The long-delayed construction of the Camp Verde Sports Complex has continued for several years, but while the park is not expected to be open until at least next fall, the land it sits on now provides recreation activities beyond the future park.
This week, Camp Verde Parks & Recreation announced the completion of the Verde Vista Loop Trail, a 5.5 mile trail for hiking, biking and horseback riding, which has its trailhead in the Sports Complex and extends into land of the Coconino National Forest. The trail climbs 500 feet above the park, to the top of the White Hills overlooking the Sports Complex.
“Along with the recently constructed Ryal Canyon Trailhead off Salt Mine Road, this trail marks the start of a multi-year initiative to provide public access to public lands on a managed trail system, connecting the community to the surrounding landscape, connecting neighborhood to neighborhood, park to park and trailhead to trailhead,” Camp Verde Economic Development Director Steve Ayers wrote in an email. “When completed you will be able to hike, bike or ride a horse from one end of Camp Verde to the other and from Camp Verde to neighboring communities.”
In December, the Camp Verde Town Council approved the Urban Upland Trail Plan, with the goal of developing a series of connected trails throughout the town of Camp Verde, along with developed trailheads and access points. Ryal Canyon Trail and its trailhead were completed in September of 2020, marking the first of the trail system, and the Verde Vista Trail represents the next step in the process.
In addition to the loop trail, a 1.6- mile perimeter trail around the future Sports Complex was completed recently, though until now Parks & Recreation had not opened it for use due to concerns about interfering with the Sports Complex construction. The trail is now open.
“Currently we have a couple short connectors and a loop scratched out around the future pond site above the Sports Complex to tie all this together and offer more loop options,” Parks and Recreation Director Michael Marshall said.
Construction on the Verde Vista Loop Trail was enacted by a trail crew from the American Conservation Experience, funded by a $59,000 grant from the Recreation Advisory Committee of Yavapai County. The Sports Complex perimeter trail was funded by a $78,000 grant from the Recreation Trails Program under the Arizona State Parks & Trails.
“We have seen a lot of changes lately and will see more as the community continues to grow, which is why it is so important to protect and improve public access to the adjacent public lands,” Ayers said.
The next trail project the town hopes to complete is a cooperative project with the Prescott National Forest for a trailhead at Grief Hill off Cherry Creek Road, which is anticipated to begin construction in fall or winter of 2021.
