Red Rock State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Rock State Park |
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Looking west-northwest towards Cathedral Rock and the Mogollon Rim
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 Red Rock State Park
Location in Arizona
Red Rock State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Yavapai, Arizona, United States |
| Area | 286 acres (116 ha) |
| Elevation | 3,900 ft (1,200 m) |
| Established | 1986 |
| Governing body | Arizona State Parks |
Red Rock State Park is a beautiful state park in Arizona, USA. It's famous for its amazing red sandstone canyon, located just outside the city of Sedona.
This park is a special place for nature. Its main goal is to protect the land and plants along Oak Creek. This area is called a riparian zone, which means it's a green, watery place next to a river or stream. Red Rock State Park also teaches people about the environment. It offers fun programs for families, schools, and other groups. You can enjoy quiet activities like hiking here.
Contents
Nature and Wildlife
Red Rock State Park protects a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) part of Oak Creek. This creek flows from the well-known Oak Creek Canyon in Coconino National Forest. The area along the creek is very rich in plants and animals.
Plants of the Park
Many different kinds of trees grow near the creek. These include Fremont cottonwood, Arizona sycamore, velvet ash, and Arizona alder. Away from the creek, you'll find velvet mesquite, netleaf hackberry, Utah juniper, and alligator juniper.
Animals of the Park
Oak Creek is home to rare native fish and several types of frogs. You might also spot the Sonora mud turtle, which is a threatened species. This means it's at risk of disappearing.
The park is a great place for birdwatching. It's even called an Important Bird Area. Some birds you might see are the common black hawk, wood duck, and common merganser.
Larger animals also live here. Keep an eye out for the cougar, coyote, mule deer, collared peccary, and river otter.
Introduced Species
Sometimes, plants that are not native to an area are brought in. These are called introduced species. In Red Rock State Park, some of these include giant reed, tamarisk, Johnson grass, and tumbleweed. These plants can sometimes cause problems for the native plants and animals.
Park History
Before it became a state park, this land was part of a large property called Smoke Trail Ranch.
From Ranch to Park
In 1941, Jack Frye bought the ranch. He was the president of Trans World Airlines at the time. He and his wife, Helen, used it as a getaway in the Southwest. After Jack passed away in 1959, Helen Frye took care of the property for many years.
In the early 1970s, Helen sold 330 acres (130 ha) of the land. A company wanted to build a resort there, but their plans didn't work out. In 1976, the property went to Eckankar, a religious group that Helen Frye belonged to. They wanted to use it as a private retreat.
Becoming a State Park
In 1980, some friends were hiking along Oak Creek. An Eckankar representative told them they were on private land. One of the hikers was Bruce Babbitt, who was the governor of Arizona. He was worried about people losing access to natural areas like waterways.
Governor Babbitt looked into the property. He saw that it would make a wonderful state park. He worked with everyone involved to make a special land exchange. Eckankar sold 286 acres (116 ha) of the ranch to a mining company. This company then gave the land to the state of Arizona. In return, the company received other land they had been renting.
This deal was a bit tricky because it involved land in different counties. So, the Arizona Legislature had to pass a new law to allow it. The new law and the land transfers were finished in 1981.
It took a few more years to get the park ready. Finally, Red Rock State Park opened to the public on October 19, 1991.
Movies Filmed Here
Red Rock State Park has been a backdrop for several movies! You might recognize its scenery from films like:
- Rocky Mountain (1950)
- Fort Defiance (1950)
- Red Mountain (1951)
- Escape from Fort Bravo (1953)
- Fort Massacre (1957)
- A Distant Trumpet (1963)
- The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
Things to Do
Red Rock State Park offers many fun activities for visitors.
Visitor Center
The park's visitor center is a great place to start. It has exhibits that teach you about the park. There's also a movie theater and a gift shop. Kids can join the Junior Ranger Program to learn more about nature.
Trails and Activities
The park has a network of trails that are about 5 miles (8.0 km) long. These trails are perfect for hiking and exploring. You can also reserve special covered areas called ramadas for events like weddings or parties.
From the park, you can also get to other trails on nearby U.S. Forest Service land. These trails are great for mountain biking and horseback riding.
