The East Verde covers a lot of territory, with some of it extremely difficult to get to and other parts close at least one major highway. There is some camping, but not a lot, unless you are willing to be self-contained and do dispersed camping. My best advice is to take along your sense of exploration and discovery, and find what best suits you. However, most of the East Verde territory can get a little warmish during the day during summer, so you might think about heading above the Rim and doing your explorations in one of the cooler seasons.

Rory