Verde Hot Springs - Free soaking · donation encouraged in Camp Verde, AZ (2026)
Graffiti-covered concrete tubs remain from a 1920s lodge, now a beloved primitive soak surrounded by sycamores and canyon walls.
Verde Hot Springs is a free graffiti-covered concrete-pool primitive soak on the Verde River in the Coconino National Forest of central Arizona — a beloved southwestern wild-soak destination with a complicated access. The 1920s-era Verde Hot Springs Resort, a Prohibition-era retreat, burned down in 1962, and the concrete soaking pools are the only structure that survived. Today the pools are covered in decades of graffiti (some artistic, some less so), filled with 100°F mineral water, and reached via a rough Forest Service road (FR 708) plus a short scramble across the Verde River. Free, no permits, no facilities.
What to expect
Drive Forest Road 708 from Camp Verde — rough, high-clearance recommended even in dry conditions, often closed by monsoon washouts. Park at the river crossing pull-out. Wade the Verde River (knee-to-waist deep in low flow; impassable in high flow). Scramble along the riverbank to the soaking pools. The graffiti-covered concrete pools are the original 1920s resort foundation. Clothing-optional. No facilities; pack out everything.
Temperature
100°-105°F
Pools
2 soaking pools
Best season
May-October
Reservations
Walk-up friendly
Dog policy
Leashed dogs welcome
Family policy
Adults only
Safety notes
- Forest Road 708 is often closed by monsoon washouts—check Coconino National Forest alerts before heading out.
- The Verde River can flood during winter storms; do not attempt the scramble when flows are high.
Amenities & etiquette
FAQ
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