43 Things to do near Hell's Gate
first prev 1 2 3 next lastShowing results within 50 miles Distance miles of Nf-405A, Payson, AZ 85541, USA City, Zip, or Address
Christopher Creek Gorge
Payson, Arizona
6.9 miles NCold, clear swimming holes and rappellable waterfalls in a canyon just outside Payson — cold year-round, with a wetsuit recommended in cooler months.
Canyoneer, Hike, Swim 1.1 mi
Christopher Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
7.2 miles NEA creekside campground east of Payson with swimming holes, small waterfalls, spring trout stocking, and cross-country skiing in winter — open for day-use and overnight camping spring through fall.
Camp, Canyoneer, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Swim
Haigler Canyon Campground
Payson, Arizona
7.8 miles EA 2007-built campground along Haigler Creek with 14 overnight sites, trout fishing stocked April through late August, and chiseled canyon swimming holes nearby.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Upper Tonto Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
7.9 miles NA 9-site first-come-first-served campground at the junction of Tonto and Horton Creeks — with vault toilets, drinking water, and trailheads for Horton Spring and the Highline Trail nearby.
Camp, Hike 1.1-3.5 mi
Horton Springs
Payson, Arizona
8.2 miles NA spring on the Mogollon Rim where water emerges dramatically from the mountainside — hike the easy Horton Creek Trail through wildflowers and maples, splash in the cold creek, and camp near the spring.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 0.8 mi
Promontory Butte
Payson, Arizona
9.2 miles NSpectacularly scenic views from the edge of the Mogollon Rim, reached via old forest roads — a remote destination said to offer the best vantage over the forest below.
Hike 3.3 mi
See Canyon Trail
Payson, Arizona
9.3 miles NEA wooded Arizona trail climbing from Christopher Creek to the Mogollon Rim — easy and flat for the first mile (great for kids), then progressively steeper, with a side trail to See Spring for water.
Hike 2.3 mi
Gordon Creek Falls
Payson, Arizona
9.6 miles NEA secluded ponderosa oasis outside Payson with a seasonal waterfall that gushes in spring or after monsoon rains — dry or muddy when rainfall has been scarce.
Hike, Swim
Aspen Campground
Payson, Arizona
11.4 miles NEA large, popular campground near Woods Canyon Lake in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — note that Rim Road closes in winter, so the site is inaccessible during that time.
Camp 1.7 mi
Meadow Trail #505
Payson, Arizona
11.8 miles NEMeadow Trail #505 is a short, paved, wheelchair-accessible path along the rim of Woods Canyon Lake, high on Arizona's Mogollon Rim.
Hike 4.0 mi
Woods Canyon Lake
Payson, Arizona
11.8 miles NEA trout-fishing lake near Payson with a scenic loop hike and Mogollon Rim views — swimming is not recommended, but the scenery and fishing make it well worth the visit.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Rumsey Park
Payson, Arizona
13.4 miles WA 9-basket dual-tee disc golf course in Payson with dirt tees and no signs — bring the map to navigate this understated but playable layout.
Disc Golf
Sinkhole Campground
Payson, Arizona
13.5 miles NESinkhole Campground sits in cool ponderosa pines atop the Mogollon Rim, a short walk from the trout waters of Willow Springs Lake.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike
Payson Area
Cornville, Arizona
13.5 miles NWThe Payson area northeast of Phoenix offers numerous swimming holes in the Tonto National Forest rivers, including Ellison Creek Falls, Christopher Creek Gorge, Fossil Creek, and Verde Hot Springs.
Swim 0.2-0.6 mi
Ellison Creek Falls
Payson, Arizona
14.0 miles NWFour waterfalls, multiple swimming holes, and trout fishing along Ellison Creek near Payson — the most popular stop is a short walk from the parking lot.
Dive, Hike, Swim
East Clear Creek
Happy Jack, Arizona
23.1 miles NA Wild and Scenic river winding through the Mogollon Rim with canyon views, cliff-scaling canyoneers, trout fishing, and deep swimming holes for a full adventure day.
Canyoneer, Hike, Swim 0.8-1.8 mi
Kinder Crossing Trail #19
Happy Jack, Arizona
24.3 miles NA short but steep 0.75-mile hike dropping 500 feet to beautiful East Clear Creek — high-clearance vehicle required on FR 95T, no motorized vehicles past the trailhead, closed in winter snow.
Hike, Swim
Bearfoot Trail
Strawberry, Arizona
25.4 miles NWBearfoot Trail (#13) is a mellow, shady Mogollon Rim hike and mountain-bike ride linking Strawberry to Pine Creek, near Pine, Arizona.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Slate Creek Divide Loop
Phoenix, Arizona
27.5 miles SWA multi-route loop through chaparral, riparian habitat, and Ponderosa pine forest — options range from 10 to 26 miles, with creek crossings possible after storms.
Mountain Bike
Park Trail #66
Tonto Basin, Arizona
28.0 miles SWA diverse desert trail in Tonto Basin climbing through chaparral and juniper to a ponderosa meadow at Edwards Park — seasonal pools and waterfalls along Park Creek near the top.
Mountain Bike
