Payson, Arizona: Parks, Historic Sites & Waterfalls

Mogollon Rim is an escarpment that is part of the Colorado Plateau, extending more than 200 miles throughout Arizona between Yavapai County and the state’s border with New Mexico. Its name is a reference to Spanish Governor of New Mexico Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollón, who served from 1712 to 1715. It is perhaps best known as the site of author Zane Grey’s famed hunting cabin, which was destroyed by fire in 1990.

The rim showcases high sandstone and limestone cliff formations such as the Kaibab and Coconino cliffs and is home to beautiful canyons such as Fossil Creek and Pine Canyons. Expansive Ponderosa pine forests are showcased throughout the rim’s slopes and plateaus, with hiking and horseback trails meandering through forested regions. Fishing and backcountry skiing opportunities are also available, along with the Camp Colley outdoor adventure camp.

1824 S. Thompson St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, Phone: 928-527-3600

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park showcases the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, which spans the length of a 400-foot tunnel and reaches 150 feet wide by 183 feet high. The natural bridge was originally discovered in 1877 by pioneer David Gowan, who constructed a lodge that housed members of his family until 1948 and is preserved on the National Register of Historic Places today.

A variety of trails are offered throughout the park surrounding the bridge, including the 0.5-mile Pine Creek and Gowan Trails and the Waterfall Trail, which showcases a waterfall cave at its end. Picnic tables and a recreation area are also offered, along with a gift shop for visitors. The park’s Goodfellow Lodge may be rented for private special events, including weddings and overnight groups.

Highway 87, Pine, AZ 85544, Phone: 928-476-4202

Rim Country Museum is a historical museum that is owned by the Northern Gila County Historical Society, operated in conjunction with the Arizona Historical Society. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays and showcases a variety of exhibits, including an exhibit on famed author Zane Grey, who depicted the region’s Old West history in his novels. Exhibits detail the region’s Apache indigenous and pioneer history, along with its participation in the late 19th-century gold rush and mining boom in Arizona. Other exhibits include a reconstructed sawmill and blacksmith shop and a display on the Payson Rodeo, considered to be the oldest continuous rodeo in the world. Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more, including field trips for elementary and secondary school students.

700 S Green Valley Pkwy, Payson, AZ 85541, Phone: 928-474-3483

Green Valley Park was dedicated in October of 1997 and spans more than 30 acres throughout the Payson region, including three lakes that cover 13 acres of water surface and 17 acres of day-use public land. The park has won awards for its cooperative water reclamation efforts, which reuses wastewater for park landscaping irrigation and civic reuse.

It is a partner facility with Arizona’s Urban Fishing Program, an initiative of the state’s Game and Fish Department, which strives to stock urban fishing areas to provide an alternative for remote and resort fishing spots. The park is also a popular spot for boating, picnicking, and jogging, with nearly four miles of trails offered throughout the facility.

Address: Green Valley Park, 1000 W Country Club Dr, Payson, AZ 85541, Phone: 928-474-5242

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

Mazatzal Hotel and Casino is operated by the Tonto Apache Indian Reservation and is located at a height of over 5,000 feet. More than 400 progressive and single reel slot machines are offered at the casino, along with live blackjack and poker tables, video poker games, and weekly bingo tournaments.

A players’ club offers exclusive member benefits, including dining and hotel rewards for frequent casino visitors. The resort’s all-suite hotel features spacious, comfortable rooms overlooking the Mazatzal Mountains, with all guests receiving access to amenities such as the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, spa, and fitness center. Two full-service restaurants serve classic American favorites, and daily lunch buffets highlight seafood options. Concerts, comedy shows, and DJ sets are presented periodically at the resort’s lounge.

Mazatzal Hotel and Casino, Highway 87, Mile Marker 251, Payson, AZ 85541, Phone: 928-474-6044

Rancho Tonto Catch-A-Trout is located on the former homestead property of “Green Valley” Sam Haught, best known as the rescuer of historic MGM mascot Leo the Lion. The property borders beautiful Tonto Creek and is open as a day-use fishing facility for catching rainbow trout.

All-inclusive fishing prices offer visitors pole, bait, net, and bucket rental, with free cleaning, packaging, and professional assistance available for all catches. Visitors only pay for fish caught, with no limits on catches and no proof of license required. A three-bedroom rental guest house is available for fishers, sleeping nine guests and offering amenities such as DirecTV.

Rancho Tonto Catch-A-Trout, HC2 Box 98, Payson, AZ 85541, Phone: 928-478-0002

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Naco Paleo Site is located approximately 12 miles east of the city of Payson near the turnoff for Kohl’s Ranch and is a popular spot for fossil collection. The site features significant Pennsylvanian Shale-Limestone deposits that collected approximately 300 million years ago, when much of Arizona was submerged 50 feet underwater.

Invertebrate fossil collection is permitted at the site, which is rich with fossils of modern-day fish, reptile, and insect ancestors. A large parking lot area is provided at the site, accommodating standard vehicles, motorhomes, and travel trailers. Visitors should bring their own tools for excavation and should note that vertebrate fossil collection without a permit is strictly prohibited by the Bureau of Land Management.

Naco Paleo Site, AZ-260, Payson, AZ 85541

Shoofly Indian Ruins are located near Payson atop Houston Mesa and preserve a large living complex formerly occupied by Mogollon indigenous people between 1000 and 1250 A.D. At the height of the complex’s use, it was believed to have contained nearly 80 structures, including a large two-story central building with 26 rooms, and housed a population of as many as 250 people.

The ruins were initially discovered in 1940 by archaeologist John Hughes and excavated in the mid-1980s by a team from Arizona State University. Today, the 3.75-acre complex’s ruins are visible to the public via self-guided tours, including the rock foundations of many buildings and the remains of a large stone wall fortification around the complex.

Shoofly Indian Ruins, 1-5 Houston Mesa Rd, Payson, AZ 85541

Ellison Creek Waterfall is a waterfall and swimming hole that is located between Payson and the Mogollon Rim, accessible via a moderate one-mile hike from a parking lot off Houston Mesa Road.

A dirt road to the waterfall traverses areas of dense foliage and slate formations, traveling alongside a river for half its duration. At its terminus, it provides access to a waterfall at an elevation of 3,650 feet that serves as a popular local swimming hole at its base. Dogs are permitted on the trail and at the waterfall on leashes, and restroom facilities are provided at the trailhead. Visitors should note that the waterfall can site be very busy on summer weekends and are advised to wear slip-proof shoes for safety navigating the area near the waterfall.

Ellison Creek Waterfall , Ellison Creek, Arizona 85541