Get to Know the Arizona Rim Country

View Virtual Tour Take A Virtual Tour of Payson

View Virtual Tour Take a Virtual Tour of Pine 

View Virtual Tour Take a Virtual Tour of Gisela

The town of Payson is the gateway to the Mogollon Rim Country, the center for business, shopping, and entertainment in northern Gila County. At 5,000 feet in elevation, Payson is at the geographic heart of Arizona, an awe-inspring 90-minute drive from the Phoenix metropolitan area. Payson enjoys a mild four-season climate, however the entire region contains a wide variety of ecosystems due to the changes in elevation throughout the area.

The Mogollon Rim is a 200 mile long escarpment with an elevation of 7,000 feet, made famous in Zane Grey novels.  At the top of the Rim lie several Rim Lakes fed by trout streams like this one at Willow Springs.

At creekside near the Fish Hatchery in Tonto National Forest north of Payson, it is easy to find a private place for hiking, fishing, nature photography, cross-country skiing, hunting, or just peaceful contemplation.

Other local attractions include the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Shoo-Fly Indian Archaeological Site, the Zane Grey Museum, and the 45-acre Green Valley Lake and Recreation Area.

The region offers public and private golf facilities, including the Payson Golf Course, Chapparal Pines, and the exclusive Rim Club.

In addition to golf ammenities,  enjoy plentiful dining and entertainment options, including the Mazatzal Casino as well as the Payson Rodeo, the world's oldest continuous rodeo.

Areas south of Payson also boast miles and miles of trails for horseback, hiking , or ATVs. Surrounded by the rugged, majestic Mazatzal Mountains, areas such as Gisela, and Tonto Creek Shores are at approximately 3,000 ft. elevations with average temperatures 5 to 10 degrees warmer than Payson.

The Roosevelt Lake and Recreation Area lies to the south of the Tonto Basin. It is among the largest lakes in Arizona and is the oldest resevoir in the state, formed in 1911 by a masonary dam on the Salt River. The area is ideal for fishing, water sports, and camping. Nearby Tonto National Monument cliff dwellings offer insight into the ancient civilization that once flourished throughout the region.