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Arizona | Verde River Greenway / Verde Valley

Verde RiverSkidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail) to Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge

A short lower Verde access choice from Skidmore Drive to Black Canyon RAP.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 0.9 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 1–3 hours with carry and shuttle time
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Verde River runs through a rugged Arizona canyon corridor.
River contextVerde River; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Jennifer Horn via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 0.9 river milesSkidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail) to Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge
DifficultymoderateThe mapped access-chain reaches are moving water with shallow riffles, diversion structures, strainers and private-bank constraints. Carry and scout every named RAP.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the named RAP, then drive to the upstream public access.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current State Parks, Forest Service, town and parking rules before unloading.
CampingDay tripNo overnight camping is included; use separately permitted campgrounds and never camp on private banks.
SeasonJan-DecFriends of the Verde warns that conditions differ among river stretches and can change daily. Check the nearest gauge, weather, access and current obstacles for this trip.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A short lower Verde access choice from Skidmore Drive to Black Canyon RAP.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Skidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only named public RAPs and respect posted carry and closure notices.

Finish

Take-out

Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge
Open mapDirections to take-out

Recheck gauge, trend, rain, wood, weather and private-bank conditions.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only named public RAPs and respect posted carry and closure notices.
  • Recheck gauge, trend, rain, wood, weather and private-bank conditions.

Watch for

  • Low-water riffles and diversion structures
  • Strainers, flash-flood rises and thunderstorms
  • Private banks and changing access conditions

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Verde River runs through a rugged Arizona canyon corridor.
Verde River; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Jennifer Horn via Wikimedia Commons
Public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named reach and accessSkidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail) to Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge; 0.9 miles

    Friends of the Verde publishes the named RAP sequence, river-mile positions and coordinates.

    Source

  • Direct gaugeVerde River near Camp Verde, AZ (09506000)

    Direct Verde River discharge telemetry for this section; recheck current reading and trend before launch.

    Source

  • Flow guidance scopeNo numeric flow range verified for this exact trip

    Friends of the Verde warns that flow, obstacles and hazards differ by stretch and can change daily. Use the linked gauge as context, not a route-wide recommendation.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Photos

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Arizona

All 43 routes
Arizona route guideBrowse every tracked Arizona route.Verde River Greenway / Verde ValleyJump to routes in this region.

More on Verde River

All 32
Beasley Flat RAP to Childs River AccessVerde Valley / Yavapai CountyHard · About 17 river milesBignotti Beach RAP water-entry edge to Newton Lane RAP water-entry edgeVerde River Greenway / Verde ValleyModerate · About 8 river milesBignotti Beach RAP water-entry edge to Parsons Preserve RAP water-entry edgeVerde River Greenway / Verde ValleyModerate · About 11.4 river milesBlack Bridge RAP water-entry edge to White Bridge RAP access areaVerde River Greenway / Verde ValleyModerate · About 2.2 river miles

Quick answers

Verde River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Skidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail) to Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge route on the Verde River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Skidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail) to Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge route on the Verde River start and end?

This route starts at Skidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail) and ends at Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge, about 0.9 river miles on the water.

Is the Skidmore Drive RAP access area (river about 150 yards down trail) to Black Canyon RAP water-entry edge route on the Verde River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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