Verde
06. Childs to Horseshoe Reservoir(Wilderness Run)
| Difficulty | I-III |
| Length | 33 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 18 fpm |
| Gauge | Verde Rvr Blw Tangle Creek, Abv Horseshoe Dam, Az |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 147 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 5, 2025 |
River Description
This is one of the most remote places you can paddle in AZ and takes on average 3-5 days to complete, pace and flow dependent.
Mostly comprised of read and run Class II/III in a heavily wooded creek zone. Wood plays an ever-present component and includes being heads-up for your next scout.
There is no great take-out access apart from an abandoned ATV trail at Red Creek, and the takeout at Sheep's Bridge or Horseshoe Reservoir.
Logistics include a 3.5 hour shuttle, so do your homework.
Camping opportunities are plentiful.
LNT principles will be followed!! (That's Leave No Trace)
A groover and firepan are required by USFS. There are two takeouts for this run.
The first is at Sheep's Bridge, or downstream several miles to Horseshoe Bend rez.
Reference:
Verde River Guide- Forest Service (USDA)
'Paddling Arizona' by Tyler Williams.
Also see the other segments:
Horseshoe Reservoir to Bartlett Reservoir
River Features
River-wide strainer
In January 2018, AW received a report of a river-wide strainer at this location. Paddlers need to be aware as they approach the blind corner, of the potential hazard.
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportJust went down at 4k dropping to 2k cfs. Got chased off a Salt trip by high water and had three duckies, two rafts (13 ft and 14 ft) and a hardshell kayak. To make a long story short, DO NOT do this trip with rafts. At high water, every turn is a jungle, with 3-6 options for channels, and only one that actually carries the flow without being strained or shallow rocked out. Usually couldn't tell which was the good option more than 200 ft above the move, even with a bunch of experience on the Verde. Perfectly fine and fun for small boaters who can make quick moves and get themselves through some tight spots. We did get the rafts through with only one flip and no gear loss, but there was a lot of cursing, tree plowing and almost pins involved. This was after the river had spiked above 30k twice this year, so going to take a serious flood to clean this one out to its former fun and kinda open channels.
This stretch can easily be class III+ in places: lots of strainers and VERY remote.
OK, where's the water? Where're the hot springs? They're actually a quarter mile upriver from the Fossil Creek parking area where this sign loomed over the valley.
OK, where's the water? Where're the hot springs? They're actually a quarter mile upriver from the Fossil Creek parking area where this sign loomed over the valley.