Payson, Arizona

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 an 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!