PAYSON

GATEWAY TO PASSAGE 24: Red Hills, PASSAGE 25: Whiterock Mesa and PASSAGE 26: Hardscrabble Mesa

OVERVIEW

East of the Mazatzal Wilderness, Payson offers trail users a wide range of services.

ELEVATION 5,000 feet

POPULATION 15,301

POST OFFICE 100 West Frontier Street, 85541, 928-474-2972

INTERNET VENUES Payson Public Library, 328 North McLane Road, 928-474-9260

Groceries

Bashas’, 142 AZ 260, 928-474-4495

Safeway, 401 AZ 260, 928-472-8208

VITA-MART, 516 South Beeline Highway, 928-474-4101

Cafés and Restaurants

Ayothaya Thai Café, 404 East AZ 260, 928-474-1112

Beeline Café, 815 South Beeline Highway, 928-474-9960: cash only

El Rancho Restaurant, 200 South Beeline Highway, 928-474-3111

Gerard’s Italian Bistro, 512 North Beeline Highway, 928-468-6500

Lodging and Camping

America’s Best Value Inn, 811 South Beeline Highway, 928-474-2283

LF Ranch, 928-970-3543, lfranch.com: Offers bunkhouse or camping options, picket lines for equines, and meals with advance reservations.

Majestic Mountain Inn, 602 AZ 260, 800-408-2442, majesticmountaininn.com

Outdoor Shops

Bicycle Adventurers, 201 West Main Street, Suite B, 928-474-2308

Massage Therapy

A Simple Touch, 805 East AZ 260, 928-978-4787, asimpletouch.info

Area Attractions

Rim Country Museum and Zane Grey Cabin, 700 Green Valley Parkway, 928-474-3483, rimcountrymuseums.com: Contains exhibits about Tonto Apache, pioneers, ranchers and miners, and the towns of Payson, Strawberry, and Pine. Also features a replica of writer Zane Grey’s cabin, which burned down in the Dude Fire of 1990.