WELCOME TO ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
ARIZONA RIM COUNTRY
Visitor’s Handbook
R
im Country lies at the crossroads of history, scenery and just plain fun. Just 90 minutes northeast from Phoenix, the area around Payson boasts four of the six streams in the state stocked with trout weekly and three of the state’s regularly stocked lakes. Payson itself has 50 miles of hiking trails, which connect to hundreds of miles of biking, hiking and riding trails in the surrounding national forest. Lying in the “heart of Arizona,” it’s a half a tank of gas from half of the state — with lots of hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, live music, and leafy summer parks. Within a 40-mile stretch, the elevation shifts from Roosevelt Lake at 3,000 feet to the top of the Mogollon Rim at 7,200 feet. Rim Country is comprised of the towns of Payson and Star Valley, as well as the communities of Pine, Strawberry and Christopher Creek, which lie along State Highways 87 and 260. The town of Payson acts as the hub of activities in Rim Country. The famous “World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo” heads a long list of events, including the “Mountain High Games,” “Beeline Cruise-In,” “Arizona State Fiddlers Championship,” the “Quilt Roundup” and more. The Rim Country lies just 90 minutes from Phoenix, Flagstaff and Prescott. Much of central Arizona’s rain and snowmelt drains through Rim Country, providing a wealth of streams and lakes. So welcome to Rim Country and our cool mountain forests and the hot seasonal activities. Enjoy our guide highlighting the activities and family-oriented events and attractions that geography and small-town hospitality has made possible — here in the Heart of Arizona.
Contents Rim Country Streams ................... 7 Rim Country Lakes ..................... 10 Tonto Natural Bridge................... 13 The Rodeo.................................. 14 Take a Hike ................................ 16 Campgrounds............................. 22
Mountain Biking ......................... 24 Adventures in Shopping...............27 Rim Country Communities .......... 28 A Lesson in History..................... 30 Dining ........................................ 32 Lodging...................................... 34
Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce
Produced by Roundup Publishing
100 W. Main Street P.O. Box 1380 Payson, AZ 85547 928.474.4515/800.672.9766 www.rimcountrychamber.com
708 N. Beeline Highway P.O. Box 2520 Payson, AZ 85547 928.474.5251 www.payson.com
Publisher’s Note: Despite our best editing, the Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Information is current as of May 2013. Photos and stories copyright Payson Roundup.