96 Things to do near Payson, AZ 85541
first prev 1 2 3 4 5 next lastShowing results within 50 miles Distance miles of Payson, AZ 85541, USA City, Zip, or Address
Rumsey Park
Payson, Arizona
1.0 miles NWA 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
Payson Area
Cornville, Arizona
8.8 miles NThe 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
9.1 miles NFour 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
Hell's Gate
Payson, Arizona
12.9 miles EHellsgate 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
Upper Tonto Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
15.0 miles NEA 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
15.1 miles NEA 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
Bearfoot Trail
Strawberry, Arizona
15.1 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 0.4 mi
Christopher Creek Gorge
Payson, Arizona
16.4 miles ECold, 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
17.1 miles NESpectacularly 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 1.1 mi
Christopher Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
17.3 miles EA 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 0.1-3.8 mi
Fossil Springs Trail No. 18
Pine, Arizona
18.4 miles NWA 4.75-mile desert canyon trail to the springs and an old dam in the Fossil Springs Wilderness — little shade and a brutal uphill return make summer visits genuinely dangerous.
Hike, Horseback, Swim 1.1-4.6 mi
Fossil Creek Dam (Toilet Bowl)
Pine, Arizona
18.4 miles NWA waterfall over an old Fossil Creek dam with a spinning natural rock slide that launches swimmers into the main pool — plus a shallow cave for shade on hot Arizona days.
Dive, Hike, Swim 3.3 mi
See Canyon Trail
Payson, Arizona
19.2 miles EA 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
Fossil Creek Waterfall
Pine, Arizona
20.4 miles NWOne of Arizona's two Wild and Scenic rivers, with a short hike from a dirt-road parking area to a deep pool at the base of the falls — watch for snakes on the trail.
Hike, Swim
Haigler Canyon Campground
Payson, Arizona
20.7 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
Slate Creek Divide Loop
Phoenix, Arizona
20.9 miles SA 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 2.3 mi
Gordon Creek Falls
Payson, Arizona
21.7 miles EA 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
22.7 miles EA 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
Verde Hot Springs
Camp Verde, Arizona
22.7 miles WNatural hot spring pools beside the Verde River — the remnants of an old resort — reached by wading upstream from a dispersed camping area with no amenities near Sedona.
Camp, Hike, Hot Springs 4.0 mi
Woods Canyon Lake
Payson, Arizona
22.9 miles EA 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
