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Payson, Arizona

Top Spots in and near Payson

  • Payson, Arizona

    Water Wheel & Ellison Creek Cascades

    4.9
    1.76 mi / 272 ft gain
    A short and easy out and back hike for adventurers of all ages with scenic waterfalls along the entire trip! Starting at the Water Wheel day use area you will simply follow the well traveled path that meanders alongside the creek. You will reach the first significant waterfall within minutes whi...
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  • Pine, Arizona

    Hike the Pine Creek Loop in Tonto Natural Bridge SP

    4.7
    1.8 mi / 300 ft gain
    There is a fee to enter this area. It was $7 when we went. There are 4 trails with many viewpoints from the parking lot, all of which are out and back. We followed the recommendation of the ranger working at the visitor's center and took the Gowan Trail down to the observation deck located in the...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Hike Barnhardt Trail

    4.8
    8 mi / 1912 ft gain
    To get to the trailhead, use the turnoff of highway 87 labeled Barnhardt trail (has a marked sign coming from both Payson and Phoenix). Barnhardt road is just over 4 miles and is unpaved. The road can be driven on by lower clearance cars because the terrain is not too rocky. Once at the trailhead...
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  • Pine, Arizona

    Stroll Pine Creek's Lavender Farm

    The building was built in the early 1900’s by the first settlers of Pine, the farm was turned into a lavender farm.  There’s a little shop, and the owner also does cooking classes!  Wonderful way to spend some time in the northern Arizona sunshine. For more information and a calendar of events, p...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Mogollon Rim via Washington Park

    4.0
    4.32 mi / 1138 ft gain
    This trail begins at the Washington Park Trailhead which meets up with passage #27 of the AZT. You begin traveling northbound as you ascend the great Mogollon Rim. The trail takes you through a gorgeous forest and rewards you with an awesome cliff side view at the summit. 2.25 miles into the tra...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Hike the Colonel Devin Trail

    4 mi / 1116 ft gain
    The hike will begin at Washington Park in Payson, Arizona. To reach Washington Park, take AZ87 to Forest Road 199 (Houston Mesa Road) and turn east. Continue for 10 miles until you reach Forest Road 64 and turn west. Traveling less than a mile you will turn north on Forest Road 32 and in 3 miles ...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Horton Springs Loop

    4.4
    8.42 mi / 1896 ft gain
    This is a more scenic and bit more strenuous loop hike to the spring, taking in the Derrick Trail, part of the Highline Trail, and the Horton Creek Trail.After parking the cars near Upper Tonto Creek Campground follow the Derrick Trail and hike gently uphill for 1.4 miles through the rim country ...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Canyoneering at Christopher Creek/Box Canyon

    5.0
    2 mi / 200 ft gain
    Just a little bit east of Payson Arizona is a canyoneering playground called Christopher Creek Canyon (aka Box Canyon). The water is nice and cold, and is only muddy after rainstorms. Make your way from pool to pool as you descend through the canyon, cliff jumping, rappelling, and down climbing. ...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Cabin Loop Trail

    18.82 mi / 2028 ft gain
    People think Arizona is all just desert, but this hike will show you otherwise.  Up on the Mogollon Rim, this trail takes you past old cabins, through lush forest, and near many creeks. Day 1:  (10 miles)  Drive on Rim Road to the General Springs Trail Head.  The cabin marks the start of the tr...
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  • Pine, Arizona

    Bob Bear Trail

    5.0
    8.58 mi / 1650 ft gain
    The Bob Bear Trail (formerly Fossil Springs Trail) is a 8.3 mile out-and-back hike that takes you through a challenging, exposed trail to a waterfall in Tonto NF near Pine, AZ. Make sure you bring plenty of water for this hike 2-3L per person and give yourself ample time to get out and back. This...
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  • Coconino County, Arizona

    Camp at Knoll Lake

    5.0
    The Campground is seasonal and is located on the left just before the lake. There are 33 well-developed units that offer fire-rings, grills, drinking water and vault toilets. No reservations are accepted and you will need to check in with the camp host. From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Hike See Canyon Trail

    5.0
    7.6 mi / 2043 ft gain
    See Canyon Trail #184 is a 7.6 mile trail in the Tonto National Forest that features a creek and spring.  This trail is most popular during the fall when the leaves begin to change color and fall along the creek. The trail runs from the parking lot up to FS 300 above the rim.  The trail starts of...
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  • Pine, Arizona

    Fossil Creek Falls

    4.8
    2.42 mi / 328 ft gain
    The journey is definitely worth it! Don't let the description discourage you from visiting here. This is simply to help you be prepared so that you can enjoy this wonderful place as safely as possible! Fossil Creek Rd can only be accessed from Camp Verde via FH 9 (Hwy 260) and FR 708 due to road...
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  • Payson, Arizona

    Dispersed Camping on Mogollon Rim (FR 9350)

    4.7
    Dispersed camping with a view! With no site fees and no reservations, this camping spot is incredibly popular.  Note that several campsites are bordered by a 200' vertical drop. This area is not recommended for families with young children or people who are uneasy with heights.   All campsites ha...
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  • Happy Jack, Arizona

    Car Camp the Mogollon Rim

    4.8
    The Mogollon Rim is part of the Colorado Plateau in eastern Arizona above Payson. The rim stretches across the Coconino National Forest and at some parts drops off nearly 2,000ft. This area is ideal for over-night car-camping. The expansive vistas above thousands of acres of national forest land ...
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  • Yavapai County, Arizona

    Verde Hot Springs

    3.3
    2.46 mi / 118 ft gain
    The pools at the Verde Hot springs are the remnants from an old resort built in the 1920's.  The resort was a once thriving tourist attraction and also rumored to be one of Al Capone's hideouts.  In the 1960's a fire destroyed the resort only leaving behind the foundation and the thermal pools al...
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Camping and Lodging in Payson

Sharp Creek
Payson, Arizona

Sharp Creek

Christopher Creek
Payson, Arizona

Christopher Creek

Houston Mesa
Payson, Arizona

Houston Mesa

Rim Campground
Payson, Arizona

Rim Campground

Mogollon Campground
Payson, Arizona

Mogollon Campground

Woods Canyon Lake
Payson, Arizona

Woods Canyon Lake

Guides, Insights and Stories from Payson

10 Of Arizona's Best Campsites

10 Of Arizona's Best Campsites

Kevin Kaminski

The 5 Best Winter Camping Spots in Arizona

The 5 Best Winter Camping Spots in Arizona

Sara Sheehy

The top 25 hikes in Arizona

The top 25 hikes in Arizona

The Outbound Collective

The Best Waterfall Hikes in Arizona

The Best Waterfall Hikes in Arizona

The Outbound Collective

The Autumn Leaf Peeper's Guide to Arizona

The Autumn Leaf Peeper's Guide to Arizona

Jeremy Meek

5 Photos of Gorgeous Spring Hikes in Sedona, Arizona

5 Photos of Gorgeous Spring Hikes in Sedona, Arizona

Adrien Patanè