Outdoor recreation
Hiking, mountain biking, off-road routes, a designated quartz site, lakes and creeks, camping, golf, town parks, night skies, and a rodeo held every August since 1884. Fishing and kayaking have their own pages.
01 · On foot
Payson is surrounded by the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world, with the Mogollon Rim a short drive north. Walk the flat path around the town lakes, or take a full day up Horton Creek to the spring.
Use the trail finder to match distance, climb, and what you want along the way: a creek, shade, a family walk, or a long view.
02 · Mountain biking
The rideable network in and beside town is the Payson Area Trails System. Trails are shared. Expect hikers, and horses on some routes. Ubuntu, off McLane Road, is a 2.7-mile intermediate singletrack. Houston Mesa, American Gulch, and the granite on the east side — the Boulders, also called Granite Dells — are the other rides that start close to town.
Longhorn Bike Park, at Rim Country Middle School on West Wade Lane and South Meadow Street, is a skills park of about 2,500 feet with a jump track. It is open to the public during non-school hours, from 8am to dusk. About 15 miles north, the Pine–Strawberry loop is a 21-mile intermediate ride. The rebuilt Highline, under the Rim, is rideable in sections. More trail has been proposed at Granite Dells, Houston Mesa, and between Pine and Payson. Those miles are planned, not open. Horton Creek is a hike, not a bike ride.
Intermediate · 2.7 miles
A directional singletrack off McLane Road, with flowy sections, rock gardens, and tight trail. Jumps, drops, and rock gardens have ride-arounds.
Park in front of the gate off McLane and do not block it. Ride the posted direction. Do not turn left onto the trail at the start. Season is February through November.
From town. South of the highway, on McLane Road. Park in front of the gate and leave it clear.
Driving directionsEasy · 3.6 mile loop
A pine loop north of town, reached from the Houston Mesa Trailhead.
Houston Trail is about 4.2 miles from Horse Camp to the loop. Horse Camp parking is for campers.
From town. Houston Mesa Road, north of the Highway 87 and 260 junction. Use the trailhead, not the Horse Camp lot.
Driving directionsModerate to more difficult
Two short sections in town: about 0.6 miles from the Graff trailhead, and about 1 mile on the south end.
North access is the west end of Graff Road. South access is north of Doll Baby Ranch Road, west of the sewer plant.
Granite Dells
A wider loop on the east side of town, with views of the peak through the boulders.
Shared with hikers, and motorized use is possible. The Cypress trails are in the same area.
Skills park · 8am to dusk
About 2,500 feet of course and a jump track at Rim Country Middle School, West Wade Lane and South Meadow Street.
Open to the public during non-school hours only.
From town. In town, at Rim Country Middle School. West Wade Lane and South Meadow Street.
Driving directionsModerate · 3 miles
A Granite Dells loop through the boulders on the east side of town.
The trailhead is at the end of Granite Dells Road, about a quarter-mile walk from the parking. Shared with hikers.
Moderate · about 4.5 miles
A rolling east-side loop that links the Cypress trails with Stewart Ridge.
Parking is limited. Some sections are lightly marked, so carry a map.
More difficult · about 2.8 miles
A lollipop of technical rock, steep climbs, and a tight downhill.
Confirm the trailhead on a current map before you go.
Intermediate · 21 miles
A loop around Pine and Strawberry on Two Ravens, the Arizona Trail, Pine Canyon, Bearfoot, and the Pine–Strawberry trail.
About 15 miles north of Payson. Park at the Pine trailhead. Rock near the finish can mean a short hike-a-bike. The connector back to Payson is planned, not open.
From town. North on Highway 87 about 15 miles to Pine. Park at the Pine trailhead.
Driving directionsIntermediate · 7 miles
A day-sized piece of the rebuilt Highline, the long trail under the Mogollon Rim, with about 1,166 feet of climbing.
The full Highline is about 63 miles, point to point. This segment starts east of town on Highway 260. Plan the return, or a shuttle, before you start.
From town. East on Highway 260 about 25 miles to the 260 Trailhead.
Driving directionsEasy to moderate · in town
A hill loop above the park, with switchbacks and a view back over Payson.
Start near Taylor Pool, on the west side of the lot. Ride it clockwise.
The Visitor Center at 100 West Main Street can tell you which trailheads are open this week. Monday–Saturday, 9am–3pm. Closed Sunday. (928) 474-4515.
03 · Lakes & creeks
In town, Green Valley Park holds three lakes at the end of Main Street. They are part of Arizona’s Urban Fishing Program: stocked, scenic, and closed to swimming or wading. An Arizona fishing license is required.
Within about 45 miles, the fishing water is the East Verde, Horton Creek, and the Rim lakes on top of the Mogollon Rim. Those lakes sit near 7,500 feet. Snow can close the roads from about December through April. Check before you drive.
55 acres · about 35 miles
The most developed of the Rim lakes. A narrow canyon lake, stocked with rainbow and tiger trout from spring through early fall. There is a store, a boat ramp, and a campground.
Small boats. Confirm the current motor rule at the ramp. The store and water are seasonal. Cell service is poor.
From town. East on Highway 260 to the top of the Rim, about 30 miles. Left on Forest Road 300 for about 3 miles, then the signed road to the lake. About an hour when the road is open.
Driving directionsLarger Rim lake · about 25 miles
The easier Rim lake. Trout fishing, a boat ramp, and a campground, with a shorter spur off the highway than Woods Canyon.
Still a high-country lake. Wind comes up in the afternoon. Check whether the spur is open after snow.
From town. East on Highway 260 about 23 miles, then the signed Forest Road 149 spur to the lake. About 40 minutes.
Driving directionsQuieter · about 40 miles
A narrow canyon lake farther along Rim Road. Less development than Woods Canyon: fishing and camping, and no store.
The last miles are dirt. High clearance is the safer choice after rain. Pack water.
From town. East on Highway 260 to Forest Road 300, then east on Rim Road about 10 miles to the Bear Canyon turnoff. About an hour and a quarter when the road is dry.
Driving directionsBlue Ridge · about 60 miles
The reservoir people still call Blue Ridge. A long, narrow canyon lake that supplies water to Payson. Little shoreline. Built for boats and fishing more than a day on the beach.
Forest Road 751 is gravel and closes in winter. Powered boats are limited to one electric motor or one gas engine of 10 horsepower or less. Low water can close the ramp to trailers. Kayaks can still be carried in.
From town. North on Highway 87 through Pine and Strawberry to Clint’s Well. Continue about 4 miles to the signed Forest Road 751, then about 6 miles to the reservoir. About an hour and a half. A passenger car is usually fine when the road is dry.
Driving directionsC.C. Cragin is a little past the 45-mile range. Knoll Lake and Chevelon Canyon Lake are farther east. Ask the Payson Ranger District, (928) 474-7900, or the Black Mesa Ranger District for the Apache-Sitgreaves roads on top of the Rim. Woods Canyon Lake photo by Richard N. Horne, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
04 · Day trip
Pine is the easy day north. About 15 minutes up Highway 87, it has a short street of little shops, galleries, and places to eat. Walk it, have lunch, and come back. It does not need a weekend.
Strawberry is a few minutes farther, and smaller. Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is just south of Pine. The bridge is the stop. The trails under it are short, and the park charges admission.
05 · Camping
Houston Mesa Campground has developed sites just north of town. Forest campgrounds along Highway 260 sit closer to the water.
Dispersed camping is allowed on the Tonto National Forest, following forest rules. Fire restrictions are common in summer. Check current alerts before you camp.
06 · Golf
Payson Golf Course is the public course in town. The air is cooler than the Valley, and ponderosa pines line the fairways.
Morning is the best time to play. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms.
07 · Off the pavement
Payson has no OHV park. ATVs, UTVs, and four-wheel drives share designated forest roads below and along the Mogollon Rim. Cross-country riding is prohibited. Forest roads close for snow, fire, and mud.
Rim Road and Control Road are the scenic drives most SUVs can handle when they are open. Doll Baby Ranch Road and Diamond Point are the closer ATV rides. The East Verde, Cracker Jack Mine, Pyeatt Draw, and Rocker Knocker get harder, and some of them are a poor match for a stock ATV.
Easy · most SUVs and ATVs
Forest Road 300 follows the Mogollon Rim for 40-plus miles, with overlooks and drops of about 2,000 feet.
Caution: the edge is unguarded. Seasonal. Snow, fire, and mud close it. Confirm it is open before you drive it.
From town. East on Highway 260 to the top of the Rim, then Forest Road 300. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.
Driving directionsEasy · most SUVs and ATVs
Forest Road 64 is a long graded road below the Rim, on the order of 30 miles, with places to pull off.
Caution: the main road is the easy part. Side roads are rougher, and shallow creek crossings change after rain.
Easy to moderate · ATVs and high clearance
About 11 miles west from Main Street and State Route 87 to the East Verde and the Doll Baby trailhead.
Caution: do not drive it after heavy rain or if rain is forecast. The last 2 miles need high clearance. The Mazatzal Wilderness beyond the trailhead is closed to every motor vehicle.
From town. West from Main Street and Highway 87. About 11 miles to the East Verde and the Doll Baby trailhead.
Driving directionsModerate · high clearance
Forest roads northeast of town through the pines, used by ATVs and trucks.
Caution: these roads turn to mud and can become impassable after rain. Call the Payson Ranger District, (928) 474-7900, before you go.
Moderate · water crossings
A route west of town that crosses the river more than once.
Caution: do not enter a crossing if you cannot see the bottom, and do not enter at all if storms are upstream. Water rises fast.
Moderate to hard · about 13 miles
Between Payson and Pine. Pine forest, then high desert, with creek crossings and rocky stretches. Some hard spots have bypasses.
Caution: confirm the current route before you leave town. A stock ATV may not fit the narrow rocky sections. Carry a spare.
Hard · high-clearance 4x4
Forest Road 198 is a rocky wash of about 4.5 miles, with ledges and a limestone-step obstacle called The Filter.
Caution: ATVs and UTVs often cannot climb The Filter. Body damage and cut sidewalls are common. Take a spare and a spotter, or stay on the forest road beside the wash. From the 87/260 junction: north 1.9 miles on 87, right on Houston Mesa Road for 4.9 miles, then right on Pyeatt Draw Road.
Hard · experienced drivers
A technical rock crawl toward the Mazatzal Mountains, with shelf drops and off-camber sections.
Caution: rollover risk. This is not an ATV scenic loop. Turn around before the shelf if the vehicle is not built for it.
Road status changes by the day. Ask the Payson Ranger District, (928) 474-7900, or the Visitor Center at 100 West Main Street. Visitor Center hours are Monday–Saturday, 9am–3pm. Closed Sunday. (928) 474-4515.
Before you go
08 · Rockhounding
Two stops cover most of a rockhound day. Diamond Point, northeast of town, is the signed site for clear quartz crystals pointed on both ends. People call them Payson diamonds. They are not diamonds. The Paleo Site, east of town on Highway 260, is the easy stop for common sea fossils in the limestone.
Stay inside the signed areas. At Diamond Point, surface collecting is allowed year-round. Digging there is allowed only from October 1 through February 28. On the national forest, casual collecting covers common invertebrate and plant fossils for personal use. Bones, teeth, and tracks stay in the ground.
The Paleo Site, east on Highway 260. The hillside is the Naco Formation, and the common fossils are loose on the surface.
Quartz crystals · about 40 minutes
A Forest Service collection site for doubly terminated quartz. Look in the limestone gravel and the dry washes inside the signed area.
Hand tools only. Fill every hole. Stay at least 6 feet from ponderosa pine and oak. No commercial collecting. The sign at the kiosk is the rule that counts.
From town. East on Highway 260 about 15 miles. Left on Fire Control Road, Forest Road 64, for about 4 to 5 miles, then Forest Road 65 to the signed site. High clearance is the safer choice after rain.
Driving directionsCommon fossils · about 20 minutes
A signed pull-off east of town. The limestone holds common marine fossils, about 300 million years old: crinoid stems, brachiopods, coral, and similar shells. Many are loose on the surface.
Personal use only. Common invertebrate and plant fossils. No bones, teeth, or tracks. Hand tools only, and only enough to loosen a specimen. Fill any hole. Nothing collected here may be sold.
From town. East on Highway 260 about 13 to 15 miles, just before Kohl’s Ranch. Follow the Paleo Site signs to the paved pull-off. Any car can make this stop when the highway is open.
Driving directionsAsk the Payson Ranger District, (928) 474-7900, for the current map and whether digging is open. The Visitor Center at 100 West Main Street can point you to the same office. Monday–Saturday, 9am–3pm. Closed Sunday. (928) 474-4515.
Before you go
09 · In town
Green Valley Park is 43 acres at the end of historic Main Street, with three lakes, ramadas, a playground, and an amphitheater. Rumsey Park covers 82 acres of sports fields, and the public library is on site. Deming Park and Mustang Park round out the town’s parks. The Longhorn Bike Park is listed with the mountain-bike rides.
Town parks are open from 6:00am to 10:30pm. Ramadas can be reserved through Parks & Recreation.
10 · After dark
At 5,000 feet, with national forest on every side, the night sky is close. A pull-off on the way toward the Rim is enough.
Winter nights are often the clearest. Temperatures fall quickly after sunset, so bring an extra layer.
11 · History
Payson’s rodeo has been held every August since 1884 and is known as the world’s oldest continuous rodeo. Zane Grey wrote about this country. The Rim Country Museum and the Zane Grey Cabin are at Green Valley Park.
Shoofly Village, north of town, is a short interpretive walk through a prehistoric settlement. A highway marker north of Payson commemorates the 1882 Battle of Big Dry Wash. The Ox Bow Inn & Saloon, at 607 West Main Street, opened in 1933 as the Payson Hotel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Ox Bow Inn & Saloon, 607 West Main Street. Opened in 1933 as the Payson Hotel, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.