Hiking the Jail Trail in Cottonwood

A drawing of a Cottonwood tree

The beauty of nature is just around the corner from Old Town Cottonwood.  To the right of the visitor center at 1101 Main Street is the Jail Trail, named for the jail that was once housed in the now visitor-friendly building. 

This rustic, one-mile trail is an easy hike to the Verde River with its abundant birds, fish and wildlife. At its far end, the trail connects to the scenic Verde Greenway with its rare stand of cottonwoods and willows and provides access to Dead Horse Ranch State Park with its many recreational amenities. 

Cottonwood Trees in the fall

The Jail Trail is a lesson in the power of the Verde River. The trail sits on a flood plain that is usually dry.  But river rock, which covers some of the path, and flood deposits, which encircle tree trunks like woodsy garlands, remind hikers of the river at its wildest—and highest.

Perhaps the most charming feature of the hike are the majestic cottonwoods, for which the city of Cottonwood is named. These beautiful, large, deciduous trees have shiny,  diamond-shaped leaves that shimmer and tremble in the breeze, creating a soft rustling sound. They stand dozens of feet high.

Did you know? Cottonwoods are related to poplars and aspens.  They love to keep their feet wet and are a poor wood to use for fuel because they do not dry well, rot quickly and split poorly because of their thick, corky bark.  Even their BTU output is remarkably low. To the Hopis, the Cottonwood is sacred. They believe that the rustling of the wind through the Cottonwood’s quivering leaves is God speaking to the people. Hopis carve kachina dolls from the Cottonwood’s roots.

In the summer the cottonwoods provide a leafy canopy and plenty of shade.  In the fall, they are a shock of gold against the area’s Navaho-blue sky.  In the spring they flower and release downy puffs of small white seeds into the air, which give the tree its name.  A mature cottonwood produces millions of seeds, covering wide areas with a blanket of “cotton.”

On the Jail Trail it is not uncommon to see locals walking their dogs, fishermen enjoying an afternoon on the river and even an occasional horse and rider.  There is plenty of parking at the trailhead.