THE HEART OF ARIZONA
A scenic alternate route to the top of popular places in the country for second Rim Country since it sits on the edge of the
the Rim is Arizona Highway 260 through homes as well as ranked as one of the fast- world’s largest stand of Ponderosa pines.
the Town of Star Valley and communities of est-growing retirement communities in the Local attractions include the Tonto
Kohl’s Ranch and Christopher Creek. nation. Arizona Rim Country offers what Natural Bridge State Park (the largest trav-
Kohl’s Ranch is one of the ever-popu- many are looking for when they relocate: ertine bridge in the world), Shoofly Indian
lar recreation spots in Arizona Rim Country. a moderate climate, a rural setting with Archaeological Site, Rim Country Museum
Eighteen miles east of Payson, this rustic easy access to metropolitan areas, quality and the replication of the Zane Grey Cabin,
resort area was once just a tiny post office, housing, recreational amenities, accessible Whispering Hope Ranch, Tonto Fish Hatch-
a store, a bar, and a dance hall with a floor health care, low crime rates, and employ- ery, The Ranch at Fossil Creek, Pine-Straw-
made of wood planks. “We used to go up ment opportunities. berry Museum, Fossil Creek Trailhead, the
there and dance on Saturday nights,” one Our temperature is an average 15 de- Strawberry Schoolhouse (the oldest school-
old timer recalls. “There was a fiddler and grees cooler than the desert, and the area house in Arizona), and the 45-acre Green
a piano player. You’d dance until the dust receives an average of about 21 inches of Valley Park. Maps for hiking are available at
was so bad you couldn’t breathe. Then ev- precipitation. The two or three large snow- the Payson Ranger Station. Three streams,
erybody would go outside. The dust would falls that normally occur below the Rim stocked with trout, are within a twenty-five
settle, and they’d start the music and you’d usually melt quickly, but the snowpack on minute drive of Payson. On top of the Mo-
go back inside.” Nearby Camp Tontozona, top of the Rim can last the entire winter gollon Rim is a chain of trout lakes. To the
owned by Arizona State University, hosts and well into spring. In July and August, south of Payson is Roosevelt Lake, full of
RIM COUNTRY is named after one
of Arizona’s two most dominant
landforms, the Mogollon Rim
(the other landform is the Grand
Canyon). Rising to a height of
7,500 feet a few miles north of
Payson, this massive 200 mile
escarpment cuts a wide swath
through “The Heart of Arizona.”
In addition to Payson at 5,000
feet, Arizona Rim Country
includes the progressively higher
communities of Star Valley, Pine,
Strawberry, and Christopher Creek
and a number of smaller outlying
communities and villages.
Chris Picknally
the ASU Sun Devil football training camp moist air from Mexico collides with the bass and crappie.
every August. Rim creating a rainy monsoon-type sea- Themed festivals are planned for many
Christopher Creek is a small, lushly son complete with lighting shows that are of the weekends and art shows can be found
wooded community 22 miles east of Pay- absolutely stunning. Arizona Rim Country throughout the area. Come and check out the
son. Named after a settler of French origin, offers a near perfect, four season climate! Spring Rodeo in Payson, a classic car show
Isadore Christopher, who brought his mail along Main Street, the Strawberry Festival in
order bride here in 1880, the area offers SCENIC ATTRACTIONS early June, free concerts during the summer
rustic cabins, great dining, wonderful fish- The beautiful pine country around Pay- in Green Valley Park, the Annual World’s Old-
ing and outstanding hiking. Nearby are the son, Pine, Strawberry, Star Valley and Chris- est Continuous Rodeo in August, the Electric
trailheads to the Highline Trail. topher Creek, as well as numerous streams Light Parade, and various lighting ceremo-
and lakes, offers many recreational oppor- nies throughout December. Since there are so
QUALITY OF LIFE tunities and facilities. Forest Service camp- many events throughout the year, a constant-
Here in the shadows of the Mogollon grounds on the 7,500 foot Mogollon Rim ly updated calendar of events is available at
Rim, the residents of the communities of are plentiful. Fishermen enjoy the abundant the Chamber’s Visitor Center.
Arizona Rim Country enjoy a quality of trout streams, and elk, deer, turkey, javalina, Scenic drives throughout Arizona Rim
life that ranks among the best anywhere. antelope, bear, and mountain lion hunting is Country abound. The Mogollon Rim Road
Payson has been listed as one of the most permitted. Outdoor enthusiasts love Arizona (part of the historic General Crook Military
www.rimcountrychamber.com
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