Bullpen Day Use Area — better known to locals as the Bull Pen swimming hole — is a shady, family-friendly stretch of West Clear Creek below the Mogollon Rim near Camp Verde, Arizona. It's one of the most beloved cool-off spots in the Verde Valley: clear creek water, red-rock canyon walls, cliffs for jumping, and (if you're lucky) a rope swing or two, all within an easy walk of the parking area.

A short hike of about three-quarters of a mile from the lot leads down to the water, where a popular spot with a big red rock draws jumpers of all nerve levels — there are ledges of a few different heights, and the creek reaches around 7 feet deep in the swimming hole. It's a great spot for kids and families, with plenty of shallow water to splash in too. Beyond the swimming hole, the West Clear Creek Trail continues up a gorgeous canyon, so you can turn a quick swim into a full day of exploring, wading, and rock-hopping deeper into the wilderness.

The setting is the payoff. West Clear Creek carves one of the longest and most rugged canyons below the Mogollon Rim, and the water here runs clear and cool even when the desert above is baking. Anglers fish the creek, hikers work their way up the canyon, and on a hot afternoon the shaded pools are pure relief.

A few practical notes. Getting there involves a drive on Forest Road 618 (off Highway 260 east of Camp Verde), including some dirt road, so allow time. There's a vault toilet and room to park and picnic, but no trash service, so pack out everything you bring. This is a day-use area only — no overnight camping is allowed at Bullpen or the trailhead, though backpackers can find dispersed camping farther down the creek in the West Clear Creek Wilderness.

West Clear Creek is also a gateway to real backcountry. Strong hikers and backpackers use the trailhead here to launch multi-day trips deep into the West Clear Creek Wilderness, following the canyon upstream through a maze of pools, boulder gardens, and sheer red-and-cream cliffs — some sections require swimming through deep, cold pools with your pack. Even if you never go that far, the wildlife-rich riparian corridor, alive with birds, dragonflies, and the odd deer coming down to drink, makes the shaded creekside a lovely place to linger.

Come prepared with water shoes for the rocky creek bed, sun protection, and plenty of drinking water, and always check the depth before you jump, since water levels change with the season and flash floods can roar through this canyon after summer storms. Late spring through early fall is prime swimming season. Whether you stay by the swimming hole or venture up the canyon, Bull Pen is a classic Arizona creek day.