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North America United States Payson, Arizona Do & See Fossil Hunting at Paleo Site

Overview

Fossil Hunting at Paleo Site

The guide was updated: 2024-11-06

Visitors and locals can feel like Paleontologists at the Naco Paleo Site. Invertebrate fossils remain from the days in which Arizona lay beneath shallow seas some 40-50 feet deep—300 million years ago. Find fossils of the ancestors of modern-day fish, reptiles, and insects.

Useful Information

Address: Paleo Site Monument, Highway 260, Payson, AZ
More Info: The Paleo Site is marked by a sign, approximately 12-13 miles east of Payson, just before the Kohl's Ranch Turnoff.

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Mogollon Rim

Mogollon Rim

Formed 600 million years ago, the Mogollon Rim is the stupendous center of Arizona’s geography. Almost incongruously to the rest of Arizona, the Rim is blanketed in forests and grass. Such lush, fertile land has led to an amazing diversity of fauna: birds (including eagles), Rocky Mountain elk, mule, and whitetail deer, black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, javelina, and coyotes all make the Mogollon Rim their home. So drive, hike, or bike to the top of the Rim and experience Arizona at its finest.

Rim Country Museum & Zane Grey Cabin

Rim Country Museum & Zane Grey Cabin

Without the novels of Zane Grey, it is quite possible that Hollywood greats like John Wayne, Shirley Temple, and Randolph Scott would have been lost on the world. Grey’s outstanding Westerns became movies that launched the careers of cinema mainstays, and his novels have been published in over 20 languages, with estimated annual sales between 500,000 and one million copies worldwide. Now his cabin stands as a historical site for visitors. While not everything in the cabin is original, certain pieces allow visitors to visualize Grey’s life in the early 20th century. Find cowboy boots, Grey’s original saddle, a writer’s chair, a cot, and a bear rug.

Tonto Natural Bridge

Tonto Natural Bridge

Appearing like a scene from an “Indiana Jones” film, the Tonto Natural Bridge is within a small valley of forest and pine trees. Estimated to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world, the bridge is 183 feet high and covers 400 feet (150 feet at its widest point). Visitors and adventurers may choose to stand at its top or hike down to the valley.

Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery

Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery

Whether enjoying the winter snow or the summer sunshine, the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery is bursting at the seams for opportunities to hike, picnic, and observe wildlife. This is a great educational experience for the whole family, as guides at the Hatchery teach about fish production and facts about the wetlands. There are rainbow, brook, cutthroat, and Apache trout produced each year, some catchable. The streams and wetlands on Tonto Creek are vital to the survival of Arizona’s wildlife, so come and see why.

Fossil Hunting at Paleo Site

Fossil Hunting at Paleo Site

Visitors and locals can feel like Paleontologists at the Naco Paleo Site. Invertebrate fossils remain from the days in which Arizona lay beneath shallow seas some 40-50 feet deep—300 million years ago. Find fossils of the ancestors of modern-day fish, reptiles, and insects.

Shoofly Village Ruins

Shoofly Village Ruins

Take a self-guided tour into Arizona’s rich Native past. As the epicenter of Southwestern prehistoric cultures, the overall Rim Country served as home to probably 1,000 different sites. The Shoofly ruins themselves were occupied between 1000 and 1250 A.D. There were once 79 structures with a large building at its center that housed 26 rooms averaging 37.4 sq. meters each. Visiting the Ruins brings with it a newfound appreciation for Arizona’s telling history.

Mazatzal Casino

Mazatzal Casino

The Mazatzal Casino has over 400 slots, video poker, a bingo hall, and live black jack. Located on the Tonto Apache Reservation, Mazatzal also has the award-winning Cedar Ridge Restaurant. The Apache Spirits Lounge also features weekly specials on cocktails, beer, and wine.

Rim Country Fishing

Rim Country Fishing

There are a plethora of lakes from which to choose in Arizona’s Rim Country. Regardless of what fishermen are craving for the day, the various lakes each have something unique to offer. Check out the website to read about any of the NINE lakes.

Payson Golf Course

Payson Golf Course

Opened in 1959 and designed by Frank Hughes and Russell Zakariasen, the Payson Gold Course is 18 holes of beautiful green hills and mountain vistas. There are 5,854 yards on the par 71 course, with a rating of 67.

Sky King Soaring

Sky King Soaring

See Rim Country from the skies with Sky King Soaring. Take to the air with scenic tours of the Mogollon Rim and pine country. Flights are given for lay people, as well as airline pilots who wish to obtain a glider add-on rating. Arizona from above gives a whole new perspective.

Staircase Waterfall

Staircase Waterfall

With refreshing water and multiple swimming holes, the Staircase Waterfall is a must see for Payson visitors. The Arizonan heat is easily escapable in the depths of the waterfall, which also serves as a massage of sorts.

Kohl's Ranch Stables

Kohl's Ranch Stables

The scenic trails of Tonto Creek may be explored on horseback with Kohl’s Ranch Stables. The guides lead the way as guests try to spot the wildlife: elk, deer, eagles, and more, there’s no limit to the natural beauty!

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