Payson & "The Rim Country"
Friendly and quaint, full of culture and history, Payson rests nestled
beneath the thousand-foot cliffs of the Mogollon Rim; 90-minutes on a spectacularly scenic route from Phoenix.
The town has adopted many popular titles -- "The Freshest Air in the World," "Gateway to the Rim Country,"
"The Festival Capitol of Arizona," and host to the "Oldest Continuous Rodeo in the World," but probably
its most enticing quality remains the climate:
The Climate
Delicate frostings of snow last long enough for a magical feel, then melt into rivulets and creeks.
Winter temperatures will fall as low as the 20's at night in January, but generally warm to the
50's by afternoon.
Mild summer temperatures may get as high as the 90's in July, but cool to an invigorating
mid- 50's at night. Tall Ponderosa pines give the outdoor enthusiast frequent respite from the sun.
Springtimes burst
with a fiery array of Indian paintbrush, primrose, and the golds and fuschias of cactus blossoms and other brightly colored
wildflowers.
Autumn's yellows, reds and oranges mingle with the deep greens of the Ponderosa and Juniper pines.
No season in Payson is an "indoor" season.
Cowboys & "Indians"
Native
American cultures, the Cowboy's song, and modern art all find their home within Payson. Native American communities,
ancient ruins and modern Native American art offer numerous opportunities to learn about this culture and their
history.
The town's frontier heritage is celebrated at Zane Grey Cabin, at museums and simply
through the modern cowboys in Payson. Horses, ranches and cowboy hats are part of the landscape.
Over
two dozen art galleries, antique shops and hand-made jewelry stores reveal this area's unique mix of the old and the
new, "Cowboy and Indian."
Payson supports a regional hospital, community college, public library,
airport, golf courses, parks and many fine and casual dining establishments. Of course, the
fudge factory, or one of Arizona's oldest saloons should not be overlooked.
Festivals abound. An Old Timers Fiddling
competition, Concert under the Stars series, art walk, strawberry festival, rodeos, and more fill out
the year's schedule.
The "Rim Country"
It would be negligent in any "Ode to Payson" not to mention its backdrop and intimate neighbor, the Arizona
"Rim Country."
Lakes, creeks, swimming holes, waterfalls, fisheries, hiking and biking trails, National
Parks and natural wonders blanket the region.
It would be a long and satisfying lifetime spent in pursuit of all
the adventures to be explored.
Boulder Creek, Payson and the "Rim Country" beckon you to come and
play and stay. See it all for yourself.
