10 best things to do in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona

The Explore Arizona team shares their favorite things to do while visiting Payson's White Mountains including Tonto Natural Bridge, Woods Canyon Lake, Rim Country Museum and more.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

Tonto Natural Bridge is an impressive span. The man who first documented the bridge came across it while being chased by Apaches. David Gowan, a prospector, hid in a cave inside the bridge for three days. Despite that unfriendly welcome, when Gowan left the cave, he claimed the land by squatters rights and persuaded his family to emigrate from Scotland to settle there.

It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world, standing 183 feet high over a 400-foot-long tunnel that measures up to150 feet wide. The half-mile Gowan Loop Trail leads down the bank of the creek — and several steep flights of steps — to an observation deck near the tunnel under the natural bridge. Three other short trails provide good views of the park's features.

Details: 10 miles north of Payson off Arizona 87. 928-476-4202, azstateparks.com, $.

RELATED: White Mountains hotels | Things to do in the White Mountains | Restaurants in White Mountains

Woods Canyon Lake

Woods Canyon Lake covers 158 acres atop the Mogollon Rim (pronounced "muggy-own") east of Payson. Because of its proximity to the Valley, it is extremely popular during summer. Woods Canyon has a store and boat rentals, and is regularly stocked with trout. To avoid crowds, try going in the fall, or as the snow clears in early spring. Peak season is mid May to early October. The Woods Canyon Lake Trail is an easy, 5.5-mile walk around the lake. The trail is mostly flat, with a few hills.

Camping options include nearby Aspen and Spillway campgrounds. Swimming is not allowed in the lake, and for anglers, about 75,000 rainbow trout are stocked in spring and summer.

Details: About 35 miles east of Payson off Forest Road 300, 928-333-4301, recreation.gov, Free.

Casa Malpais Ruins

Casa Malpais Ruins are perched on a terrace of jagged beauty surrounded by volcanic badlands near Springerville. This ancient archaeological site features an astronomical observatory, a great kiva constructed of volcanic rock and a natural-stone stairway that leads to breathtaking views.

Tours depart from the Casa Malpais Visitor Center and Museum in Springerville and are offered three times daily Tuesday-Saturday, as long as the weather stays nice. You can call ahead to reserve a spot in the tour. The museum displays beautiful artifacts excavated from the ruins, which date to the 13th century, and a video introduction by Hopi and Zuni elders.

Details: 418 E. Main St., Springerville, 928-333-5375, casamalpais.org, $

Sunrise Park Resort

From downhill skiing to sleigh rides and more, Sunrise Park Resort is a one-stop shop for winter recreation. Three mountains and 65 runs feature skiing and snowboarding opportunities for people of all skill levels. The resort also has 13 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails as well as a sledding and tubing area.

Sunrise Ski School offers instruction that can be personalized for experienced skiers as well as those who have never hit a slope. Check the website for a daily ski report and information about equipment rentals.

During the summer, take a scenic ride on the ski lift, hike through the woods, or bring your mountain bike and go for a spin. The park also has a zipline, amusement rides, and archery.

Details: About 28 miles east of Pinetop on Arizona 273, 928-735-7669 , sunriseskiparkaz.com, $-$$$

Rim Country Museum/Zane Grey Cabin

The Zane Grey Cabin, part of the Rim Country Museum in Green Valley Park, is a painstaking replica of Grey's original cabin, built in 1920, that sat on the Mogollon Rim near Kohl's Ranch until it was destroyed in the 1990 Dude Fire.

Construction on the current cabin was completed in 2006. The chimney was built using limestone blocks salvaged from the original structure. Period furnishings include a Morris chair and lapboard used by Grey, one of his saddles and a set of first editions of his novels. The admission price includes tours of the museum and the cabin. The museum features prominent Grey displays as well as a large collection of regional artifacts. The exhibit on the Dude Fire, which killed six firefighters, includes a poignant video from a surviving crew member.

The Rim Country Museum complex also includes the oldest forest ranger station and residence still standing in the Southwest, a replica of the Herron Hotel and a cabin from 1900. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Details: 700 Green Valley Parkway, Payson, 928-474-3483, rimcountrymuseums.com, $.

Fossil Creek Creamery

The Ranch at Fossil Creek is one of those unlikely Arizona spots, a rural throwback nestled in the tall pines of the Rim. The shady 15 acres teeming with goats and llamas sits at 6,000 feet elevation on the edge of Tonto National Forest. Views stretch across the hamlet of Strawberry. It is also the home of Fossil Creek Creamery, which sells delicious and healthy artisan goat's milk cheeses and fudge.

Owners John and Joyce Bittner have been raising dairy goats and llamas here for several years. They offer guided tours of the ranch on weekends with a reservation, and people can also have the opportunity to pet and milk the goats. Tours also include a look at the creamery, where guests will be able to sample the cheeses and fudge.

The shop sells other small-farm products such as jams, jellies, sauces and pastas, all designed to complement the cheeses, which run the gamut from hard to soft. The spreadable cheeses are infused with herbs such as basil, chives or fennel, or more complex blends such as lavender-pepper or strawberry-jalapeño.

Details: 10379 W. Fossil Creek Road, Strawberry, 928-476-5178, ranchatfossilcreek.com, $.

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Butterfly Lodge Museum

Named for the countless butterflies often seen fluttering in the nearby meadow, historic Butterfly Lodge in Greer was home to writer James Willard Schultz and his son, Hart Merriam Schultz, known as Lone Wolf. The beauty of Greer inspired these two colorful artists: James, a writer, and Hart, an amazing painter of Indian and Western art.

Today, visitors can step back in time and tour this 1913 home and its original furnishings, artifacts and works. The Butterfly Lodge is truly a piece of Arizona history and sits on the National Register of Historic Places.

Details: 4 County Road 1126, Greer, 928-735-7514, butterflylodgemuseum.org, $.

Forest Road 300 along the Mogollon Rim

Forest Road 300 may be the best-known, best-loved backcountry drive in Arizona.

The scenic road meanders nearly 45 miles atop the Mogollon Rim between Arizona 87 and Woods Canyon Lake, providing expansive vistas that range from nice to gorgeous to stunning. Along the way, you pass through small meadows, thick stands of conifers and a few aspens. There's a good chance of spotting elk, deer and other wildlife. There are several trailheads along the drive, and a number of side roads provide access to fine fishing lakes.

FR 300 isn't paved, but it is in generally good shape. It's washboardy in some places and rutted in others, but as long as you go slowly, you won't need a high-clearance vehicle. You may feel more confident in one, though.

Along the way, watch for scenic Woods Canyon Lake, Rim Lakes Vista Trail, and a monument to the Battle of Big Dry Wash.

Details: 29 miles east of Payson off Arizona 260, Free.

Arizona 261 scenic drive

This drive used to be a premier way to see the colors of the high country — blue sky, green forest, golden meadows. Today, it's a lesson on what happens in the aftermath of a forest fire. The enormous Wallow Fire of 2011 consumed much of the forest, leaving the area today less dense, with grass and saplings.

Arizona 261 is a paved road that curves and climbs from Arizona 260 near Eagar to Big Lake in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. It's a prime place to spot wildlife, especially closer to the lake. Particularly at dawn and dusk, you're almost certain to see elk and pronghorn. The pavement ends after 23 miles; it's another mile or so on a good graded dirt road to Big Lake.

About 6 miles into the drive, there's a well-marked left turn to a scenic viewpoint. This nifty area has two picnic ramadas with charcoal grills. Prepare a lunch or dinner spread and enjoy looking out over Eagar, Springerville and beyond.

Details: 3 miles west of Eagar on Arizona 260.

Big Lake

One of the most popular lakes in the White Mountains, Big Lake is a hub of activity. There's a store with supplies and boat rentals. Five campgrounds ring the lake, and several others are within a few miles' drive. There are campsites for everything from a tent to an 82-foot rig. You can fish for rainbow, brook, cutthroat and Apache trout, and hiking opportunities abound. Motors are limited to 10 horsepower.

Details: About 26 miles southwest of Eagar off Arizona 261, 928-521-1387, biglakeaz.com.