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Submission
The beach on the Verde River is generally rocky, but attracts many people during the hot summer months. The area is noted for its unusual rock formations. Nearby is a protected riparian area, the Mesquite Bosque. This popular water recreation area attracts many people trying to escape the Arizona summer heat. The rocky beach area is surrounded by beautiful towering rock formations. Near the recreation site is a fenced unique biological area, a stand of mesquite. Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons are frequently seen in this vicinity.
The site is 14 miles east of Scottsdale. From Pima Road, turn east on Dynamite Road and travel 3 miles to where it merges with Rio Verde Drive. Follow Rio Verde Drive for another 9 ½ miles to Forest Road (FR) 20 and turn left. Follow FR 20 for 3 miles to Needle Rock at the river. FR 20 is an unpaved road with narrow blind curves. Click Here For Map.
Very beautiful place many places to set up and hang out at the water. Can be cold. Always be safe around it and use life jackets. WATCH YOUR CHILDREN AROUND WATER. You will see a lot of kayakers and families in the summer less in the winter. It's still nice to go in the winter for walks. Please watch out for bulls,cows, horses, and donkeys all year. We had a bull get close enough to charge us. (On the main trails) We got away unhurt both us and the bull. Don't let them close enough to charge you. Stay back or go another way. They can hurt you very easily. As the sun goes down, always use bug spray. We have gotten eaten up many times 😂🤦🏽♀️🤷🏾♀️. It can be bad. Use calamine lottion. It's the only thing that will help with the itching. We love this area and the sites around it. We have also seen skunks and raccoons and bobcats.
Fantastic quiet place. Even with all the atv actuó in the area. Nice bend of the river around This rock formation. The river is wide at this point. Wide river banks. You can hike to the to the top of the rock and look at a stunning view of the river valley and of the rolling hills.
I am so glad I found living water within an hour of me!! This makes my time stuck here in the desert much easier. It was 4th of July and there were 4 picnic sites at the needle rock pull off area / parking lot.
There was one other group at the first set of tables but the rest were open. We made lunch and ate and marveled at how green it was. After lunch and a clean bathroom break we followed a trail going in the general direction of water according to the Google maps.
There was a family already at the first spot we saw to get to the river so we just walked another 5 minutes down the trail until we found a secret hiding spot in a corner of the river that was moving much much slower than the rapids part in the middle. The water was freezing cold so we just sat at the edge and kept cool in the 115° day.
There were all kinds of desert forest plants and animals. I actually didn't get bit by anything even though I usually do. The rushing river made a beautiful sound. It was so peaceful, private and enjoyable.
The many many birds were singing beautifully. I truly enjoyed my little spot. I can't wait to go back and take other trails to see where they lead. Maybe to a sandy beach somewhere?? Possibly!! I'm just glad to have living water. It is crucial to my existence to connect with nature at least once a season and now I have a place I can go to.
We paid the $12 for a tonto pass and put the ticket in the window but never saw anyone checking for the tickets.
We didn't go that far into the park. Maybe a mile or so before we pulled into one of the parking lots. It said Needle Rock on a sign at the turn off but never found any other signs for it when we got out of the car so I still don't know where it is.
Nice spot by the water with plenty of parking and picnic tables. Easy access and popular for group events.
