Cottonwood, AZ Rio Verde Park

We chose Rio Verde Park (https://www.rioverdervpark.com) since it was a great launching spot for several of the hikes we were interested in. We were lucky to secure a 90ft pull-thru sight – not many of those are around. There was the Granite Garden Loop hike in Prescott. Prescott was on the other side of the mountain, and to get there, the roads were carved into the outside of the mountain. I am not a fan of those, as you never know when another vehicle is coming around a curve in the opposite direction, forcing the dually to hug closer to the side. As we climbed the elevation, the temperature began to drop. About halfway, the mining town of Jerome had snowfall the night before, as evidenced by the accumulation on the cars. Jerome is a popular town to visit, but come early as parking spaces are few, and they fill up fast.

As we descended the mountain to the other side, temperatures were warming, and we were ready to hike the Granite Garden Loop. This hike had unique rock formations. Some passageways were very narrow, but it was an easy hike for the most part. Afterward, we visited the town of Prescott and had a delightful lunch at Farm Provisions, a farm-to-table establishment. Dining options are sometimes difficult as I am Celiac, and not many places have gluten-free options. Farm Provisions had several options, and my meal was delicious.

We left Prescott to return to Cottonwood. This time, as we passed Jerome, the snow was already beginning to melt, and the warmer weather was welcoming.

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