Verde Village Property Owners
This is a long, narrow strip of lush riparian habitat owned by the Verde Village POA. It parallels Comanche Drive and, although it is within a large, developed subdivision, you get the feeling of isolation as you walk through the preserve. This is one of the very few places where you can walk alongside the Verde River for a half mile and be covered by a Cottonwood/Willow canopy. The birding is good, and the access is quite easy. Although the site is characterized by tall riparian growth, there is also enough open scrub to provide diverse habitat to enhance bird species abundance. Vehicle traffic has been eliminated by rock placements at access points and there are no facilities which makes this a little-used walk-through site.
Site Information
Region: North Central
County: Yavapai
Directions: Take AZ 260 to the south end of Cottonwood. Turn north on Del Rio Drive (into Verde Village - unincorporated subdivision) - and turn right on Cortez Dr. (first left), then right on Cayuse Dr. down to the Verde River at Comanche Drive. Turn right on Comanche and go past Broken Saddle Dr. ;Parking is best along the River side of Comanche Drive. Note: There is no access from the north side of the river.
Latitude: 34.706708
Longitude: -111.974994
Operational Hours: Open all year, 24 hours a day
Admission or Fees: None
Best time to visit: Pleasant all year, although Spring is best birding
Habitats: Stream or river
Know Before You Go
Owned by the Verde Village Property Owners Association but not gated or controlled on-site. Please be respectful of private property rights.
Safety First! Arizona has many beautiful places to explore and we’d like to help you make it a safe and enjoyable experience. Check out our recommendations for hiking precautions.
Species Highlights
Speciality: Bridled Titmouse, Common Black Hawk, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Lucy’s Warbler
Charismatic: American Kestrel, Anna’s Hummingbird, Gambel’s Quail, Gila Woodpecker, Lesser Goldfinch, Phainopepla, Ruby-crowned Kinglet , Summer Tanager, Verdin, White-winged Dove
Contact Information
Verde Village Property Owners Associaion
Private
4855 Broken Saddle Drive
Cottonwood (Verde Village), AZ 86326
Phone: 928-646-6505
Website: https://vvpoa.net/
Email: vvpoayavcty@outlook.com
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S45367312
