's website, find
'Verde River Guide' ...a 25-page packet of maps and rapid descriptions. http://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/tonto/specialplaces

Wilderness run is fun, scenic but not clean. Must make eddies and careful route picking skills required in at least 4 spots in the 60 miles. A mistake could mean wrap, pin, loss of boat or worse. Be careful. Not a run for occasional class 3 boaters, especially given the remoteness.

Nice winter base flow on the Verde.

Some how from here we ended up doing a 'McIver', an advanced-level maneuver [as far as anyone who doesn't know-better knows...], where you go backwards through the rapids.

Punk rock becomes a hole, find out when at moenkopi high water alert

10-footer approaching the falls. Notice the typewriter hole where the fish ladder usually is.
This hole forms because of the rock directly downstream from the falls in the middle of the river.

First hole in the prefalls at 2200 cfs.

This is the second hole and the actual falls of the prefalls. Shortly down stream is the true falls. As one would expect the lower the flow the steeper are both the drops and the higher the flows the shorter the drop and the more powerful hydrolic action. Notice the 3 man high side.
Picture perfect Hyside in a Hyside. After the falls get buried the pour over becomes alot more grabby.
This is the first hole in the middle in the top of the prefalls.

This is Bret Howard below Verde Falls. NOTICE: the falls in the right of the picture behind him. Ususally at normal flows that entire ledge to the right (river left) is covered, and a boof there is the stardard move.

-CODY HOWARD
This is Bret Howard, AZ paddler, in a low-water descent of Verde River Falls. This is EXTREMELY low-flows and YES he is in the kayak. He's acually in the Riot Booster 50.

-CODY HOWARD
Bret dare-deviling over the pre-falls, and then resulted in a swim. Cool pic though!

-CODY HOWARD

This is Trevor (rear) and Bret Howard (front) catching air of the prefalls. Half-way through the drop, Trevor then jump out of the boat!! (?) -CODY HOWARD
Paul Howard, OVER 50 boating club, going over the pre falls :)

-CODY HOWARD
This is the sign in the parking lot of the take-out. This is the trailhead of the trail that you hike out of.

- CODY HOWARD
Paul and Bret Howard ELF (extremely low flow) Boating over the pre-falls. -CODY HOWARD

Check out the larger version of this photo by clicking here.