Tonto Basin, Arizona

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 o...

From the parking lot you will start out on the Arizona Trail until you reach the turn off to begin your accent up the mountain.  This part of the trail isn't well maintained, and is a scramble, so be ready to use those hands.  The trail is marked with cairns though and there is enough traffic tha...

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...

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, ...

This heavily trafficked, easy trail leads along the edge of the Mogollon Rim, with spectacular views.  There are lots of places for photos, but make sure to be very careful, as it’s more than a 200 ft drop! The first ½ mile of the trail is paved, making it easy for all ages to enjoy.  But again,...

This hike is a ~4 mile heavily trafficked loop trail that circles Woods Canyon Lake, on the beautiful Mogollon Rim.  Peaceful and easy, this trail is suitable for all skill levels, and is great for families looking to spend a bit of time in nature.  The trail follows the shoreline closely, and fo...

You can rent a charming metal fishing boat at the Woods Canyon Lake Marina, or bring your own (if you’re bringing your own boat, make sure you bring a PFD too, as it’s Arizona law).  Note that gas motors are NOT permitted on boats (only trolling motors).  This makes it an incredibly quiet experie...

Is there any better way to spend a Saturday, then paddling on a glassy, peaceful lake?  You can rent kayaks at the Woods Canyon Lake Marina, or bring your own (if you’re bringing your own kayak, make sure you bring a PFD too, as it’s Arizona law).  One of the best parts of this lake is that w...

As you park at the trailhead, you have the option to take this trail in either direction. I recommend that you travel north, which will immediately provide 0.75 miles of elevation gain. You will then reach a pass with panoramic views of the Tonto National Forest. A bench in this area provides the...

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...

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 ...

Pueblo La Plata is the largest ancient Indian ruin in Agua Fria National Monument and dates back to before 1200 A.D. The ruin at one time had 80 to 90 rooms for living quarters. Now the sight seems like just a pile of rubble. However there is significant research continuing on the mesa of Agua Fr...

Hike to Cibecue Falls on a canyoneering adventure to check out an incredible waterfall in Arizona. The Hike It’s a bumpy ride down an old dirt road to get to the trailhead to hike Cibecue Falls. Use extreme caution on this road as there are very narrow sections with sheer cliffs. The road follo...

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...

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...

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...