Verde River Blessing & Celebration Register

Date and Time:
Sat, Nov 7, 2026; 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM  (Arizona)

Organized By: Yavapai Group

Location: VQWV+5Q Perkinsville, AZ, USA

Map | Directions

The upper Verde River, a jewell of the southwest, has been designated as an Outstanding Arizona Water by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.  We will plant a tree to symbolize the restoration process and consecrate the river with a blessing a Native American religious leader. 

The Sierra Club has been working for OAW status since 2012. This event celebrates an important step in a series of efforts to protect the Verde. Recently Prescott National Forest acted to control destructive recreation at the Perkinsville Bridge river crossing. The next step is designation as a Wild and Scenic River.

We will gather at 11:00 AM. Bring a camp chair, drinking water, and a brown-bag picnic lunch to enjoy on the shady river bank with music by local artists. After a short educational presentations, we'll plant a native willow, learn how indigenous people used and valued the river, and join together to bless the river to be pure and free-flowing forever. For more information, email  yavapaisierra@gmail.com.

Cost: No charge

Recommended Items: Bring picnic lunch and drinks. No alcohol please.

Additional Directions: Location: Perkinsville Bridge (see map, link to https://goo.gl/maps/hQMWxMcTHGDmT5oH6) is 22 miles east of Chino Valley on Perkinsville Road. The roadway is graded and suitable for passenger cars. This is a day use site only - no overnight camping permitted. Car-pooling assistance available.