10 Fun & Unique Things To Do In Cottonwood AZ
Are you planning a day trip to Cottonwood? If so, you’ve come to the right article.
Cottonwood Arizona is a charming small town nestled in the Verde Valley region, near the neighboring towns of Camp Verde, Jerome, and Clarkdale. The city was founded in 1879, and it has a main street lined with antique shops, historic buildings, and a variety of great cafes and restaurants.
But, there’s much more to Cottonwood than the main street. This article will cover all of the best things to do in Cottonwood, from visiting ancient ruins to kayaking in the Verde River, and more!
Here are 10 fun and unique things to do in Cottonwood Arizona.
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Visit The Tuzigoot National Monument
One of the best things to do as you arrive in town is to check out the Tuzigoot National Monument.
This is a fascinating 110 room ancient pueblo site, with beautiful views of the lush Verde Valley all throughout.
It has a small museum and friendly park rangers that will walk you around to teach you about its history. The entrance fee is $10/adult, and it’s open daily from 9am-4:45pm.
Shop & Dine In Old Town
Cottonwood’s Old Town is lined with antique shops, gift shops, wineries, and a variety of great restaurants. It has a small town vibe, and is a fun place to walk around, shop for souvenirs, and dine out.
There’s everything from burger joints to brunch spots, fine-dining steakhouses, and more.
See The Country’s Largest Collection of Copper Art
Head to the Copper Art Museum in Clarkdale to see the country’s largest collection of copper art. This museum houses over 5000 pieces of copper artwork in a building that once was Clarkdale’s high school!
In the museum you’ll get to learn about the history of copper mining in the Verde Valley, and see everything from copper cookware to naval artifacts. Entrance is $11/adult.
Ride The Verde Canyon Railroad
If you’re looking for something unique to do with the family, ride the famous Verde Canyon railroad. This is a narrated 3 hour train ride through the Verde Valley, where you’ll pass by ancient ruins, old mining sites, and enjoy beautiful views of the desert scenery.
The train depot is located in Clarkdale, less than a 10 minute drive from Cottonwood’s downtown. Get tickets here.
Go Hiking & Fishing At Dead Horse Ranch State Park
If you love the outdoors, spend the day at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. This is a 423 acre state park with campgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas, and lakes filled with sportfish.
This is the perfect place to go for a relaxing hike by the river, fish, or camp overnight. Entrance to the park is $20/vehicle (2-4 people) or $10/person. Camping is $25-50/night, and there’s eight riverfront log style cabins you can reserve for $80/night.
Go Kayaking In The Verde River
If you’re looking for an adventure, go kayaking in the Verde River. You can go on a guided kayaking trip or rent kayaks for the day from Outdoor Adventure Centers in Cottonwood.
And if you’re a wine lover, go on a combination wine-tasting and kayaking tour from Cottonwood with Sedona Adventure Tours!
Go On A Day Trip To Jerome
If you love exploring small towns, check out the nearby ghost town of Jerome. Jerome is a historic mining town turned ghost town, perched on Cleopatra Hill.
It’s only a 15 minute drive from Cottonwood, and has a main street lined with quirky shops, museums, haunted hotels, wineries, and restaurants. Check out our guide to visiting Jerome for some more unique ideas on what to do in town.
Watch A Western Stage Show At Blazin M’ Ranch
For a fun evening activity, watch a Cowboy Chuckwagon Show at Blazin M Ranch. This is a family owned ranch that hosts a cowboy dinner show with live music and barbecue.
Their chuckwagon shows begin in the evening, and they also have a small old western town with gift shops, and activities like axe-throwing and mechanical bull-riding.
Go Wine-Tasting
Old Town Cottonwood is home to many wine bars where you can enjoy a flight or a glass of wine.
If you want to visit some of the top wineries in the Verde Valley region, do a 15 minute drive to Cornville.
Here you’ll find a trail of wineries that offer tastings, including Page Springs Cellars, the DA Ranch, Oak Creek Vineyards, and Javelina Leap Vineyards.
Visit Nearby Ancient Ruins
Cottonwood is within a half hour drive from a variety of interesting ancient ruins. If you visit the Tuzigoot National Monument, make sure to hold onto your receipt, because it will give you access to Montezuma’s Castle.
Montezuma Castle is a well preserved Sinagua cliff dwelling sitting 90 ft above ground. It’s located in Camp Verde, around a half hour drive from Cottonwood.
If you drive a few miles north of Montezuma’s Castle, you can visit Montezuma’s Well. This is a natural sinkhole with small cliff dwellings that’s accessible by a short hike, and completely free to visit.
And if you’re a real history buff, check out the Crane Petroglyph Site, just a few miles down from Montezuma’s Well. This is one of the largest petroglyph sites, with a collection of over 1,000 ancient petroglyphs created by the Southern Sinagua people. It requires a Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/person) to visit, which you can purchase online here.
Summary
Cottonwood is one of the most charming yet overlooked cities in Arizona. From ancient ruins to museums, and wineries, it has something to offer for all ages.
Whether you’re planning a day trip from Phoenix, or looking for fun things to do near Sedona, it’s well worth a visit. For more unique places to visit in Arizona, check out our list of the best day trips from Phoenix!
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