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OHV Areas Bortle 4 Solitude: 75/100 (remote)

Visit HAYFIELD DRAW OHV DAY USE AREA, located 6.0 miles from Cottonwood, AZ. Prairie terrain. Best visited May-Sep.

Near Cottonwood, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

Being properly equipped turns potential hazards into manageable situations.

This packing list is tailored to the Forest environment and Unknown at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area.

Essential

Water (minimum 2L) — Dehydration impairs judgment and endurance long before you feel thirsty; 2L is the minimum for a moderate day hike.
Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Phone batteries die, cell service disappears, and trail signs get vandalized; a paper map and compass always work.
Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — UV exposure intensifies at elevation and near reflective surfaces like water and snow; sunburn can happen in under 30 minutes.
First aid kit — Blisters, cuts, and sprains happen on even the easiest trails; basic supplies let you treat problems before they force a retreat.
Extra food — A wrong turn or unexpected storm can extend any outing by hours; extra calories prevent fatigue and poor decision-making.
Headlamp with extra batteries — Trails that seem short in daylight can take twice as long with route-finding or elevation; a headlamp keeps you moving safely after dark.
Fire starter — Hypothermia can set in even during summer at higher elevations; a reliable fire starter provides warmth and a signal for rescuers.
Emergency shelter (space blanket) — A space blanket weighs under two ounces and reflects up to 90% of body heat, buying time in an unplanned overnight.
Knife or multi-tool — From cutting cord to preparing food to improvising gear repairs, a knife is the most versatile tool you can carry.
Extra clothing layer — Mountain weather can shift from sunshine to sleet within an hour; an extra layer prevents dangerous heat loss.

Wildlife Gear

Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — Groups of three or more are almost never involved in serious bear incidents; larger groups make more noise and appear more intimidating.
Noise maker — Clapping, whistling, or using an air horn warns wildlife of your approach, preventing surprise encounters on blind corners.
Gaiters — Snake-proof gaiters provide a physical barrier against venomous bites below the knee, where most strikes occur.
First-aid snakebite kit — While evacuation to a hospital is the priority, a snakebite kit helps you stay calm and follow proper first-aid protocols.

Terrain Gear

Headlamp (extra) — Remote terrain often takes longer than expected to navigate; a backup headlamp prevents being stranded in darkness if your primary fails.
Emergency bivy — An emergency bivy sack weighs 4-8 ounces and provides wind and rain protection if an injury, storm, or navigation error forces an unplanned night out.
PLB/satellite messenger — A Personal Locator Beacon sends your GPS coordinates to search-and-rescue via satellite, working anywhere on Earth with no cell signal needed.

Seasonal Gear

Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)

Activities & Best Time to Visit Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

The Forest terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.

The terrain here lends itself to atv, mountain biking, off roading — activities that match the Forest environment.

Photographers rate this area 55/100, with Good dark sky (Bortle 4) and 3 excellent meteor showers being a major draw.

Activities

atv — Ride designated off-highway vehicle trails on an all-terrain vehicle.
mountain_biking — Ride off-road trails that wind through forests, deserts, and mountain terrain.
off_roading — Navigate rugged trails and backcountry routes with high-clearance vehicles.
picnicking — Spread a blanket, unpack a meal, and enjoy food outdoors surrounded by fresh air and open views.
walking — A simple way to explore trails, shorelines, and park paths at your own pace while taking in the scenery.
wildlife_viewing — Observe animals in their natural habitats, from grazing deer to soaring raptors overhead.

Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Terrain: Forest — Forests are dominated by dense tree cover, layered canopies, and shaded understories. Ground conditions vary from leaf litter to mossy soils, with limited visibility off trail.

Wildlife Safety at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

Part of visiting responsibly is understanding the wildlife safety considerations for this area.

The wildlife safety profile at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area includes venomous snakes — here's what to know about each.

Danger rating: 25/100 (based on terrain difficulty, wildlife presence, weather exposure, and remoteness) moderate

Mountain lions
Venomous snakes
Far from city (82mi)

UV risk: moderate (Southern latitude (35N), Forest canopy (shade))

Photo score: 55/100

Good dark sky (Bortle 4)
3 excellent meteor showers
Fall foliage
Spring wildflowers

Venomous Snakes

Venomous snakes here include . They're most active during warm months.

Watch where you step and place hands
Stay on trails
Wear boots and long pants in snake country
Do not reach under rocks or logs
If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol

Nature & Wildlife at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

The Forest terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.

The natural world around Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area reflects its Forest setting — Southwestern Ponderosa Pine and Gambel Oak overhead, Arizona mariposa lily and Stansbury's Cliffrose at your feet, and wildlife throughout.

Trees (3)

Southwestern Ponderosa Pine — Southwestern Ponderosa Pine is a large, long-needled conifer adapted to dry, high-elevation forests.
Gambel Oak — Gambel oak is a small to medium deciduous tree with deeply lobed leaves that resemble classic oak shapes.
white fir — White fir is a tall evergreen with soft, bluish-green needles that curve upward from the twig.

Wildflowers (2)

Arizona mariposa lily — White to pale pink petals with deep purple markings.
Stansbury's Cliffrose — Evergreen shrub with finely divided gray-green leaves.

Other Plants (5)

Echinocereus bakeri
great mullein
quaking aspen
alligator juniper
western blue flag

Mammals (8)

Abert's Squirrel — A gray tree squirrel with distinctive long ear tufts in winter.
Mule Deer — A large deer with oversized mule-like ears and a black-tipped tail.
Gunnison's Prairie Dog — A stout, burrowing rodent with tan to brown fur and short tail.
Wapiti — Also known as elk, this large deer has a tan body with dark neck and pale rump patch.
Rock Squirrel — A large ground squirrel with mottled gray-brown fur and bushy tail.

Birds (30)

Red-winged Blackbird — Male black with red and yellow shoulder patch
House Sparrow — Male with gray crown and black bib
European Starling — Glossy black with iridescent green and purple sheen
Eurasian Collared-Dove — Pale gray-beige body
Dark-eyed Junco — Slate-gray form with white belly

Reptiles (5)

Plateau Fence Lizard — A medium lizard with spiny scales and gray to brown coloration.
Greater Short-horned Lizard — A stout-bodied lizard with short horns on the back of the head.
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake — A slender snake with longitudinal yellow or cream stripes over a dark brown, gray, or greenish body.
Gopher Snake — A large tan or yellowish snake with dark brown blotches along the back.
Ornate Tree Lizard — A small spiny lizard with gray to brown coloration and subtle patterning.

Amphibians (2)

American Bullfrog
Arizona Tree Frog

Insects (10)

Convergent Lady Beetle
Gray Buckeye
Carolina Grasshopper
White-lined Sphinx
Spotted Pine Sawyer

Fungi (1)

lobster mushroom

Other Wildlife (2)

Common Pill Woodlouse
Virile Crayfish

Nature Bingo at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.

Wildlife Challenge

Common Raven (bird)
Abert's Squirrel (mammal)
Plateau Fence Lizard (reptile)
American Bullfrog (amphibian)
Southwestern Ponderosa Pine (plant)

Botany Challenge

Achnatherum Pinetorum
Aquilegia Coerulea Var. Pinetorum
Arabis Holboellii Var. Pinetorum
Asclepias Engelmanniana
Echinocereus Engelmannii
Almutaster

Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai Climate & Sun

Reference data: temperatures, precipitation, and daylight hours by month.

The climate at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area peaks for outdoor activity during May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, when temperatures average °F.

Climate type: Unknown

Winter 0°

1.2"

Spring 0°

0.5"

Summer 0°

2.3"

Fall 0°

1.0"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	0°F	1.2 in
Feb	0°F	1.3 in
Mar	0°F	1.1 in
Apr	0°F	0.5 in
May	0°F	0.6 in
Jun	0°F	0.3 in
Jul	0°F	2.3 in
Aug	0°F	3.1 in
Sep	0°F	1.3 in
Oct	0°F	1.0 in
Nov	0°F	1.0 in
Dec	0°F	1.8 in

Daylight & Sun Times

Daylight ranges from 9.9 hours in winter to 14.5 hours in summer — a difference of 4.6 hours.

Summer: 5:13 AM – 7:41 PM

Winter: 7:27 AM – 5:18 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 7:27 AM, Sunset 5:18 PM Golden hour from 4:39 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:13 AM, Sunset 7:41 PM Golden hour from 7:04 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:40 AM, Sunset 6:34 PM Golden hour from 6:01 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:09 AM, Sunset 6:36 PM Golden hour from 6:03 PM

Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai Trip Planning & Access

Here's the practical side of visiting Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area.

Whether it's a day trip or weekend getaway from Phoenix, here's what visiting Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area involves.

Nearest city: Phoenix (82 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $20.6 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 66.6 kg CO2 (round trip by car)

Visitor Friendliness

This location rates likely_allowed for dogs, excellent for families, and highly_suitable for elderly visitors.

Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
Families: excellent
Elderly: highly_suitable
Strollers: excellent (100/100)
Beginners: Good starting point
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (100/100)

Places Near Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

The area around Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area has plenty more to offer.

The proximity of 16 other outdoor spots makes this area ideal for multi-day exploration.

Stargazing & Night Sky at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

After a day outdoors, the evening sky here is worth a look.

Under the Bortle class 4 skies at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, you can expect to see 2 major constellations and constellations and bright planets.

Bortle 4 Rural/suburban transition

Constellations

From Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, you can trace Ursa Minor, Cepheus across the sky on clear nights.

Ursa Minor — Home to Polaris, the North Star, Ursa Minor forms a small dipper shape that circles the northern sky year-round.
Cepheus — Cepheus appears as a faint house-shaped pattern near Polaris in the northern sky.

Meteor Showers

Time your visit around December 13-14 for the Geminids, the strongest meteor shower visible from this latitude.

Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)
One of the most reliable and active showers of the year; best viewed after 10 PM when Gemini rises higher in the sky.
Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)
This brief but intense shower peaks before dawn; early morning hours offer the best chance to see multiple meteors.
Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)
A summer favorite with warm nighttime viewing; look northeast after 10 PM.
Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)
Best seen before dawn in the southeastern sky as Aquarius rises.
Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)
Best viewed after midnight when Aquarius is higher in the southern sky.

Planets

Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:

Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue

Equipment Guide

Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune

Viewing Tips

Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)

Best Viewing Months

Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep

Seasonal Highlights at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

The time of year you visit changes what you'll see and do.

Knowing what each season brings helps you plan the best possible visit to Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area.

Spring Wildflowers

Peak bloom: March - April

Check local park websites for bloom reports

Fall Foliage

Peak color: October 15 – November 5

Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen

Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier

Bird Migration

Spring peak: March - April

Fall peak: October - November

Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges

Indigenous Land at Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai

Before planning your trip, it's worth recognizing the Indigenous peoples connected to this land.

For thousands of years, this land has been cared for by Ndee/Nnēē: (Western Apache), Hohokam, Yavapai Apache and their ancestors.

Territories

Languages

Indigenous languages connected to this territory include Yavapai.

Yavapai

Data from Native Land Digital

Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.

Bedrock Geology

Rock Type: Limestone of Verde Formation
Formation: Verde Formation
Age: Neogene

Fossils

Fossil Occurrences: 142
Unique Species: 63
Oldest: 382.3 million years ago

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 168
Richness: Exceptional
Minerals Found: Copper, Gold, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Silver, Limestone, General, Iron

Endangered Species

Species at Risk: 1478
ESA Endangered: 29
ESA Threatened: 16
Conservation Score: 100/100

Temperature Records

Record High: 118°F (2004-08-12)
Record Low: -1°F (1963-01-13)

Wildfire History

This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.

Recorded Fires: 62
Largest Fire: Mingus (15,457.1 acres)
Most Recent: 2024
Fire Risk: Extreme

Caves & Karst Features

Feature Types: evaporite_basin
Karst Score: 30

Watershed

Watershed: Mescal Gulch-Verde River
Water Quality (Good): 0%
Impaired: 11.078%

Meteorite Landings

Meteorites Found: 1
Largest: Cottonwood (0.8 kg)

Reported Phenomena

UFO Sightings: 21 (NUFORC)
Bigfoot Reports: 2 (BFRO)
Haunted Places: 5 (Shadowlands)
Eeriness Score: 81/100

Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area, Yavapai Safety & Conditions

The weather data above tells you what's typical — these links tell you what's happening right now.

Safety starts with current information. These resources cover real-time conditions near Hayfield Draw Ohv Day Use Area.

Flood zone: Not in a flood zone

Nearest weather station: CAMP VERDE 3.2 NNW, AZ US (4.66 mi)