Arizona · Hiking

Oxbow

14.9 mi
round trip
128 ft
climb
6,087 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 20 h ago

Is Oxbow open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Verde Ranger District. It doesn't name Oxbow, so check the source for the area it covers (6 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Verde Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Oxbow is a long, steep hike in Arizona's Prescott National Forest, within the Verde Ranger District. It is a natural-surface trail that horses can use, and it is not open to bikes. The trail is rated hard, and it rises from about 3,170 feet to 6,087 feet over roughly 14.9 miles, making it an out-and-back that demands a full day. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 74°F and lows near 46°F, while July highs reach about 91°F. That station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the high point, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Verde River is about 8.6 miles away, Fossil Creek about 9.9 miles, and the Thirteen Mile Rock climbing area about 9.1 miles. Gap Creek and Lower Cedar Bench both lie about 0.2 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.