40 Things to do near Woods Canyon Lake
first prev 1 2 next lastShowing results within 50 miles Distance miles of Woods Canyon Lake, Forest Service Rd 105, Payson, AZ 85541, USA City, Zip, or Address
Meadow Trail #505
Payson, Arizona
0.2 miles SEMeadow Trail #505 is a short, paved, wheelchair-accessible path along the rim of Woods Canyon Lake, high on Arizona's Mogollon Rim.
Hike
Aspen Campground
Payson, Arizona
0.6 miles SA 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 2.3 mi
Gordon Creek Falls
Payson, Arizona
3.4 miles SA 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
Sinkhole Campground
Payson, Arizona
3.9 miles SESinkhole 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 3.3 mi
See Canyon Trail
Payson, Arizona
3.9 miles WA 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 1.1 mi
Christopher Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
5.6 miles WA 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 0.4 mi
Christopher Creek Gorge
Payson, Arizona
6.5 miles WCold, 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 0.8 mi
Promontory Butte
Payson, Arizona
6.8 miles WSpectacularly 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
Haigler Canyon Campground
Payson, Arizona
8.1 miles SA 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
8.6 miles WA 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
8.6 miles WA 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
Hell's Gate
Payson, Arizona
11.8 miles SWHellsgate Wilderness hides deep canyon pools possibly separated by impassable falls in a remote 37,000-acre preserve — a true adventure for spring and fall explorers.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim
Payson Area
Cornville, Arizona
18.9 miles WThe 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
19.2 miles WFour 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
19.4 miles NWA 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
19.9 miles NWA 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
Tall Timbers Disc Golf Course
Heber-Overgaard, Arizona
22.3 miles EA short, beginner-friendly disc golf course through beautiful Ponderosa pines near Heber-Overgaard, with elevated baskets mounted in pine logs and discs available locally.
Disc Golf
Rumsey Park
Payson, Arizona
23.0 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 1.0 mi
Maxwell Trail No. 37
Happy Jack, Arizona
30.0 miles NWMaxwell Trail drops from the Mogollon Rim down into West Clear Creek, ending at shaded swimming holes, small caves, and great fishing — water shoes required.
Hike, Swim
Bearfoot Trail
Strawberry, Arizona
31.1 miles WBearfoot Trail (#13) is a mellow, shady Mogollon Rim hike and mountain-bike ride linking Strawberry to Pine Creek, near Pine, Arizona.
Hike, Mountain Bike
