A notable attraction is Camp Verde, on Verde Creek. It was a base for the US Army's experiment using camels for transportation in the desert southwest. It was active from 1855 to 1869 and had about 75 camels stationed there. Activities to be enjoyed include boating, fishing, camping, picnicking, unsupervised swimming in the river, bird watching, hiking, walking, and cycling. The park rents tubes and canoes year-round.
Special rates are available on campsites and shelters.
The park offers a representative sampling of Hill Country landscape, with acres of juniper, live oak, and Spanish oak populating the hills and arroyos. Other plants include redbud, sumac, buckeye, pecan, mesquite, and several varieties of flowers. The Texas bluebonnet is one of the most plentiful and colorful of the native plants. White-tailed deer, which have made the Hill Country famous as a hunting area, abound in the park. The park also has squirrels, armadillos, turkeys, jackrabbits, mallard ducks, and several species of birds.