Visitors Guide
Rim Country Adventures Hiking trails Campgrounds History tours Water sports Scenic drives Swimming holes Restaurants Antiquing Attractions Lodging Events
Summer 2012 A publication of the Payson Roundup Photo by Pete Aleshire
PAGE 2 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Tom Brossart photo
Falling in love with Rim Country BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR
Spend all the time you want in Rim Country. But be careful. Watch your heart — because she’ll steal it away. Leastwise, she did mine. I’ve been knocking around the byways and back country of Arizona for the last quarter century, writing for magazines, getting myself stuck, snowed on, dug out and astonished. So when I moved to Rim Country a few years back, I was initially mostly impressed by its location in the very heart of Arizona — which means in less than two hours you can drive to Flagstaff, Sedona, Phoenix, Wickenburg, the Navajo Reservation, the White Mountains, the Apache Reservation, the Salt River Canyon and a host of other spots — making Payson the perfect base of operations to explore the whole central sweep of the prettiest state in the country. Then I discovered the trout-stocked pools of Tonto Creek, splashing along beneath towering ponderosa pines. Then I discovered the swimming holes of the East Verde River, shaded by wind-rustled cottonwoods and sycamores. Then I discovered the historic Crook Trail winding along
the edge of the heart-stopping Mogollon Rim, and the rockhopping canyoneering along Christopher Creek and the trout heaven of Willow Springs Lake and the bald eagles nesting on the shores of Woods Canyon Lake and the antique stores of Pine and the restaurants of Payson and the hungry bass of Roosevelt Lake and the cool caverns of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park and the mysterious ruins of Tonto National Monument. Soon, I found that although I was just an hour from everywhere, I couldn’t bring myself to go anywhere. So, we offer here a sampling of the delights of Rim Country, from our favorite fishing holes to campsites with a view to forever. But I’m warning you now: Proceed at your own risk. Maybe you like where you live. Maybe you don’t want to even think about moving. Maybe you don’t have time for fishing holes and the brilliance of summer tanagers and the way a view from the Rim saps your ambition to do anything but just sit there and let the breeze caress your face. If so, just don’t read any further. And if you do anyway and find yourself falling in love with a landscape that will always welcome you but forever remain mysterious — well, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Campgrounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Water Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Oldest Rodeo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Hiking Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Fishing Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Swimming Holes . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 History Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Tonto Natural Bridge . . . . . . . . 18 Tonto National Monument . . . . 19 Antiquing Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . 22 Back Road Drives . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Dining Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Lodging Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 3
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YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP Some of the most popular campsites in the Rim Country offer views of the magnificent Mogollon Rim — a 200-mile stretch of pristine ponderosa pine forest that inspired books by Zane Grey.
Photo by Pete Aleshire
Campgrounds offer great views BY ALEXIS BECHMAN ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
good luck. After setting up his tent, the man said he took a walk down the road and quickly found a nearby spot with an even better view. He yanked up his tent stakes and carried his tent over. There are a handful of other dirt roads on the Mogollon Rim that offer free camping sites as well, but none have the views. But if you can’t get a spot on 9350, the Rim Country boasts an abundance of great camping spots. Choose from sites along the East Verde River, Tonto Creek, Christopher Creek and a host others along hidden streams, or strike out along a rutty road to find a world of your own. You can also take advantage of one of the hundreds of developed campsites, with picnic tables, toilets, fire pits and friendly hosts. Following is a brief list of some of the best campgrounds around. Get more camping information and reserve a site by visiting www.reserveusa.com or by calling (877) 4446777.
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A cool breeze? Check. A 180-degree view? Check. Plenty of room between you and your neighbor? Check. Views of the sunset? Oh yeah. Few experiences trump waking up on the cusp of the Mogollon Rim, 200 miles of pristine ponderosa pine forest laid out before you, the start of the Mazatzal mountain range to the west and Mountain Meadow, where Zane Grey based some of his books plots, to the south. There is camping by the water, camping in the forest, but I will take a view any day. I shouldn’t probably broadcast this, because I’ll never get a spot again, but some of the best camping in Rim Country is free and easily accessible by vehicle. Just off Forest Road 300 (Rim Road), 5.5 miles from the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center, runs Forest Road 9350. About 25 campsites off that road sit directly on the Level 1 Campgrounds edge of the Mogollon Rim, another 25 are tucked The living is easy — Developed easy access for neatly into the woods. RVs, vehicles, on-site services and host; fees. On a quite weekend, when most spots are available, Sitting off the Rim Road are several developed choosing a spot is difficult. campgrounds, most nicely located next to a rim lake. One man, visiting from the Valley, said he pulled Woods Canyon Lake has some of the more popular into the first campsite with a view and marveled at his
campgrounds. There is also the Sinkhole Campground near Willow Springs Lake and the Mogollon and Rim Campgrounds near the Rim. Camping fees at most of the campgrounds start at $16 per vehicle per night. The campgrounds are open from April 15 to Oct. 15, weather permitting. Aspen: 136 campsites, compatible for trailers under 32 feet. Spillway: Closest to Woods Canyon Lake with 26 campsites. Can accommodate trailers up to 16 feet. Crook, Rim and Mogollon Campgrounds: All sit just off the Rim Road, each with 26 sites and compatible for trailers up to 34 feet. Sinkhole: Located near Willow Springs Lake with 26 sites, compatible for trailers up to 32 feet. Upper Tonto Creek: This campground is 17 miles east of Payson on Highway 260 off Forest Road 289. Nine sites, some accommodating trailers up to 16 feet. Great access to Derrick and Horton Creek Trails and fishing on Tonto and Horton creeks. Popular campground, so get there early on weekends. Open mid-May through October. Ponderosa: This campground is also well developed and located 12 miles east of Payson on Highway 260. There are 61 spaces, handling up to 60-foot trailers. Canyon Point: Has the most facilities of any of the See Campgrounds, page 5
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 5
Campgrounds From page 4
Rim campgrounds, offering electric hookups, showers, flush toilets, quad sites, a dump station and an amphitheater. There are 117 spots. Houston Mesa: The closest campground to Payson, Houston Mesa has a long list of amenities and 75 campsites. Level 2 Campgrounds
Connecting with nature on a manageable level — Dirt road access, minimal facilities, may have water, vault toilets and may charge fees. A number of free, dispersed campgrounds sit off the 300 road, including Forest Road 171, 195 and 237, which all have 20 sites. Forest Roads 9350 and 9354 each have 50 sites. These sites are great because they are easy to get to, but you don’t have to pay fees and most have plenty of room separating neighbors. Valentine Ridge: Situated near Canyon Creek, known for its rainbow trout fishing. A nine-mile bicycle loop trail starts at the campground. From Payson, travel 33 miles east on Highway 260. Turn right on Young Road/Forest Road 512, and continue for
approximately five miles to Forest Road 188. Turn left on FR 188 and travel two miles to the site. Upper Canyon Creek: The campground of dispersed units is set in a mature stand of ponderosa pine with a mix of white and Douglas fir. The Arizona Game & Fish Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery is nearby and is open to the public. From Payson, travel 33 miles east on Highway 260. Turn right on Young Road and continue on three miles to Forest Road 33. Turn left and travel five miles. Haigler Canyon: Haigler Creek flows through the campground and is stocked with rainbow trout. There are nice swimming holes available in and around the campground. From Payson, travel east on Highway 260 24 miles to Colcord Road. Turn right on Forest Road 291 and travel three miles to Forest Road. 200. Turn right and go five miles to the campground. Airplane Flat: More than a dozen dispersed campsites set in a stand of ponderosa pines. From Payson, go 33 miles east on Highway 260. Turn right on Young Road and continue three miles to Forest Road 33. Turn left and travel five miles.
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YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Water play includes paddleboarding BY ALEXIS BECHMAN ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
Stand-up paddleboarding in the desert is just the latest way to get out and about on Rim Country lakes. Standing to paddle a lightweight, inflated board started as a sport on the beaches of Waikiki more than 50 years ago and now has spread to nearly every body of water in the country, making it one of the fastest-growing water sports, some claim. And while Arizona doesn’t offer the same surf found in Hawaii, paddling off saguaro-fringed shores or exploring the eagle and osprey haunts in the back coves of high country lakes offers unique pleasures. Unlike most water sports, paddleboarding is relatively easy to learn and master, said Jimmy Carson, owner of Jimmy’s Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP). While most people step on the board the first time with trembling trepidation, after a few spins over the calm waters of Rim Country lakes, the jitters slip away, he said. Paddleboarders simply paddle as much and as hard as they want to determine their speed and direction. Unlike sailboarding, the learning curve is gentle and the physical demands easy. Carson, 55, said he instantly fell in love with SUP when he tried it last year. A native of Peru, Carson has tried nearly every water activity, but likes paddleboarding best. “It is very similar to kayaking,” he said. “We used to be kayakers, but once we tried this, no more. The difference is kayaks are heavy and you have to sit the whole time.”
He says he’s never matched the serenity of a day on a paddleboard. “I can’t even tell you in words,” he said. “Your mind will go into a different world. You’ll forget your work, everything and if you don’t forget, you fall in the water.” That meditative calm drives him nearly every day after work to drive to some body of water in Rim Country and paddle away the day’s troubles. “I started it in May last year and now I have more than 800 hours on the board.” Carson says he teaches an easy way to get on and off the board without ever getting wet. “You are never going to touch the water. We will go from the board to the ground, the ground to the board and can do the whole lake and you will never touch water.” That means you can wear regular clothes because the chances of getting wet or falling in are minimal. Carson said only two people have ever fallen in since he started the business in March last year. “You can do yoga, fish, take photos, have lunch or take a nap while floating on the board,” he said. “You can also go ashore anywhere you want and rest, have a picnic or explore the shoreline.” Paddleboarding can be done standing, kneeling or sitting on the board. The sport works not only the arm muscles, but also the shoulders and back, mid-section and legs, which all stay engaged to keep the board right. However, the sport is very low impact, Carson said. “SUP will make you feel good about yourself physically and emotionally. It
Pete Aleshire/Roundup
Paddleboarding is very similar to kayaking, but it can be done standing, kneeling or sitting on the board.
will relieve stress, relax your mind, strengthen body core and improve balance. It is also a great cardio workout.” Paddleboarding can be done any time of the year, even in the winter because riders don’t have to get wet. Carson uses inflatable boards that can withstand the rocky shores better than a fiberglass board. The boards weigh 23 pounds and can carry up to 250 pounds, plus a cooler or pack for water, clothes or food. For more information or reservations, call (928) 474-6482 or visit www.paysonmarketplace.com and search “SUP.”
Jimmy’s Stand-up Paddleboarding First-time lesson: $30 per person for two hours, minimum three persons. All equipment supplied including life jacket. Rentals: $40 a day, includes board, inflated or deflated, adjustable carbon fiber paddle, ankle leash, pump, gauge, cargo straps and life jacket. Tours: Morning, afternoon or sunset. All equipment supplied and tours last up to three hours. Tours at Willow Springs or Woods Canyon Lake cost $55; at Roosevelt, Apache or Blue Ridge Lake, $75.
BOAT RENTAL GUIDE Roosevelt Lake Marina The 18-foot fishing pontoon with a 50-horsepower engine holds up to six people and is perfect for a day of fishing on the lake. A full-day rental runs $305; half-day, $210; $120 for overnight; $440 to take it out for 24 hours and if you just want it for a few hours, the hourly rate is $70. The 24’ deluxe pontoon, also with a 50-horsepower engine, holds up to 12 people and has the same rental structure as the fishing pontoon. The 22’ sport pontoon and 21’ sport ski boat each run $405 for a full-day rental. A half-day is $295; overnight, $295; 24-hour rate is $565 and the hourly rate is $90. While the boats have the same rate structure, the ski boat has a 200-horsepower engine better for water skiing and going fast while the sport pontoon has a 115-horsepower engine. The sport pon-
toon can hold up to 12 people while the ski boat, eight people. Call (602) 977-7170 for more information or visit www.rlmaz.com. The marina is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Directions: From Payson, head south on Highway 87, turn left at Highway 188 and head east. About a mile and a half east of the dam, take a left and follow the road down to the parking lot.
Woods Canyon Lake and Marina Located 30 miles east of Payson near the edge of the Mogollon Rim. To get there from Highway 260, drive west about 4 miles on Forest Road 300 (the Rim Road) and turn north onto Forest Road 105 and
proceed about a mile to the lake. Small, trolling boat rentals run about $85 day, with an $80-deposit available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lakes with boat ramps, no rentals
Bear Canyon Lake is a popular 60-acre fishing spot with a boat ramp open to electric trolling motors only. Location: Travel east on Highway 260 to the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff. Willow Springs Lake is another man-made lake with a surface area of 150 acres. Boats with motors up to 10 hp are permitted and there is no fee for day use or to launch a boat.
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 7
Rodeo an Arizona Centennial event BY TERESA MCQUERREY ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
Experience the thrill of the western way of life at the 128th World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo this August in Payson. Sanctioned as one of the featured Arizona Centennial Celebration events, the 128th Annual World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo will be an event to remember. For 128 continuous years, Payson has been celebrating the history and tradition of rodeo. According to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), which sanctions the event, it has been called the country’s Best Small Rodeo. Some of the world’s greatest professional cowboys and cowgirls will keep the audience on the edge of their seats for more than two hours in four different performances. They’ll compete for cash and prizes totaling in excess of $50,000. Part of the fun is the annual Rodeo Parade, held on Historic Main Street — where early rodeos were once held.
The parade, with the theme Western Leather & Lace is at 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20. There will be an award for winners in each of eight categories. The Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis of Zane Grey Country are producing this year’s parade and are seeking entrants. Both experienced and new entrants are wanted, as well as sponsors for floats, event sponsors and volunteers to help with the parade. For more information, please call the chamber at (928) 474-4515. Events include Cactus WPRA Barrel Racing, Men’s Pro Rodeo, “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night to raise money to fight breast cancer, a Friday Rodeo Dance in the reportedly haunted Oxbow Saloon on Main Street, Men’s Pro Rodeo on Saturday, another dance on Saturday in the Oxbow and then the final family day performance of the rodeo on Sunday. For additional information, call (928) 474-9440 or (928) 474-8837. To purchase tickets, go to: www.ticketforce.com.
Dennis Fendler/Roundup
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PAGE 8 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Miles of hiking trails in Rim Country BY MICHELE NELSON ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
Payson sits like an island town in a sea of forest punctuated by streams, rivers and lakes offering hikers a plethora of choices. Located at an elevation of 5,000 feet below the 7,000-foot-high Mogollon Rim, Payson has numerous bio-diverse habitats: riparian forests, saguaro cactus fields, vanilla scented ponderosa pine woods and pinyon-juniper brush. This allows the Rim Country hiker the chance to experience it all anytime of the year. During the summer, take East Highway 260 up to the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff to escape to the cooler climes of the Mogollon Rim to hike along an easy, flat and paved trail that offers numerous possibilities to dangle legs and munch a snack at the edge of the world looking out over acres of forest. The almost ever-present breeze cools down any day. Turn away from the edge and take a short drive to find a chain of lakes. Wander around the shores of Woods Canyon or Willow Springs Lake or take a lunch out to Knoll Lake. Bald eagles and ospreys circle overhead the lakes punctuating their flights with divebombs into the water to come up with a meal of bass or perch. If privacy is the goal, take a stroll down one of the numerous streams and rivers surrounding Payson — for unlike most of Arizona, the Rim Country abounds with waterways. Take the challenge and hike to Fossil Creek. The federal government has bestowed the creek with a distinctive status: Wild and Scenic River. Outstandingly picturesque, with unique geologic features and full of rare native fish and plants, Fossil Creek presents the hiker with a lifetime experience. However, with a more than 1,500-foot elevation change from the start of the trailhead at the edge of the canyon to the creek, hikers must be prepared for a challenge. Each year Fossil Creek has more rescues than anywhere in Rim Country. Bring plenty of water and good hiking boots. For a tamer experience, wander down the shores of the East Verde River. The East Verde has its headwaters near Washington Park up the Houston-Mesa Road. Hike up to the Rim along the trickling start of a river that turns into a wide swath of water at Water Wheel Park, halfway between Washington
Park and the Houston-Mesa Road turn off. From the Water Wheel parking lot, hike up the boulder shoreline and head to the right toward Cold Springs to jump into crystal clear pools deeply embedded in granite. The hike ends at a waterfall where older kids can blow off steam. Follow the East Verde down to either Flowing Springs Road or the East Verde Estates exits off of Highway 87. Either place offers bushwhacking along river rock strewn shores opening up to waterhole after waterhole. The riparian forests will inspire bird-watchers to keep their field guides at hand to identify the numerous migratory birds such as grosbeaks, finches, flycatchers and blue herons. Out Highway 260 between Payson and the Rim, Horton and Tonto creeks sit at a higher elevation than the East Verde in a ponderosa forest environment. Huge yellow trunks soar out of the ground punctuating the air with pine-scented sharpness. A round-trip hike on the Horton Creek Trail covers seven miles and a 1,000-foot elevation change. The trail meanders up to a spring that gushes out from the side of the Mogollon Rim. Hikers may stop along the way to take a break at one of the numerous waterfalls and pools. For an adventure, drive a little farther down 260 to the Bear Flat turn off. At the bottom of the steep road, Tonto Creek rushes by over chunks of granite. A rough trail hugs the edge of the creek
Photos by Tom Brossart
Take the Woods Canyon Lake turn off to hike along an easy, flat and paved trail that offers numerous possibilities to dangle legs and munch a snack at the edge of the world looking out over acres of forest.
passing by cliffs. The going is rough, but the viewing feast for the eyes inspires awe. Covering much of the Rim Country environment, the Arizona Trail covers 80 miles along the Rim and down to the Mazatzal Wilderness. The recently completed trail runs from Arizona’s southern to its northern border. The
Rim Country portion of the Arizona Trail offers vistas of the Rim, the Mazatzal Mountains, and covers saguaro cactus fields to top off on the Rim in ponderosa pine forests. If a hike closer to town is on the menu, the Payson Area Trails System has a 50-mile system of hikes covering a remarkable array of environments.
PAYSON ROUNDUP
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
the settlers more than 100 years ago. Access from FR 64 about 2.4 miles east of Hwy. 87 on the north side of the road.
Trails
Horton Springs
1.5 miles. Steep, rocky switchbacks — not recommended for horses. Best access off FR 300, 15.7 miles west of Highway 260.
Taking it easy Pine View Trail
1 mile. This short trail connects the difficult 8-mile-long Pine Canyon Trail (26) and the 51-mile-long Highline Trail.
A grueling challenge Railroad Tunnel, Devin Trail
Pump Station Trail
1 mile. Starts near the Phelps Dodge pump station on the Blue Ridge pipeline and ends at the Highline Trail. Access from FR 33A 1/8th of a mile north of FR 32 near the Washington Park Trailhead. Horton Creek Trail
4 miles. Popular trail along the creek starts at Upper Tonto Creek Campground. The trail follows the creek, so it’s shaded, cool and blessed with the sound of running water.
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 9
Dennis Fendler/Roundup
Derrick Spur Trail
1 mile. Spur trail connects to the 2.5-mile-long Derrick Trail. From Highway 260 turn north past the cattle guard on east side of the road. Derrick Trail 33
Testing yourself
2.5 miles. Start on Derrick Spur Trail, transition onto the Derrick Trail. Combine FR 289 to create a day-long loop. Can also access back of Upper Tonto Creek Campground.
Highline Trail 3
Oak Trail
51 miles. This trail runs for miles along the base of the Mogollon Rim, connecting many other trail systems. Access the west end of the trail at the Pine Trailhead on the east side of Highway 87. Access the east end at the 260 Trailhead, 23 miles east of Payson.
3.2 miles. This trail descends into Oak Springs Canyon to Oak Springs. Easiest access from the Pine Trailhead. Red Rock Trail
1.5 miles. The trail leads to a spring used by the Apaches and
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2.25 miles. The historic trail takes hikers past the sites of skirmishes fought during the Apache wars and into a pipe dream of a railroad tunnel. Take FR 300, 12.2 miles from Hwy. 87 to Battle Monument and take the Col. Devin Trail south. The Railroad Tunnel starts in 1/2 mile. You can also access the trail from the base of the Rim east of Washington Park Trailhead. See Canyon, See Spring
4 miles. A challenging hike that produces great views in the fall. Starts half a mile north of the Highline Trail, with access from FR 300 on top of the Rim, about 12.3 miles from Highway 260. Sink Hole Trail 179
2.5 miles. Starts on the Rim off Historic Forest Road 300, built by General George Crook in the 1800s during his war with the Apache. Starts 1.9 miles west of Highway 260 at a scenic overlook.
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YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Fish tales all day long in Rim Country Area offers the state’s most varied mix of troutgraced streams and lakes — with the mighty buffalo fish lurking in Roosevelt BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR
Photo by Tom Brossart
Tonto Creek offers some of the best stream trout fishing in Arizona.
my kids read this: I always say it was the day they were born, which makes three best days, but heck, don’t get all technical on me). So now I’m back at the start of the season, casting once more into the best fishing hole in North America. After three casts, I get a hit. I set the hook. Well. I guess technically I snatched the hook — right out of his foolish mouth. I cast again. And again. And again. Hit. Another hit. Nope. Actually. Another snatch. I flick the fly so expertly that it comes straight out of his mocking little mouth and flies back into the branches of the overhead tree. I yank. Lose the fly. Rethread (looking for a flea pattern), cast, cast, hit. Yank. Nothing. This goes on for the next 90 minutes. Never had so many hits. I’m like Pete Rose at batting practice — or maybe in a casino. But I land not a single fish. I’m thinking they’re all lined up down their, waiting for the fly to hit, laughing their little adipose fins off. I can almost hear them: “It’s a barbless boob’s hook,” says one wit, causing the guy next to him to wet his swim bladder. Still, I’m a stubborn man. I keep it up until dark. I figure eventually some bigjawed walleye will come loitering past saying, “All right you little peces, break it up. Show’s over. Nothing to look at
here.” So, OK. It ain’t the best fishing hole in North America. So I’m not going to tell you exactly where it’s at. But I will pass along some accumulated wisdom and tips on fishing the lakes and streams of Rim Country, which offers perhaps the most varied fishing opportunities in the state. Mind you, Rim Country includes world-class, trout-stocked streams like the East Verde, Tonto, Haigler and Christopher creeks, a unique native fish fishery starting in the fall in Fossil Creek, the bass, catfish, crappie and even buffalo fish of Roosevelt and Apache lakes, and the trout heavens of Willow, Bear, Woods Canyon, Blue Ridge and Knoll lakes atop the Rim. So here’s some information on the best places to fish in Rim Country, with some tips on the best baits and strategies mostly cribbed from the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s weekly fishing report at: http://www.azgfd. net/artman/publish/FishingReport.
lure as a trout stream and extended the season. You can gain easy access along Flowing Springs Road, which runs past campgrounds and half a dozen stocking pools. You can also fish the East Verde off Houston Mesa Road, which heads north just at the west end of Payson. Once the road starts crossing the river, you’ll find stocked pools all along the way. Finally, you can fish the East Verde’s stocked pools between Washington Park and the Control Road. The river goes spring-fed above Washington Park and the stocking truck doesn’t go there — but you can catch wild trout and escapees even after the fishing season ends. Water’s on the murky side much of the summer, especially after it rains. But the trout are down there — mocking you. Tonto Creek
This creek offers some of the best stream trout fishing in Arizona, with many clear, deep pools, shaded by towering pines. The stretch between the hatchery and the highway gets hammered every weekend, with lots of anglers and campers and kids splashing Streams about in the pools. You can find less East Verde populated waters by driving down to Stocked weekly with trout through Bear Flat and working both downthe summer. The release of water from stream and upstream. This stretch does the Blue Ridge Reservoir into the East Verde has dramatically increased its See Fish tales, page 11 L
I’ve been dreaming about this moment for like, eight months, dude. I’m standing here on a boulder above my very best favorite fishing hole on Tonto Creek, having a flashback that’s making my hands shake. See, last week, my very best favorite people on the planet decided to load only lunkers into the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery stocking truck for the final run of the season. Now, in a normal week the hatchery dudes dump about 600 to 800 fish a week into Tonto Creek. Most are little guys — barely frying pan sized. But every truck carries like 10 holdovers from the previous year — 12 to 16 inches long, a pound or two in heft. Monsters. The very gleaming stuff of rainbow-colored dreams. But last year half the forest spent half the summer shut down on account of all the fires. So the hatchery went some weeks barely stocking anything. So they ended up with lots of lunkers at the end. So for the final week, they filled that whole beautiful trout truck with monsters — 600-foot-long fish dumped into Tonto Creek in an afternoon. When I heard about this small, silvery miracle last year, I rushed immediately to the deep pool with a musical spillover I’d been working with modest success all summer, well before the weekend crowds for whom said fish were intended. I cast my fly upon the waters. A monster trout hit that fake caddis fly bit of fluff like a demolition crane hits a three-story brick wall. Just about yanked me off my rock. Fought me from one side of that pool to the other, with me dancing around like a crazy man infested with fleas. (Wonder if they’d bite on a nice flea pattern. Certainly worth trying.) So I land this fish. I’m telling you, boys, without a track of exaggeration: I could have tied a rope on his tail and water skied along behind. I kid you not. I cast again. Get another hit. I mean, best day of my life (don’t let
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 11
Fish tales From page 10
not get as many stocked trout, but always has holdovers. Fossil Creek
Mostly a swimming hole, but it also offers a unique opportunity in the form of a catch-and-release fall fishery for Verde trout — also known as headwater chub, a native fish that filled the trout niche in warm streams.
trout. Bear Canyon Lake gets an ample weekly stock of rainbows. Black Canyon Lake
Fishing is fair to good. The lake has been stocked with rainbow trout. The water level is very low — launching a boat will be difficult. Chevelon Lake
Fishing is fair to good. The lake is full, but no longer spilling.
Haigler Creek
Willow Springs Lake
This pine-shaded creek flows intermittently from a stream just below the Mogollon Rim, the creek gets weekly stockings of rainbows but also harbors a population of wild brown trout in the deeper pools. Try spinners in the pools or enjoy the fly fishing. To get to Haigler Creek take 260 to Forest Service Road 291 and go south, go three miles to the junction of Forest Service Road 200 and take a right to the lake.
Fishing is good to excellent for trout and smallmouth bass. Willow Springs Lake gets heavy stockings every week, often in excess of 4,000 trout. The boat dock was damaged by ice over the winter and is not accessible at this time, but it is still OK to launch boats.
Christopher Creek
This small creek flows past a beautiful campground then tumbles down a rocky bed with intermittent pools through the community of Christopher Creek, which includes a great little restaurant in case you don’t wind up with trout for the frying pan. Stocked weekly, the stream runs for about three miles. For access, take the Christopher Creek turnoff from Highway 260, turn north onto FR 284 to See Canyon.
Woods Canyon Lake
Fishing is good to excellent. The lake gets heavy stocking of trout every week, sometimes more than 7,000 fish at a time. Some large rainbow trout, up to five pounds, were stocked in May.
Pete Aleshire/Roundup
Roosevelt Lake is located south of Payson. Take Highway 87 south to the Highway 188 turnoff.
Achieve more.
Lakes Roosevelt Lake
Bass and crappie fishing has become more sporadic. Expect a decent topwater bite at first light, and then off-and-on throughout the day. This is the leading edge of the great catfish angling for both channel catfish and huge flatheads. For channels, think stink bait. For flatheads, live bait works best.
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As the water warms, the town stops stocking trout. However, you can still fish for bass, bluegill and crappie. Anglers using worms and meal worms under a small bobber enjoy plenty of action. Also try small plastic or marabou jigs, plastic worms, and dark-colored nymphs or streamers.
PAGE 12 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Rim Country swimming holes aplenty Whether it’s sitting on a beach, working on your tan or splashing the summer away — nothing beats Rim Country BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR
L
Some while back, I set to work building the dam to create the shaded pool for Ilana, my granddaughter and the Light of the World. I’ve constructed a respectable pile now, which makes the East Verde River splash and laugh and froth as it rushes through and over the boulders. I look up, my back sore, my thumb partially squashed, my goal accomplished. I stand upright as the stream rushes past, prepared to accept the applause of the gathered family. Ilana is splashing happily in a side rivulet caused by the effort of the stream to get around my little reclamation project. She’s dropping pebbles, floating sticks and discovering other causes for bursts of laughter that could bring peace to the Middle East or inspire one-winged birds to fly. Her mom is stretched out in an armchair in the sun. Her dad is catching crawdads with a net, to the delight of Liam — my grandson and the Delight of the World. Once upon a time, my little family — before the expansions and generational additions — delighted in trekking to California to spend a week at the beach. But I got to tell you: This is better. Sun, beach, water — but no crowds, no drive, no $250-a-night hotel bills. Just heaven on the shores of a Rim Country stream. So seeing as how I’m feeling completely relaxed, expansive and fond of the whole world on account of watching Ilana making mud pies in the East Verde River, I’m going to share with you a listing of the best swimming holes in Rim Country. Granted, I’m not going to reveal my secret spot where my check dam created an Ilana-sized pool on a little island with a sandy Photo by Tom Brossart beach that’s shaded all day long. The warm, crystal clear water of Fossil Creek will have you thinking you’re swimming in the Caribbean. But then, the streams of Rim Country brim with such spots. I’ll get you close, and lots of great swimming holes, but Washington Park above Whispering Pines. Nonetheless, the stream offers then you can find your own. you’ve got to dismiss prejudice against Pines. That ensures an ample flow of lots of leafy beaches and bouldery milky brown water to fully appreciate water year-round. But despite the gush swimming holes. The most popular Streams its charms. The stream gets flow from a of clear mountain water at Washington remains Water Wheel, off Houston East Verde natural stream, augmented by releases Park, silt and algae turn the water Mesa Road beyond the bridged river The East Verde has easy road access from the Blue Ridge Reservoir at murky soon after it hits Whispering See Rim Country page 13
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 13
Swimming holes From page 12
crossing at Beaver Valley. A waterfall, deep pools and big rocks from which to jump off draw day-trippers all summer long. Just park at the paved parking area, pay the modest parking fee and hike up the stream to the pools. You can find more secluded spots to splash about from Water Wheel on up to Whispering Pines along Houston Mesa Road. Alternatively, you can drive just south of Payson on Highway 260 and turn off on Flowing Springs Road. The road runs for about five miles along the stream before hitting the closed gate at the Flowing Springs subdivision. Tonto Creek
The upper stretches of the creek between the Fish Hatchery and Highway 87 offer miles of shaded stream front. The water’s much more clear than the East Verde, but also colder — since it’s among the pines rather than the cottonwoods and sycamores. Most of the pools are pretty shallow and the area gets lots of use from hikers and fishermen. For a more secluded swim and deeper pools, take the wind-
ing dirt road down the Bear Flat, which heads south from Highway 87 a few miles before you get to Tonto Creek and Kohl’s Ranch. Bear Flat offers lots of pools and stretches of lightly used streamside — perfect for a summer adventure. Fossil Creek
This travertine blue-green creek offers the best chain of swimming holes in Arizona, many of them 10 or 15 feet deep — alive with native Verde trout and headwater chub. Be sure to bring fins and a swim mask: You’ll swear you’re swimming in the Caribbean. The water’s warm and crystal clear. You can hike for miles along the creek to find a pool of your own. Several major waterfalls with 30-footdeep pools offer some of the best diving and in the state, not to mention some of the most wearisome rescues for Rim Country’s overburdened search and rescue teams. The only problem with Paradise this year is the access — since the fierce fire season prompted the Forest Service to shut down roads to the creek from both Camp Verde and Strawberry.
Pete Aleshire/Roundup
Tonto Creek in the Bear Flat area offers lots of pools and stretches of lightly used streamside.
A tough hike down the Fossil Creek Trail complete with its 1,500-foot drop remains the only assured access to the creek. That will dramatically thin the crowds and make a dip in the state’s
best swimming holes a demanding adventure. Check for the status of the roads when the monsoons start, as the Forest Service may open one or both roads.
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PAYSON ROUNDUP
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YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
HISTORY TOUR
The sun sets over Rim Country from this spot on the historic General Crook Trail, better known as Forest Road 300.
A sampling of spots where visitors can glimpse pioneer history
Photo by Tom Brossart
BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR
Ancient civilizations flourished — and fell, Geronimo planned his breakouts and ambushes, cowboys combed cattle out of canyons and the world’s longest running rodeo started with horse races, tall tales and improbable bets placed by cowboys letting off steam in a cowtown that would become Payson. Rim Country offers visitors a rich history, spanning millions of years of geologic time and thousands of years of human occupation. So here’s some hints on how to combine history with daytripping, including jaunts to historic buildings, bloody battlefields, pioneer cemeteries and fascinating museums.
4. Pine Cemetery
6. Shoofly Ruins
The cemetery is located on the southeast edge of Pine, Ariz., on the short Cemetary Road east of Highway 87. The three oldest marked graves are John Hough, 1881; Lizzie Lowthian, 1883; and Mary Fuller, 1888. Many of the family names here remain well represented in the phone book, a measure of the rich personal history and deep roots of Rim Country.
Shoofly Village Archaeological Ruins offers visitors a self-guided tour of the tumbled stones that mark the site of a village occupied between A.D. 1000 and 1250. The Mogollon farmers once enclosed the 79 identified rooms scattered over nearly four acres with a stone wall. The residents dry-farmed corn, beans and squash and traded pots, turquoise and other goods in networks extending from California to New Mexico and deep into Mexico. They abandoned their settlements in the 1400s for reasons that remain mysterious. One theory holds raiding by the Hohokam played a part, as the people in the densely populated Valley struggled to stave off famines caused by the impact of droughts and floods.
5. Tonto Natural Bridge
L
Prospector and settler David Gowan is generally credited as the first white man to stumble upon the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. He once reportedly hid from Apache raiders in the secret caves within. Now it’s a state park, with a historic inn doubling as a visitors center and bookstore. State parks 1. Strawberry School House recently invested in repairs and a new roof in hopes of 7. Boardman Exhibit The 125-year-old Strawberry School House provid- welcoming guests back to the historic inn. J.W. Boardman and his wife Mary had come from ed a cozy place for generations of pioneer children to San Diego and operated a general merchandise store learn how to read. And when the schoolhouse itself on historic Main Street in Payson for decades. The needed saving, the descendants of those pioneer fambuilding burned down several times. The Boardmans ilies came to the rescue. Residents treasure the landbuilt their store in Payson in 1898, establishing the mark building as a registered historical site that confirst building of stone. The store also ultimately nects them to a deep-rooted past. Made of dovetailed housed the town’s first post office and the first bank. logs, it’s slouched but sturdy — complete with some 8. Oxbow Saloon desks, a pot-belly stove, teacher’s chalkboard, organ Still standing in the heart of Payson’s Main Street and a few other touches. Abandoned for decades, resHistoric District, the reportedly haunted Oxbow idents moved it and restored it. Saloon was first built in 1932 alongside the Payson 2. Pine Strawberry Museum Hotel. The saloon reportedly has ghosts to keep the The museum just off Highway 87 shelters an eclecdiners and drinkers entertained. Some say the ghost is tic mix of prehistoric and Old West artifacts. That a friendly madam, from when the working girls freincludes pots and tools left by the Mogollon people, quented the upstairs rooms. The logs used in its conwho vanished in the 1400s. More recent treasures struction and the nine upstairs rooms made it a toweroffer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the homesteaders ing landmark in the Depression and the owners set up who fended off Apache attacks in the 1880s then setshop just in time for the end of prohibition. The tled in to raise cattle and crops. saloon got its name from nearby Oxbow Hill. where 3. Isabella Hunt Library in 1871 Apache raiders discovered the oxen yolks the The Isabelle Hunt Memorial Library sits in Randall Apaches discarded after eating the oxen. Park in historic downtown Pine. The library started 9. Zane Grey Cabin out in a 1920s log cabin that still stands nearby, before Novelist Zane Grey did more to introduce Mogollon moving in 1960. Now computers mingle with old books. See History, page 17
PAYSON ROUNDUP
HISTORY TOUR From page 16
Rim Country to the nation than any other single writer, with books like “Riders of the Purple Sage.” He built a hunting cabin on the Mogollon Rim, where he wrote many of his western novels. However, the 1990 Dude Fire consumed his original cabin. Fans built a replica of that cabin in Green Valley Park. 10. Rim Country Museum
The Rim Country Museum complex consists of the oldest Forest Ranger Station and residence still standing on a grassy hillock overlooking Green Valley Lake. Named one of the top-10 Western Museums by True West magazine in 2010, the museum contains numerous artifacts and exhibits of pioneer life.
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 17
enlisting other Apache bands as scouts. He also built a wagon road between Camp Verde and Fort Apache in the White Mountains so he could keep patrols constantly in the field. Today, the 40-mile long stretch of Forest Road 300 running between Highway 260 at Pine and Highway 87 near Woods Canyon Lake offers one of the most scenic and historic roads in the country. 13. Battle of Big Dry Wash
On a short spur off Forest Road 300 stands a marker denoting the site of the battle of Big Dry Wash. Normally, the Apache practiced hit and run tactics. But this time they stood their ground, with disastrous consequences for the Apache. The 11. Pioneer Cemetery Army’s bungled attempt to stamp Photo by Tom Brossart The 1882 Payson Pioneer Cemetery is on a Strawberry School House: The first schoolhouse in Rim Country was lovingly out an Apache religious movement restored to little hillside on the west side of town overlook- its original, 127-year-old condition by local residents. by arresting and killing a beloved ing the Payson Golf Course, five acres shaded shaman, prompting many bands to by oaks and junipers. Its first occupant was John the infamous Pleasant Valley Wars. Nearby, you’ll leave the San Carlos Apache Reservation. In the Meadows, killed on his ranch by Apache raiders in find Preston Nail who burned to death in a house fire spring of 1862, a party of 60 White Mountain Apache and was buried in a five-gallon coal oil can and his warriors under Na-tio-tish killed four reservation 1882. Other occupants of the cemetery include John Gray brother, Ben, who died when his horses went wild and policemen as they fled the reservation. They set an who was so happy about winning a bet on a horse race ran his wagon into a tree. ambush for their pursuers about seven miles north of on July 4, 1892 that he ran out into the street and got 12. Forest Road 300 General Springs on a fork of East Clear Creek. General George Crook faced a desperate and tragic Lieutenant Thomas Cruse left a vivid account of the run over by the horse he had bet on. Another occupant is Susan McFarland Gladden, revolt by the Yavapai and Tonto Apache in the 1870s. battle, in which between 16 and 27 warriors died — better known as “Grandma Gladden” and a witness to Crook waged a war of attrition against the rebels, including Na-tio-tish.
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YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Spend the day at Tonto Natural Bridge BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR
The world’s largest natural travertine bridge represents Rim Country’s best-known tourist attraction. Visitors start their tour at a historic inn and ranch house that the State Parks Department now uses as a visitors center. Eventually, the park will restore the cozy, historic rooms, welcoming overnight guests. For now, visitors park near the visitors center or near one of the picnic areas on the sprawling expanse of lawns, where javelina, deer and elk nibble. From there, visitors head off down a steep trail to reach a cool, misty, echoing wonder of nature. The cavernous tunnel has been used as a hiding place by settlers hunted by raiding Apaches. The 83-foot-high, 400-foot-long tunnel through the cliff face was created by the inconspicuous Pine Creek as it chewed through the layers of ancient rock, thanks to the intricate marvel of time and chemistry. Fascinating geological processes lie behind the formation of the bridge, 150 feet wide at its widest point. The story of the bridge starts millions of years ago with the deposit of layers of travertine, a porous form of calcite. The layers were buried, cemented, uplifted and then exposed to the water of Pine Creek. Prospector David Gowan is credited with the discovery of the natural phenomenon in 1877 while running from Apaches. It is said he hid in the caves found in the cavern. Later, he tried to make a go of farming in the area, but eventually turned the property over to family who joined him from Scotland. Various private parties owned it until 1990 when Arizona State Parks bought it. The once torturous road leading to the bridge has been paved and widened for easy access, and the century-old lodge has been converted to include a gift shop. The state’s master plan calls for the eventual restoration of rooms in the lodge, and creekside cabins. Visitors flock to the park to enjoy its vistas, the hike down to the bottom of the bridge and the cool mountain stream that wore away the rocks that created the arch. Most must struggle to understand the complex geological processes that created the bridge. The fine crystals of travertine are a form of dissolved limestone, comprised of calcium carbonate — often from the skeletons of aquatic animals. Nearby Fossil Creek is rich in this same mineral. Natural acids in groundwater dissolve the calcium carbonate as water seeps through fractures in the limestone. Once the spring water bubbles back to the surface, dissolved carbon dioxide escapes like gas from popping open a bottle of carbonated soda. As the water evaporates, calcite comes out of the solution and creates travertine. The ecology of the park is in many ways as remarkable as the geology. Straddling Pine Creek at the base of the Mogollon Rim, the bridge lies in the overlap between several major habitat types. Five different species of bats live in the park, plus bobcats, cottontails, black bears, coyotes, gray foxes,
Photo by Tom Brossart
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is Rim Country’s best-known tourist attraction.
elk, mountain lion and a host of other species. It has also been the scene of special bird-watching activities in the past. The marks of the hardy settlers who made their home in the valley that is the top of bridge are a testament to human tenacity in the face of hardships.
A large variety of fruit trees and berry bushes, plus flowers grace the site. Plan to spend a whole day at the Tonto Natural Bridge to enjoy the full extent of this wonder. Take Highway 87 approximately 15 miles north of Payson and turn left at the sign.
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 19
Monument holds secrets of the Salado Tonto National Monument showcases two sets of beautifully constructed cliff dwellings, with many others not yet excavated sites within the monument — some dating to the shadow of the last Ice Age approximately 10,000 years ago. The big lower and upper cliff dwellings made of mortared sandstone date back to the 13th, 14th and early 15th centuries. The still imposing ruins were built by people who constructed extensive irrigation works to farm the terraces of the Salt River. They created extensive cities and settlements, now mostly drowned beneath the waters of Roosevelt Lake. For reasons that remain unclear, after hundreds of years of living along the river, they built the massive settlements at the base of great cliffs overlooking the river, close by natural springs in most cases. The monument now preserves their art and handicrafts, including some of the most exquisite polychrome pottery and intricately woven textiles to be found in the Southwest.
Photo by Tom Brossart
The Salado created extensive cities and settlements, some of which are preserved near Tonto Basin at Tonto National Monument.
The monument is located in the saguaro-dominated Upper Sonoran ecosystem at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. Other common plants include cholla, prickly pear, yucca,
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agave, ocotillo, and an amazing variety of colorful wildflowers. Tonto Basin has been occupied for hundreds of years — Europeans, Apaches and prehistoric peoples have
all called it home. One of these groups, known by archaeologists as “Salado.” constructed the cliff dwellings you see today. Archaeologists are not sure why the Salado sought the safety of the cliff dwelling. Perhaps they were reacting to raids or invasions — perhaps they merely hoped to escape the stress of life in along the densely settled river. For whatever reason, they begin to build a second, Upper Dwelling complex in about A.D. 1300. They mostly used the stones readily at hand, although they also carried pine and juniper roof beams from the the surrounding mountains. The Lower Cliff Dwelling was fitted into a great cave underneath a massive rock overhang, roughly 40 feet high, 85 feet long, and 48 feet deep. Rooms were generally small, with a firepit in the floor and a hatchway to access the second story and roof. Scientists may never figure out why the Salado left Tonto Basin in the early to mid-1400s, but they suspect drought, disease and warfare may have all played a role.
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PAGE 20 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Hunt for treasures and teacups Rim Country offers wealth of antique and thrift store opportunities to browse funky art, knickknack memories and quality antiques BY TERESA MCQUERREY ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
The Humane Society Thrift Shop on Main Street raises funds to support the Humane Society of Central Arizona.
“By comparing your item to those in books, on the Internet and in shops, you are educating yourself,” Kroeger said. If antique furniture is not your cup of tea but you need a nice teacup or decorative and practical serving pieces like Fenton art glass, the same rules apply. Whatever your antiquing goal — starting a collection, adding to one or just treasure hunting — Rim Country offers so many it will take a few weekends to hit every shop.
Antiques
Granny’s Attic Antiques: 800 E. Hwy. 260, (928) 474-3962 Main Street Mercantile: 216 W. Main Street, (928) 468-0526 Payson Antiques: 1001 S. Beeline Highway, (928) 474-8988 Pioneer Village Trading Post: 1117 N. Beeline Hwy., (928) 474-3911 Southern Lady Designs: 408 W. Main St., Suite 4, (928) 468-2201
PAYSON AREA
Art & Antiques Corral: 1104 S. Beeline Highway at Western Village, (928) 474-3431
Sweet Nostalgia: 512 S. Beeline Hwy., Suite 6, (928) 595-1265 PINE AREA
Big Bear Antiques: 422 S. Beeline Hwy., (928) 474-5105
Auntie Gail’s: 3691 Hall Lane, (928) 476-3009
The Carpenter’s Wife Antiques: 112 W. Wade Lane, (928) 472-7343
Moose Mountain/Moose Mart Antiques: 6254 W. Hardscrabble Road, (928) 476-3044
Cedar Lane Antiques: 111 E. Cedar Lane, by appointment only, (602) 8851903 or (602) 309-5106 Gasoline Alley: 407 W. Main Street, (928) 474-4932
Pine Country Antiques & Vintage: Highway 87, just south of Shell, (928) 476-2219
Andy Towle/Roundup
The Sparkling Strawberry at Windmill Corner Inn, 5078 N. Highway 87, (928) 476-3064 Tymeless Antiques & Treasures: 3716 N. Prince Drive, (928) 476-4618 Visions Speaking Rock Shop & Emporium: 3972 N. Hwy. 87, (928) 476-6437
Charity Thrift Stores American Legion Thrift Store: Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, downstairs at the Legion Post, 709 E. Hwy. 260. Animal Welfare Thrift Shop: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, 434 S. Beeline Hwy., Suite C & D (behind the Time Out Thrift Shop). The thrift store helps several local animal rescue groups, including Rim Country Friends of the Ferals, Aussie and Friends Rescue, New Hope Equine Rescue and Wonders of the Wild Animal Sanctuary. L
Thanks to television programs like “Antiques Roadshow,” the notion of antiquing is often accompanied with visions of dollar signs. If you are a pessimist, the dollar signs mean antiques will cost big bucks. If you are an optimist, every battered bargain may turn into a wad of money. In truth, an afternoon spent exploring Rim Country’s array of antique shops and thrift stores falls somewhere in between, with antiques to fit any budget — some with sentimental and aesthetic connections that make them priceless. Rim Country has such an array of such shopper’s treasures that it amounts to the area’s dominant retail business in terms of the number of outlets. So, you want to collect antiques? Which kind? Antiques can run the gamut from gleaming buttons to hulking furniture. The first rule: Collect what you love. If you would love to do a room or a whole house with antiques, decide what you need and what you can spend. “Antique furniture is very practical for living,” said Barbara Kroeger of Cedar Lane Antiques in Payson. “It is made from solid wood, it’s sturdy and well-made and can take a little more abuse than furniture being made today.” It can also be refinished. She said pieces made in the 1940s have those qualities and are still relatively affordable. “A lot of people worry about having antique furniture in their homes if they have children. There were five of us in my family. We grew up surrounded by antiques and learned to appreciate them and hold them in regard,” Kroeger said. She said the buyer should decide if they want to go eclectic and mix in just one or two pieces of antique furniture with what they have, use antiques as accent pieces or have a collection. The second rule: Make your first purchase an inexpensive one, then research it, and items like it, on the Internet, in books and at antique stores.
See Thrift, page 21
PAYSON ROUNDUP
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 21
il y e m a f d n a d a s d m n e y i l r F sh e r f a ! g a n z i z i r p a d h s se
s o t d n a h
Make it your summertime tradition at... Andy Towle/Roundup
The Senior Thrift Store on Main Street generates money to provide services for the area’s elderly population at the Payson Senior Center.
Thrift and antique stores galore From page 20
Humane Society Thrift Shop: Open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 510 W. Main St. — the Payson Womans Club building. To donate gently used items for the benefit of the animals, call (928) 468-6419 and a pickup can be arranged. Receipts are available for tax purposes. For more information, visit the society’s Web site at www.humanesocietycentralaz.org. Misti’s Solutions: 610 S. Beeline Hwy., Payson, south of Vita Mart, benefits the Veterans Helping Veterans program. Misti’s Solutions is open Monday through Sunday, closed Tuesday and for lunch daily. Mogollon Health Alliance’s The Almost New Shop: Open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, 308 E. Aero Drive. Payson Senior Center Thrift Store: Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 4 p.m. Saturday, 512 W. Main St. Donations of re-usable items are always appreci-
ated and pickups can be scheduled for larger items by calling (928) 4743205. Pine/Strawberry Thrift Store: Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 3916 N. Hwy. 87 in downtown Pine, in the community center. Payson Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 103 E. Hwy. 260. Time Out Thrift Shop: Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 500 S. Beeline Hwy. Tonto Basin Kiwanis Thrift Shop: Open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, Old Highway 188, near the post office.
Other Loot Resale: 403 S. Ash Street, Payson, (928) 468-6553 Memory Lane: 410 W. Main, Payson Thrift & Curiosity Shop: 601 S. Beeline, Payson
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PAGE 22 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
becue, educational programs and a dance Pleasant Valley Days
July 21: This annual event includes an Arizona Centennial celebration this year, Young Rim Country Round-up
July 28-29: Hosted by the National Versatility Ranch Horse Association, Payson Event Center Fast Pitch Invitational Softball Tournament
July 28-29: Games start at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the two days, Rumsey Park, Payson
August Monsoon 4-Miler
Aug. 4: 8 a.m., Rumsey Park Ramada 5 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
Aug. 4: Julia Randall Elementary School gym National Night Out
Aug. 4: Green Valley Park Barrel Racing
SUMMER CALENDAR
Aug. 11-12: Hosted by the National Barrel Horse Association, Payson Event Center 2nd annual Mountain Daze Festival
Aug. 11-12: Celebrating hiking and other outdoor adventure opportunities in the area, Pine and Strawberry August Doin’s Rodeo
Aug. 16-19: Payson Event Center August Doin’s Rodeo Parade
Aug. 18: West Main Street, Payson
September Arts & Crafts Dennis Fendler/Roundup
Weekly
32nd annual Pine/Strawberry Arts & Crafts Guild Craft Show
Payson Farmers Market
June 30 and July 1: Pine/Strawberry Community Center, middle of Pine on Hwy. 87
8 a.m. to noon, Saturday at Sawmill Crossing parking lot, behind Chili’s, through early October
Sept 1-2: 32nd annual Pine/Strawberry Arts & Crafts Guild Craft Show, Community Center, middle of town on North Highway 87, Pine Barrel Racing
Sept. 1-3: Hosted by the National Barrel Horse Association, Payson Event Center
July
Northern Gila County Fair
4th of July Celebration
Sept. 7-9: Payson Event Center Demolition Derby
June
July 4: Starts 8 a.m. and continues throughout the day, concluding with fireworks display (if conditions allow), Green Valley Park
Christopher Creek Independence Day Parade
Centennial Celebration
Sept. 15: Payson Event Center
June 30: Starts 1 p.m. at Tall Pines Market and goes through the community
July 7: Parade at 10:30 a.m., variety of events at Pine/Strawberry Community Center including bar-
Walk for New Beginnings
Summer Concert Series
7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Green Valley Park amphitheater area at bandstand, through July 28
The Best of Rim Country
Hospitality
Jim Barrett Memorial High School Rodeo
Sept. 22: Rumsey Park
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PAYSON ROUNDUP
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 23
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PAGE 24 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Back road drives not to be missed History, scenery, adventure... but where’s the elk? BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR
Pete Aleshire/Roundup
Forest Road 300 features breathtaking vistas from atop the Mogollon Rim.
clawed its way up onto the Rim, past the lakes, past the ferns, past the meadows and aspen, past the stunning views all without passing a single elk. Twilight was gathering when Carmel said quietly, “that’s not an elk, is it?” I stopped, expecting that we’d come upon a javelina, maybe a black bear. Peering through the forest, I saw a big cow elk standing at the edge of a small meadow, staring alertly in our direction. “That’s an elk!” I cried. “Bloody big bloke,” said Dave, impressed. Another female ran across the road 20 yards in front of the jeep, followed by two more. They ran through the forest toward the first elk. As they neared their buddy, a giant elk with a huge set of antler emerged from the trees, staring toward us with a certain, regal contempt. The herd munched and watched us while Carmel and Dave oohed, and ahhed and shuttered away. “Well, then,” said Carmel at last. “We saw an elk, didn’t we.”
“Right you are,” drawled David, “the Dinki-di.” The Dinki-di indeed. Thanks again, Forest Road 300.
Best drives in Rim Country Here are some suggested historic and scenic drives, taken from the Town of Payson’s Recreation Guide at www.paysonrimcountry.com/Mountain Recreation/SightSeeingByCar.aspx. Highway 260
Highway 260 between the top of the Mogollon Rim near Woods Canyon Lake turnoff and Heber features an extensive stand of ponderosa pine and tremendous change in temperature compared to the Phoenix area. People flock to this area to get cool in the summer and play in snow in the winter. Woods Canyon Lake Loop
The Woods Canyon Lake Loop might be 58 miles long but it’s long in scenic beauty, especially the vista L
About half-way through my attempt to impress my Australian relatives with the wonders of Arizona as we bounced along on Forest Road 300, I realized I had a problem. Up to that point, I’d been feeling confident. After all, I’d already treated them to 100-mile views of the Rim and a rambling discourse on the geology of this fractured leading edge of the Colorado. Better yet, I’d detoured off the historic General Crook Trail long enough to present Carmel and Dave with a wheeling, squawking, fishsnatching pair of bald eagles at Woods Canyon Lake. Very cool. Way cool. Maybe as cool as the sea eagle I saw in Australia when I spent a couple of weeks staying in Carmel’s house as my son married her daughter. Now I finally had a chance to return the hospitality. As we continued along the 40-mile dirt track I figured I had it made, until Carmel cried out — “An elk, an elk.” I skidded to a stop, looked out through the forest and spotted a pair of mule deer, who paused in mid-munch to evaluate our intentions. “Ah,” I said, wondering whether I should dash the hopes revealed in her tone of voice. I realized in that awful moment that the trip would count as a failure unless I could produce an elk. Should I therefore lie? But surely we’d see an elk along Forest Road 300, one of the best back road drives in Arizona, with its bounty of geology, history, scenery and wildlife. And if I lie now and we do see an elk — what will I say? It’s a moose? The Mogollon Monster? “Ah,” I repeat, “I’m afraid that’s just a mule deer.” “Oh,” says Carmel, crestfallen. “Quite pretty.” “I’m sure we’ll see an elk,” I hasten to reassure her. We resume our journey along one of the most interesting dirt roads in all of Arizona, treading through the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest on the edge of the 2,000-foot uplift that forms the southernmost edge of the Colorado
Plateau. Some massive current in the hot, pressurize flow of rock in the earth’s mantle pressing up against the thin, cold, brittle layer of the Earth’s crust starting some five million years ago forced the uplift of a big chunk of North America. That uplift produced the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon and a 200-mile-long chain of cliffs that includes the Mogollon Rim. This natural barrier dominates the drainage, topography, climate — and history — of much of Arizona. This great chain of cliffs also gives Rim Country its essential character, creating the streams, lakes, monsoons, forests and dramatic changes in vegetation and wildlife in a narrow zone. More than 100 years ago, this wagon route played a key role in General George Crook’s effort to subdue the Apache. Realizing soldiers on government horses could never catch a band of Apache warriors, Crook perfected this supply route between Camp Verde and Fort Apache in the White Mountains. He used those supplies to keep patrols guided by Apache scouts continually in the field against Apache bands that refused to surrender and live on the reservation. The patrols along the road fought several skirmishes and one major pitched fight. A marker on Forest Road 300 commemorates the battle of Big Dry Wash and directs seekers several miles down a side road to the site of the battle, now thickly overgrown with forest. I had just completed an account of that battle in my tour-guide capacity when Carmel once again cried, “there’s an elk.” I stopped in a cloud of dust, peered through the forest and spotted three white-tailed deer — even smaller than the mule deer we’d seen earlier. By now, we’d come more than halfway along the road — the odds of elk were shrinking. Still, I answered with a sinking heart. “Nope. White-tailed deer.” “Well, that’s all right,” said David in his hearty and amiable Australian brogue, “don’t have to see elk. She’ll be apples.” “Of course,” said Carmel politely. “No drama.” My hopes sagged. So we drove on through the dwindling day, passing through the pine skeletons left where the Dude Fire
See Scenic drives, page 25
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 25
Scenic drives Forest Road 300
From page 24
opportunities. From Woods Canyon Lake, take Forest Road 300, 13 miles to Forest Road 115, and proceed to Ohaco Lookout, where you’ll take Forest Road 56; take Forest Road 56 to its junction with Forest Road 225 and proceed on Forest Road 225 to its junction with Forest Road 34; take Forest Road 34 to the junction with Forest Road 100 where you’ll turn left; proceed on Forest Road 100 until it joins Forest Road 169, where you’ll turn right; take Forest Road 169 until it joins Forest Road 300; turn left on Forest Road 300 and take it back to your starting point at Woods Canyon Lake.
This scenic road follows the Mogollon Rim between Hwy. 260 and Hwy. 87 for 51 miles. Most of it is dirt, passable by cautiously driven cars. Allow three to four hours one way. Slow speeds are necessary because of hazardous washboard sections. Attractions include Rim views, pretty forest scenes, wildlife sightings and effects of the Dude Fire. The eastern section lies within the Rim Lake Recreation Area, where one must use designated campsites. Dispersed camping is allowed along the western part of the drive, which is in the Coconino National Forest.
Crook Trial Loop
Dude Fire Area
From Forest Lakes Drive west on Hwy. 260 to the Woods Canyon turnoff, turn right onto FR 300; continue on FR 300 past Woods Canyon Lake; past FR 321 for 17 miles to Hwy. 87, where you’ll turn right; follow Hwy. 87 for 18 miles, past Clint’s Well, to FR 95; follow FR 95, FR 96 to FR 321 for a total of 19 miles to FR 300 and return to Forest Lakes.
15.2 miles and left on Control Road 64. Follow the Control Road to junction with Forest Road 29 (about 4.2 miles). Keep to the left when you come to the Tonto Village turnoff. Turn right on FR 29. FR 29 is a narrow, dirt road and is not suited for low-clearance vehicles past point 10. Self-guided Auto Tour brochures are available at the Payson Ranger Station.
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If you’re in the right place at the right time, you may spot an elk.
Young
Tom Brossart photo
miles on FR 512; the first 20 miles are Remote and off the tourist track, dirt road. From the south near Young is one of Arizona’s last cow Roosevelt Lake, take Hwy. 88 from towns. To get here, you must drive Roosevelt or Globe to the junction with largely on unpaved roads. From the Hwy. 288, then turn north 47 miles; the Mogollon Rim in the north, take Hwy. last 34 miles are dirt. The roads to 260 to near Milepost 284, about 33 Young are best avoided after winter miles east of Payson, then turn south 24 snows or heavy rains.
PAGE 26 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
Rim Country restaurant guide From Italian food to Thai, local dining options include much more than the cowboy cuisine one might expect BY MICHELE NELSON ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER
Cattle: one of Arizona’s five “C”s — the others being cotton, citrus, copper and climate — bring wealth to the state. That, along with the rural description of Payson and foodies would think the restaurants in town only serve BBQ, ranch beans and corn bread. Not so. Payson restaurants cover a wide range of cuisines from Mexican to Thai, Italian and gluten-free vegetarian. Yep. Hippy food — except others would call it super healthy. The Au Natural Café off Highway 260 serves nutritionally dense foods such as Quinoa, and non-gmo, pesticide-, chemical- and hormone-free turkey and vegetables. Each day the menu changes according to the consultations of nutritionist/ owner Cindy Bryant and her chef, Kevin Ritter. At Laura’s Small Café off of the Beeline Highway, chef Laura Seeley will whip up gluten-free pancakes, French toast and sandwiches or prepare food separately to avoid any food allergies. She also has a menu with café basics. Yet small country cafes abound in Rim Country from the Beeline Café to the Knotty Pine and 260 cafes in Payson to the Early Bird Café in Pine. The menus have classic American café fare including biscuits and gravy in the morning to fried chicken and pies for dessert. For a real western feel, head over to the Buffalo Bar and Grill in Payson. They offer great lunch deals and the Buffalo has won numerous Best of Rim Country awards for the best place to pick up singles, the best bartender and the best bar/tavern. Other bar & grills in the Rim Country include Jake’s Corner Bar & Grill, Sidewinders Bar & Grill in Pine and THAT Brewery & Pub in Pine. The Rim Country also boasts hearty steakhouses such as the Mazatzal Casino’s Cedar Ridge Restaurant serving hickory-smoked ribs, chicken, beef,
steaks and seafood. Fargo’s in Payson, Diamond Point Shadows off Highway 260, the Creekside and Landmark in Christopher Creek and Zane Grey at Kohl’s Ranch offer delicious, classic steakhouse dining. For more down-home cooking, try The Randall House in Pine or the Strawberry Lodge in Strawberry or Tiny’s in Payson. Macky’s Grill in the Sawmill Crossing offers 40 menu items including delicious burgers and salads. There is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in the Rim Country. Community members have voted El Rancho’s margarita the best in town. Other restaurants serving south of the border fare include La Sierra, Chili’s, Aliberto’s, Alfonso’s, and the fast-food favorites, Del Taco and Taco Bell. Second to Mexican food is Italian. Gerardo’s Firewood Café offers a classic menu with pasta, brick oven pizza and a wine bar. Cardo’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant has delicious soups and salads to go along with their heartier menu items. Up in Strawberry, Mama Mia’s is only open on Friday and Saturday nights. The locals say the food is divine. The Pizza Factory was voted the best in Rim Country, while Little Caesars, Domino’s and Pizza Hut are franchised standbys. If a simple sandwich is all that’s needed, Subway and Cousins subs are in Payson, but the Pine Deli up in Pine and the Tonto Village restaurant serve lunch, too. Of course the classic fastfood fare of McDonald’s, Burger King, Arby’s, Dairy Queen, Sonic and Jack in the Box give families quick, cheap and stable fare. For those who crave the tastes of Asia, The Wok Express and the Mandarin House serve up Chinese. But, for a truly exotic taste, try Ayothaya Café. The food takes the diner out of Payson to Thailand with authentically exquisite flavors. The café also offers sushi. If it’s a cup of coffee that’s needed, good old Starbucks is in the Safeway store, while Mountain Coffee Works is located off the Beeline Highway in the Swiss Village shopping center. Scoop’s has coffee, muffins and ice cream. It’s a favorite hangout for kids after a movie and its mobile ice cream freezer frequently serves up treats at most outdoor events. For a tiny town in the middle of a forest, Payson has a little bit of everything for the palate.
Roundup file photo
Chef Gerardo Moceri offers brick oven pizza, a wine bar and a classic Italian menu at his Firewood Café on North Beeline Highway in Payson.
BEST OF RIM COUNTRY WINNERS Readers of the Payson Roundup newspaper in February voted for their favorite restaurants in many categories. Here are the results.
BEST STEAK DINNER 1st: Diamond Point Shadows 2nd: Fargo’s 3rd: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge)
BEST BREAKFAST 1st: Beeline Café 2nd: Crosswinds 3rd: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge)
BEST FAST FOOD 1st: Wendy’s 2nd: McDonald’s 3rd: Taco Bell
BEST LUNCH 1st: Macky’s Grill 2nd: Buffalo Bar and Grill 3rd: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge)
BEST HAMBURGER 1st: Macky’s 2nd: Buffalo Bar & Grill 3rd: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge)
BEST DINNER 1st: Fargo’s 2nd: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge) 3rd: Cardo’s
BEST MEXICAN FOOD 1st: El Rancho 2nd: La Sierra 3rd: Alfonso’s
BEST FOR KIDS 1st: McDonald’s 2nd: Chili’s or Macky’s 3rd: Crosswinds
BEST MARGARITA 1st: El Rancho 2nd: La Sierra 3rd: Chili’s
BEST SALOON 1st: Buffalo Bar and Grill 2nd: Oxbow Saloon 3rd: Mazatzal Casino (Apache Spirits)
BEST COFFEE 1st: Scoops 2nd: Starbucks 3rd: McDonald’s
BEST BUSINESS MEETING MEAL 1st: Tiny’s 2nd: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge)
BEST BAKERY 1st: Bashas’ 2nd: Safeway 3rd: My Sister’s Bakery
BEST SANDWICH 1st: Mazatzal Casino (steak) 2nd: Macky’s (Cowboy Melt) 3rd: Gerardo’s (Italian Sandwich) BEST PIZZA 1st: Pizza Factory 2nd: Cardo’s 3rd: Gerardo’s
BEST FISH FRY 1st: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge) 2nd: Cardo’s 3rd: Diamond Point Shadows BEST SALAD 1st: Mazatzal Casino (Cedar Ridge) 2nd: Cardo’s 3rd: Chili’s
For more information, visit www.paysonmarketplace.com
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
PAYSON ROUNDUP
SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 27
Where to stay in Rim Country Hotels & Motels • AMERICA’S BEST VALUE INN WIFI Available, Cable TV, HBO, Limited Pets 811 S. Beeline Highway, Payson 928-474-2283 www.americasbestvalueinn.com/ bestv.cfm?idp=460 • BEST WESTERN PAYSON INN Fireplaces, Pool/Spa, Pets OK 801 N Beeline Highway, Payson 928-474-3241 www.bestwesternpaysoninn.com • COMFORT INN 100% Non-Smoking, Indoor Pool/Spa, Pet Free, Complimentary Breakfast, Free High-Speed Internet 206 S. Beeline Highway, Payson 928-472-7484 www.choicehotels.com/hotel/az347 • DAYS INN & SUITES Fireplaces, Indoor Heated Pool/Spa, Pets OK, Complimentary Breakfast, Free High-Speed Internet 301-A S. Beeline Hwy., Payson 928-474-9800, 877-474-9800 www.daysinn.com/payson • ECONOMY INN Pets OK 101 W. Phoenix Street, Payson 928-474-4526 • MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN INN Fireplaces, Pool/Spa
602 E. Highway 260, Payson 928-474-0185 www.majesticmountaininn.com • MAZATZAL HOTEL & CASINO Pool/Spa, No Smoking, Fitness Center Highway 87, Mile Marker 251, Payson 1-800-777-PLAY (7529) www.777play.com • PAYSONGLO LODGE Fireplaces, Pool/Spa, Pets OK 1005 S. Beeline Highway, Payson 928-474-2382, 800-772-9766 www.paysonglolodgeaz.com • SUPER 8 INN & SUITES Fireplaces, Pool/Spa, Pets OK 809 E. Highway 260, Payson 928-474-5241
Cabins & Lodges • CABINS ON STRAWBERRY HILL Spa Services Available Including Massage and Aesthetics 5306 N. Hwy. 87, Strawberry 928-476-4252 www.azcabins.com • CREEKSIDE CABINS Restaurant, Fireplaces, Pets OK 21 miles east of Payson on Hwy. 260 928-478-4389 • FOREST LAKES LODGE Pets OK 928-535-4047 www.forestlakeslodge.com
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• KOHL’S RANCH LODGE Restaurant, Fireplaces, Pool/Spa, Pets OK, Horses, Cabins on the Creek 17 miles east of Payson on Hwy. 260 928-478-4211 • 800-521-3131 www.kohlsvacation.com • MOUNTAIN RIDGE CABINS Open May 1 through October 31 30 minutes north of Payson, 1 mile from the crest of the Mogollon Rim, Forest Road 32 480-368-1504 www.mountainridgecabins.com • PINE CREEK CABINS Fireplaces, Pets OK on Approval, Jacuzzi Tubs, Restaurant On Site 3901 N. Highway 87, Pine 928-970-9511 www.pinecreekcabinsaz.com • RANCH AT FOSSIL CREEK 10379 W. Fossil Creek Rd., Strawberry 928-476-5178 www.fossilcreekllamas.com • RANCHO TONTO GUEST HOUSE Fireplaces, Pets OK 18 miles east of Payson on Hwy. 260 Exit left at Kohl’s Ranch exit Zane Grey Cabin Rd. Payson, AZ 85541 928-478-0002 • RIMSIDE GRILL & CABINS Great Food, Cable TV, Sand Volleyball & Horseshoes 3270 N. Hwy. 87, Mile Marker 267, Pine
928-476-3349 www.rimsidegrill.com • RUSTIC RIM HIDEAWAY 918 N. Mulesprings (off Highway 260) 928-535-9030, 888-801-9030 (toll free) www.rimhideaway.com • STRAWBERRY LODGE 8039 Fossil Creek Road, Strawberry 928-476-3333
Bed & Breakfasts • FALCON CREST BED & BREAKFAST 1105 N. Falcon Crest Drive, Payson 928-474-5249 www.arizonabednbreakfast.com • UP THE CREEK BED & BREAKFAST Fireplaces 10491 Fossil Creek Rd., Strawberry 928-476-6571 www.upthecreekbedandbreakfast.com • VERDE RIVER ROCK HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST East Verde Estates Lot 12 On the banks of the East Verde River 928-472-4304, 602-696-0213 www.verderiverrockhouse.com
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PAGE 28 • SUMMER 2012
YOUR GUIDE TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
Scenic Vistas & Highways
PAYSON ROUNDUP