Right in the heart of the Grand Canyon State are the beautiful communities of Pine & Strawberry, located at the base of the majestic Mogollon Rim!
Things To Do In Rim Country
Fire on the Rim Mountain Bike Festival - September 15th 2012 - Our first annual race was on 8/5/2011 and was a great success. The goal of the race is to raise money to support the ongoing efforts to maintain a fire safe community, by building a series of trails within the fuel breaks that protect our towns.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park - 5 miles south on 87, turn right and go 3 miles down into the canyon. The road is steep and narrow (trailers and large RV's not recommended). It is the largest travertine bridge with 4 viewpoints and trails down to the creek. Picnic tables are available, along with great short hikes, bird and animal watching and a gift shop. A MUST see!! See the state park website
The Arizona Trail - Hike from on end to the other, over 800 miles are complete! Pine is a Gateway community with all the ammenities needed for refueling. Rimside Grill has a hiker box and discounts on rooms for overnight hikers.
Fossil Springs Wilderness - Beautiful hikes, swimming, hot springs and so much more!
Fossil Creek - From a kayaking perspective - Warning! article has some language, but still a great story on the history and preservation of the creek!
Pine Trailhead - So much to see!!
Highline Trail - 51 miles of trails one way to the 260 Trailhead
Pine Creek Canyon - Trail #26 - 7.9 miles one way - great day hike with a car shuttle!
WILDCAT SPRING
Lavishly overgrown with gigantic ferns, the Wildcat Spring trail explores an idyllic high-country ravine. The route melds sections of old dirt roads and footpaths that trace the flow of a damp drainage. Attractions along the way include fossil-encrusted limestone rock formations – remnants of the area’s underwater past – and an outrageous display of wildflowers, including red cinquefoil, New Mexico checker mallow and thistles sprouting among massive clumps of emerald brackens. Near the end of the trail, the source of the area’s life-giving moisture is revealed at a dilapidated concrete trough built into a hillside to collect the sporadic waters of Wildcat Spring.
HIGHLIGHTS: earthy forest, trickling creek, abundant wildflowers, old spring
LENGTH: 3 miles roundtrip
ELEVATION: 6,900-7,100 feet
RATING: easy
GETTING THERE: From Payson, go north on State Highway 87 for 32 miles to Forest Road 616, which is located past milepost 284 on the left. Follow FR 616 for 3.3 miles to an unsigned campground downhill on the right. The hike starts on the west side of FR 616 at a gate across from the campground.
PIVOT ROCK CANYON
Skeptics take note: Arizona does indeed have its own rainforest. As unlikely as that may sound, a hike through the commanding, moisture-laden vegetation that drapes the Pivot Rock Canyon trail in an electric palette of green provides ample supporting evidence. The dew-stippled trail is unmarked but fairly easy to follow. The trickiest part comes at the quarter-mile point where a set of stony stairs leads down to the creek. The next 1.2 miles traverse a tangled, jungle-like setting, criss-crossing the shallow creek on its way to a sun-speckled pasture where log cabin remnants beckon visitors. Beyond the old homestead, the trail transitions into a maze of plant and geological obstacles. However, with basic route-finding skills, bushwhacking and boulder-hopping, it’s possible to continue for another 3.5 miles to where the trail ends at Forest Road 142.
HIGHLIGHTS: an unforgettable trip through an Arizona rainforest
LENGTH: 3 miles roundtrip
ELEVATION: 6,790-6,900 feet
RATING: easy
GETTING THERE: From Payson, go north on State Highway 87 for 32 miles to Forest Road 616, which is located past milepost 284 on the left. Follow FR 616 for 3.3 miles to an unsigned campground downhill on the right. The hike starts at the north end of the campground at the blocked road.
Tonto Creek
Info - Camping, picnicking, waterplay, hiking
Season of use – April – September
Fish present – Trout (remote portions harbor 16-18” rainbows)
Facilities – Horton Day Use Site, Upper Tonto Creek & Tonto Creek Campgrounds. There is NO drinking water, 6 picnic units and 26 camp units with picnic tables and grills. Vault toilets.
Location and Access –
Creek Access Point #1 Fish Hatchery Access. Travel 17 miles East of Payson on State Route (SR) 260. Just East of mile marker 269 (at Kohl’s Ranch), turn left (North) on Forest Route (FR) 289. Travel 4 miles to the parking area just outside the entrance of the Fish Hatchery. FR 289 parallels Tonto Creek most of the way to the Arizona Game and Fish hatchery. Park in lot. It is necessary to respect private property along the creek.
Creek Access Point #2 Horton, Tonto Creek & Upper Tonto Creek Recreation Sites Access. Travel 17 miles east of Payson on SR 260. East of mile marker 269, turn North FR 289. Travel to these sites.
Creek Access Point #3 Bear Flat Access. Travel 14 miles east of Payson on SR 260, past mile marker 266. Turn right on FR 405 and follow it for 4.5 miles to creek.
Creek Access Point #4 Hells Gate Trail #37 Access. Travel 12 miles east of Payson on SR 260. At mile marker 264, turn right on FR 405A. Follow for less than a mile. Turn right at the cement water trough (at FR 893, four wheel drive required) and travel for 1 mile. When you come to a fork in the road, bear left and continue for another mile. Park and follow very rugged Hells Gate Trail for approx 4 miles to creek. This trail is not for novice hikers; at least a full day should be planned for the hike out. This is a very difficult back-pack, with a climb out of over 1,500 vertical feet.