Mogollon Rim - Payson, AZ

MOGOLLON RIM

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VOLUME ONE: 2 DAY TRIP SEPTEMBER 2021

PAYSON, AZ

CONTENTS QUICK FACTS 2,000 foot drop that spans from Yavapai County to New Mexico.

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WHAT TO PACK Find out what we brought with us and what we want to bring next time!

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WHERE TO STAY Campgrounds on the Rim are the perfect location for tons of activity

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OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS Plenty of hikes nearby and lakes along the rim for fishing, kayaking, and SUP boarding.

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CAMPGROUND LOGISTICS From first come first serve, to what is included, to the best time to arrive

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WHAT'S NEARBY? Closest town for comfort?

Place to buy ice, firewood, etc.

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GO DISPERSED Wanting more adventure and seclusion?

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WEEKEND ITINERARY Just a peek into how you could spend the weekend.

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CLOSING REMARKS Camping along the Rim

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QUICK FACTS The Mogollon Rim is less than 100 miles northeast of Phoenix, Arizona, making it an easy weekend trip. The Rim is about 2,000 miles long made up of limestone and granite and is covered in pine trees, a change of scenery compared to the desert landscape found in a majority of the state.

Best Months to Visit: Between April and October Be aware that the Mogollon Rim is seasonal. Why? Due to the elevation being between 7,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level, this area is typically covered in snow in the winter the forest roads will be closed from November through March due to safety reasons.

Our first visit was in the beginning of September and the weather was incredible for camping. Overnight it got down in the 50-60s which meant perfect for a campfire, sleeping comfortably, and waking up with a hot cup of coffee! By late morning through the afternoon temperatures were in the 80-90s making it perfect Arizona weather for kayaking on one of the many lakes or hiking trails along the Rim.

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months! Most campgrounds will only be open from April 1st to October 31st and a lot of

WHERE TO STAY

campgrounds

There are plenty of campgrounds to choose from along the Rim. Here is a little summary of options to help narrow it down!

Aspen Campground - situated within the pines and very close to Woods Canyon Lake, this is where we stayed! 27 first come first serve sites, and reservations ahead of time can be made for the remaining 100 or so sites! The largest campground near Woods Canyon Lake.

Crook Campground - 26 camp sites, reservations required - 3/4 mile from Woods Canyon Lake and 1/4 mile from the Meadow Trail which is a paved trail that leads you

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to either the lake or the Rim depending on which direction you head!

Mogollon Campground - situated 2 miles from Woods Canyon Lake, this is the farthest campground from the water but closet to the Rim, so the trade off is having spectacular views very close by! 26 camp sites, 12 of which can be reserved ahead of time.

Rim Campground - also situated close to the edge of the Mogollon Rim, there are spectacular views from many vantage points. 26 camp sites, 12 of which can be reserved ahead of time.

Spillway Campground - closest to Woods Canyon Lake, some of the sites, especially #21 through #26 have lake views! 26 total camp sites available, reservations are recommended.

Here is a map of the area to understand the location of each and help determine which makes the most sense for you!

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For reservations visit: RECREATION.GOV

CAMPGROUND LOGISTICS Weekends are going to be the most crowded, but I found that if you arrive early in the morning you are likely to get a site as people are packing up and checking out. Another trick we discovered is that if you want to extend your stay, you can walk up to the front desk when they open in the morning and ask to be put on a waitlist. As long as you are present at your site when one becomes available, you will likely snag a spot, it just might mean having to move to another site!

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All of the campgrounds I mentioned above offer a fire ring, grill, picnic table, paved parking spot for vehicle, vault toilets, drinking watering and water for washing hands/dishes, and trash service. All campgrounds also have at least one camp host and a very friendly crew who clean the bathrooms every morning around 8am. Price per night varies from $18-27 depending on the campground location, and includes one vehicle. Extra vehicles per site are an additional fee.

We made sure to prep our food ahead of time so that we could cook healthy, hearty meals to ensure we had the energy for plenty of activities. I will share a roundup of our meals further down under "What To Pack"

GO DISPERSED If dispersed camping is more up your alley, you came prepared with the proper gear and supplies, and are feeling more adventurous and wanting seclusion, the Mogollon Rim is a great area for this!

If you're from the east coast like I am, then this is a new concept for you. Let me explain what I have learned : Dispersed camping means you camp outside of developed campgrounds anywhere along the forest road at no charge and permits are not required in this area.

Potable water, toilets, and other amenities are not available.

Bring adequate water or be prepared to purify any water source before drinking.

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If the fire advisory is high you are not allowed to have campfires in dispersed sites, but propane campfires are allowed.

Be sure to drown your campfire in water prior to going to bed or leaving your site. If it’s too hot to touch it isn’t out.

Dispersed campsites don’t have trash service so practice “Pack it in. Pack it out.”

Since it is a gravel road, when cars drive by, dust gets picked up, so park well off the road to avoid gritty food!

These forest road campsites are also a great backup when the designated campgrounds are full.

Once we go back to the Rim to disperse camp, I will be able to better help navigate those waters and share my experiences. For now, all I can say is that dispersed camping is very prevalent in this area and with the panoramic views right outside your tent, how could you not want to give it a try?

WHAT TO PACK First lets talk food!

Breakfast : Eggs, turkey bacon, english muffins, and fruit Coffee We have a pour over, so we just boil hot water in our pot on the stove and bring a bag of grounds and a small carton of creamer Lunch : PBJ sandwiches with miscellaneous snacks Dinner : Night 1 - chicken fajitas

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Night 2 - one pot penne vodka Dessert : S'mores of course!

Tips : Dice chicken and marinade/season in a ziplock bag at home so you are not handling the raw meat while camping Cut veggies at home and either bag them up or portion them into individual foil boats that can be thrown on the grill or over the fire! This makes for a very easy clean up!

Clean and cut fruit at home Bring plenty of snacks that are great for "on the go" to throw in your pack to hike

WHAT TO PACK Gear, specifically for cooking and cleaning Coleman 2-burner gas camping stove (don't forget to purchase a propane tank and lighter as well!)

Pot, pan, cast iron skillet Reusable utensil pouch (purchased from Walmart here! Along with 4 sets of forks, spoons, and knives, this 24 piece set includes spice containers, a spatula, serving spoon, tongs, cutting board, sponges, and even squeeze bottles for condiments) Plastic plates and bowls Camping mugs & pour over

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Water bottles (if disperse camping, don't forget to bring your water storage container, which comes in many sizes! A good rule of thumb would be to have at least 1 gallon of water for drinking per person per day, but depending on activity level you could need more. Don't forget to account for extra for washing dishes / hands / etc. If you are staying at a campground you do not need to worry about this - spigots are provided to refill bottles) Bundle of firewood (purchased from grocery store ahead of time - we average one bundle per night!)

Trash bags, paper towels, wipes (for washing hands, your bum, and for "showering" off at the end of the day - here is the pack we use for wiping our bums and "showering") Tupperware bins - at least one for your food and one for your supplies that way you're bear proof, easily able to pack up, and contain everything in one spot!

Cooler + bag of ice

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS Woods Canyon Lake Popular spot to fish, hike, paddle board, kayak, and sunbathe on the rocks. There is a boat ramp which allows you to easily slip into the water along with a boat rental service in case you do not have your own. If fishing is for you, we heard that the trout are huge and abundant!

Conveniently located near many campgrounds and a general store that provides just about everything you could have possibly forgotten on your trip. There is a hiking trail around the perimeter of the lake as well that is about a 3.7 miles loop. We found this lake to be beautiful, but a little crowded. Make sure to come patient because the parking lot is small.

One of the most scenic of the six Rim lakes. Two parking lots are positioned a short hike to the water, so only bring your kayaks or paddle boards if you are willing to carry them!

Knoll Lake The farthest from the beginning of Rim Road, Knoll is the only one of the six within the Coconino National Forest. There is a boat ramp, making this lake great for fishing, kayaking, or paddle boarding without the crowds. Also don't forget to explore the island in the middle of the lake!

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Bear Canyon Lake

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS There are a ton of trails on and around the Rim. It all depends on how intense you want your hike to be, how far you are willing to drive from your site, and how long of a trail you'd like to commit to. The easiest way to get some exercise and great views is simply taking Meadow Trail, a paved path, from the campgrounds out to the Rim and enjoy the beauty from the Rim Lakes Vista Overlook. If you're looking for more, here are my two favorite hikes in the area. One on the Rim, and the other at the base.

Rim Lakes Vista Trail ~ 7 mile out-and-back ~ easy Hwy 260. This is a great trail along the edge of the Mogollon Rim with many lookout points to enjoy panoramic views.

Horton Creek Trail ~ 7 miles round trip ~ easy / moderate Considered the most popular hike in Rim Country. Trailhead can be accessed via Tonto Creek Road off of Highway 260, a 25 minute drive from campgrounds on the Rim. Hike includes an incredible waterfall, making the longer distance worth while!

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Trailhead is located at Military Sinkhole, very close to the entrance onto Rim Road coming from

WHAT'S NEARBY? When camping it is important to know what is nearby. Lets face it, no one is perfect, and when packing, something always seems to slip the mind!

Woods Canyon Lake Store & Marina There is a general store at Woods Canyon Lake. We stopped in here to pick up a beer after a long day of hiking and paddle boarding on the water. We were hot and sweaty, and since we knew there wasn't going to be a shower in our future, cracking open a cold beer just seemed like the right thing to do.

They also have a ton of camping supplies, firewood, ice, snacks, and even first aid supplies.

Safeway stop on the way in if you're coming from the south. We grabbed a bag of ice here to maximize how long it would last in our cooler. This would also be a great spot for firewood and any perishable food.

Common Grounds I have to mention my favorite coffee shop in Payson, AZ. We packed up Sunday morning, so on our drive back home we stopped in town for a coffee, and let me tell you it was delicious! The service is friendly, the shop is cozy, and they always have seasonal specials worth trying if you're into that.

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This is the nearest grocery store, 30 minutes from the turn onto Rim Road at Hwy 260. Perfect spot to

WEEKEND ITINERARY Friday Check into campground Set up site, cook dinner and enjoy a fire Saturday Breakfast Hike Horton Creek Trail Paddle board Woods Canyon Lake Grab a beer at the general store Cook dinner Sunday Morning hike out to the Rim, Meadow Trail to Rim Lakes Vista Overlook Breakfast Pack up and grab coffee at Common Grounds on your way home

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Campfire and SMORES

CLOSING REMARKS The Mogollon Rim is a special gem within Arizona. The weather was an amazing

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escape from the Phoenix heat, and the panoramic views were remarkable.

As someone who loves to hike, but tends to prefer staying in an Airbnb with a shower and a real bed to sleep in, I must say that this trip was one of my favorite weekend getaways we've taken in a while. We did not have cell phone service, we cooked every meal, and we enjoyed quality time together.

My favorite aspect to the Mogollon Rim is the weather. Living in the 100+ degree summers of Phoenix, AZ it was so refreshing to get away where there are cooler temperatures. We would wake up in the morning needing a sweatshirt and a hot cup of coffee, yet by 11am it was hot enough to be in a bathing suit out on the SUP boards. Then by 5pm when the sun would start to set, we were winding down to cook dinner, and it was cooling off again. Perfect!

This is just the beginning of my many travel guides in Arizona. I am so excited to continue sharing more travel tips and itineraries within my state. It is not often that someone can drive just a couple hours away from home and have endless opportunities to vacation where others fly from all over the country just to visit. I love where I live, I am proud to be in Arizona, and I want to share everything I learn along the way with you!

Hopefully I have convinced you to get outside and go camping. Even if you think that is not typically your ideal getaway, I promise I did not think it was for me either, but now I am hooked and cannot wait to go again!

Cheers,

One Backpack Traveler

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