Horseshoe Dam is a unique hidden gem in Arizona. It’s a dam built on the Verde River that creates a waterfall visitors can hike behind.

Water from the Horseshoe Reservoir above flows down through the dam to generate energy before being released into the river below. This dam is just one of many that supply the Phoenix metro area with electricity. 

Walking behind the waterfall, especially when there’s a lot of water, is such an interesting experience. The dam’s structure is unique in the way that it was designed with visitors in mind.

Horseshoe Dam is a Man-Made Waterfall

Arizona has a very dry climate which doesn’t produce very many waterfalls. You can often find seasonal waterfalls during the spring after there have been heavy rains and snowmelt. However, you can see the Horseshoe Dam Waterfall year-round.

Since this “waterfall” is made by the dam, it is not natural and technically not a real waterfall at all. But I think it’s still something cool to visit.

So if you’re ready to check out another one of Arizona’s hidden gems, then here’s everything you need to know before visiting Horseshoe Dam.

Where is Horseshoe Dam?

Horseshoe Dam is located on the Horseshoe Reservoir. The dam separates the reservoir from the Verde River. 

Horseshoe Reservoir is about an hour and a half drive northeast from Phoenix. The nearest town is Carefree. So it’s a pretty easy day trip to take for anyone living in the area.

How to Find Horseshoe Dam

You can easily type in “Horseshoe Dam” into your Apple or Google Maps and it will take you to where you need to be. The road you’ll be on will eventually end and that is where the trailhead begins.

But I’ve also listed the coordinates of the trailhead here. 

Is there a Cost or Permit Required?

Since Horseshoe Reservoir is part of Tonto National Forest, you technically will need a Tonto Discovery Pass to visit.

Pretty much anywhere you go in the Tonto National Forest (picnic areas, shorelines, boat launches, trailheads, and any recreational area) will require a pass to park. 

You can purchase a daily pass or an annual pass for $8 or $80, respectively. These passes will work for any location in the National Forest, not just Horseshoe Dam.

Daily passes are available at National Forest offices and retail vendors around the Phoenix area. However, annual passes can only be purchased onsite at an office. 

America the Beautiful Passes are not accepted at this time. 

With that being said, this isn’t a widely popular area and it is pretty remote. We visited without a Tonto Discovery Pass and nothing happened. 

Granted, we were only there for less than an hour. So I’m sure you can pay a quick visit to Horseshoe Dam without a pass and be completely fine. 

Other than that, it’s free to visit and reservations are not required. 

Do You Need High Clearance to Visit?

Yes, you will need a high clearance vehicle to get to Horseshoe Dam. The road is unpaved for the last 7-10 miles.

It’s mostly gravel, but some sections are much rockier than others. 

In our Toyota 4Runner we had no issues and saw tons of other trucks and jeeps easily driving down this road. I don’t think I’d want to risk taking my sedan here. It’s probably doable, but you would have to drive extremely slow to prevent the bottom of your car getting damaged.

How to Access the Dam

The dam waterfall is really easy to get to. Once you get to the end of the road, all you have to do is walk up the small hill in front of you. You will be able to see the water cascading down the dam from the parking area.

You can then take the concrete path under the dam to walk behind the waterfall.

Once you walk the entire length behind the waterfall, you can keep hiking up the hill on the other side to get a beautiful view of the Horseshoe Reservoir. 

The walk from the parking lot to the other side of the dam is only about half a mile. It seems like most people only walk up to that hill on the other side and turn around there.

However, the trail does continue on along the reservoir for an additional half mile. So if you want to spend a little more time out there you can take this trail for more scenic views.

The walk through the dam is flat and paved, but the concrete may be slick. The only steep parts here are the initial descent down to the dam and the ascent to the overlook on the other side.

Best Time to Visit

Fall, winter, and spring are the best times to visit Horseshoe Dam.

Summer brings high and dangerous temperatures to the deserts of Arizona. Although you don’t have to hike very far to see the dam, the heat can get to you quickly here.

There is shade as you walk under the dam, but for a more comfortable experience, you’ll want to visit in fall, winter, or spring.

When To See The Most Water

Since this “waterfall” is completely controlled by humans, the amount of water you’ll see coming down from the dam will vary depending on the time of year and amount of rainfall. 

There will be the most water during periods of heavy rain because the reservoir cannot hold all of the water and it’s forced to flow down into the river. 

Other times of year when the Phoenix area goes through a drought, like in summer, there may only be a trickle of water falling down into the river.

So, winter and spring I’d say are the best seasons for visiting Horseshoe Dam. You’ll have good weather, and will likely see a larger flow of water.

And that will conclude my complete guide to Horseshoe Dam! I hope you got all the information you needed to visit, and that you enjoy this unique Arizona destination. Thank you so much for reading!