Doll Baby

Doll Baby runs from the town of Payson to a trailhead serving the Arizona National Scenic Trail, a hiking trail that runs from the Mexican border to Utah. Along the way, the trail passes the historic Doll Baby Ranch. Once a working ranch, the land is now a nature conservancy protecting the riparian habitat along the East Verde River. When under private ownership, the scenic ranch was a haven for through-hikers on the Arizona Trail. The ranch owners were dedicated trial angels offering their bunk house, meals, and even a ride into Payson for resupply for any through-hiker. While one of the more scenic drives in central Arizona, Doll Baby also connects to several superb area trails including Rye Cypress, FR 502, and Cedar Flat. Each of those trails offer dispersed camping, but the best camping is just before the trail's end on the cottonwood banks of the East Verde River. Doll Baby begins on the outskirts of Payson where Country Club Road ends and the dirt begins. Doll Baby inexplicably reverts back to pavement for a section through a small tract of private property before returning to dirt for the remainder of the trail.