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Payson Ranger District

The Payson Ranger District just outside the Phoenix metro area has beautiful ponderosa pines, and includes the East Verde River and Highline Trail.

General Information

The Payson Ranger District is located on all four sides of the town of Payson and continues north to the Mogollon Rim. It consists of approximately 450,000 acres (approximately 182,000 hectares) of Chaparral, Pinyon-Juniper, and Ponderosa Pine types of vegetation. Many recreationists visit this District looking to relax and escape the heat, participating in activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, OHV riding, and camping. Many developed campgrounds are available throughout the District and can reach capacity during the busy summer months. Hunting is also a common activity during hunting seasons. 

The Highline Trail is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking on this District. 

Trails

For a full list of trails, please click here or for more information or contact the appropriate Ranger Station on the forest. 

Complexes

Developed campgrounds with picnic tables, grills and designated fire pits may be reserved for large families to spend quality time together.

The Mogollon Rim, pronounced by locals as "muggy-own," is a 200-mile-long cliff in northern Arizona that ranges between 5,000 and 7,000 ft in elevation. The unique landscape was created by extreme erosion and faulting that has sculpted spectacular canyons and buttes. The rim serves as the geographical dividing line between the cool high country above and the hot, dry desert below. 

Houston Mesa Campground
Site Open

Houston Mesa Campground is located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just one mile north of Payson, Arizona and less than two hours from Phoenix.&n

Ponderosa Campground
Site Open

Ponderosa pine trees surround and tower over open-space campgrounds, providing cool shade and gorgeous vistas.

Christopher Creek Campground
Site Open

Christopher Creek Campground is one of the most popular sites on Payson Ranger District.

Tonto Creek
Site Open

There are numerous activities to explore in the Upper Tonto Creek Campgrounds.

Tonto Creek
Site Open

The Tonto Creek Campground has a large open-space parking lot and paved walkway makes it accessible with only a light hike to the creek.

Sharp Creek Campground
Site Open

Sharp Creek sits at a cool 6,000 feet elevation, perfect for escaping the desert heat of southern Arizona and getting away to shaded forests and refreshing creeks and lakes

Fishing, picnicking and water activities are available along the East Verde River.

Third Crossing
Site Open

Set in the shade of tall pine trees, this recreation area is perfect for any day trip that you have planned.

Flowing Springs Picnic Site
Site Open

This day use area offers many pastoral scenes and interesting rock formations.

USDA Forest Service Logo
Site Open

Set in the shade of tall pine trees, East Verde Picnic is perfect for any day trip that you have planned.

Recreation Sites

Showing: 11 - 16 of 16 results

Ponderosa Campground and Group Sites

Site Open
Picnicking
Ponderosa pine trees surround and tower over open-space campgrounds, providing cool shade and gorgeous vistas. Most visitors enjoy taking advantage of the area’s hiking trails and lakes, traveling…

Sharp Creek Campground and Group Sites

Site Open
Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Sharp Creek sits at a cool 6,000 feet elevation, perfect for escaping the desert heat of southern Arizona and getting away to shaded forests and refreshing creeks and lakes. It is surrounded by a…

Shoofly Village

Site Open
The Shoofly Indian Ruins were believed to have been occupied between A.D. 1000-1250. At an elevation of 5,240 feet, Shoofly Village once had a total of 79 structures of which the rock outlines, once…

Upper Tonto Creek Campground

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
There are numerous activities to explore in the Upper Tonto Creek Campgrounds. The Lower Tonto Creek Campground has a large open-space parking lot and paved walkway makes it accessible with only a…

Last updated May 22nd, 2025