PT 41 Finding My BMW in Payson And Other Things to Do
You don’t need a four-wheel drive to make the most of Payson. What you do need is a good sense of direction (or not), a love of pine-scented trails, and a keen eye for thrifted treasure.
If you’re the type who likes a little variety with your adventure, think fossil hunting, ancient ruins, thrift shopping, and maybe spotting a javelina or two, then buckle up, because Payson’s got options. This isn’t just a town you pass through. It’s a place where you can dig up 300-million-year-old sea creatures, channel your inner Indiana Jones at a prehistoric village, and still find time to find the prefct BMW. Whether you’re into science, scenery, shopping, or just collecting stories, this leg of the journey has a little something for everyone—and it’s anything but boring.
Need to catch up?
PT 40 Where the Pine Bark Smells Like Butterscotch: Only in Payson, Arizona
PT 39 Bulls’ Testicles and My Love-Hate Affair with Payson’s Wild West
Or, Start from the beginning
Payson is an expressive canvas of pine, stone, and silence. But what does it offer the curious, the weekend warrior, the vacationer, or the meandering nomad?
Well, fair warning: if you’re not much of an outdoor enthusiast, you might find yourself a little… underwhelmed. Unless, of course, lounging on your RV front porch with a beverage and binoculars is your idea of the perfect day (and honestly, same here, especially if I’ve got my cats curled up beside me (minus the binoculars).
Not into hiking boots and bug spray? Don’t worry. Payson still delivers. There's just enough shopping to keep things interesting including thrift shopping, which happens to be one of my all-time favorite pastimes. Nothing like scoring a vintage find while surrounded by ponderosa pine.
If golf is more your pace, the Payson Golf Course is a local favorite. It’s a scenic, 9-hole course unless you count wrong, then it’s an 8-hole course. Either way, it’s a great place to swing a club, breathe in some mountain air, and make peace with your short game.
Feeling a little cultural? Head to the Rim Country Museum and Zane Grey Cabin, where for just five bucks you’ll get a docent-led tour aka—a real-life audiobook in the shape of a human. The exhibits showcase the writings and rugged lifestyle of Zane Grey, who helped immortalize the Old West in print. You’ll also find artifacts detailing the history of Apache communities, early pioneers, and the region’s brush with the gold rush of the late 1800s. There is a vintage blacksmith shop, and a beautifully refurbished sawmill that brings Payson’s frontier roots into sharp, rustic focus.
Need a little indoor nostalgia? How about some good old-fashioned bowling? I know what you’re thinking, “I haven’t gone bowling since flip phones were a thing.” Well, Rim Country Bowl might just transport you back. It’s got lanes, pool tables, dart boards, and even an arcade for the kid in all of us PacMan anyone? Honestly, it screams my teenage years, sticky shoes, loud music, and the unmistakable smell of popcorn.
Or maybe you came to try your luck. The Mazatzal Hotel and Casino, operated by the Tonto Apache Indian Tribe, has everything your gambling heart could hope for including slots, blackjack, buffets, and, if you overdo the buffet, a fitness center and indoor pool to restore the balance (or your dignity or both-I don’t judge).
Feeling like a little luxurious pampering? Their day spa offers pampering treatments perfect for post-hike sore muscles or post-jackpot celebration recovery. And when the sun goes down, the energy turns up with concerts, comedy nights, and the occasional DJ set, so you can dance off your winnings… or the regrets of not knowing when to hold ’em-or-fold ’em.
If bowling and museums aren’t your thing, how about… candles? Wait, what was that? Did I just hear your eyes roll? Well, this one is a wee bit different. The Payson Candle Factory has been around for over forty years, founded by Carol Reed, who still hand-carves and sculpts every candle into pieces of art. These aren’t your standard wax blobs. No, they’re intricate, colorful creations that make you say “ohhh,” even if you walked in muttering “what am I doing here?”
Still not sold on candles? Fine. How about fudge? The Candle Factory also carries nicknacks, collectibles, and enough sugary treats to wake up your inner sugar gremlin, including some truly irresistible fudge. And, suddenly, just like that you know why you are there.
If you’re craving something with a little more ancient grit while maybe channeling your inner Jack Horner, minus the lab coat, add in a very cool fossil pick, then head to the Paleo Site Monument just off Highway 260.
Believe it or not, this entire area was underwater around 300 million years ago. Today, thanks to eons of sediment shifts, erosion, and a bit of geological drama, you can find invertebrate fossils scattered across the soft, crumbling hills. All you need is a sharp eye, a keen sense of adventure, and maybe a very cool-looking fossil pick. Not really necessary, but it adds a sense of flair, don’t you think?
The entrance is modest. Just a rounded paved parking lot, a little sign, a gate and a few weather-worn signs with diagrams showing what to look for; fish, reptiles, insects, shark teeth, and other remnants from the Pennsylvanian sub-period of the Carboniferous era. I have no idea what that means either, but say it out loud and people will nod like you’ve got the swagger to be swinging that cool (and totally unnecessary) fossil pick.
The soft hills, made of siltstone and shale, are easy to explore with your hands and you can keep what you find, as long as you’re not hauling out wheelbarrows.
The site goes by several names, Naco Paleo Site, Paleo Site, and Indian Gardens Paleo Site. Just hop onto Google Maps, type in “Payson, AZ,” and look for Paleo Site Monument, Highway 260. That’s the one. And once you’ve had your fill of fossil hunting and prehistoric pondering, keep heading east on the same highway toward the Mogollon Rim Viewpoint. It won’t disappoint. One look over that vast escarpment, and your little fossil find suddenly feels like part of something much, much bigger.
If you’re still high on paleontology, but itching to trade your fossil pick for a fedora (which is always cool) and a sense of ancient mystery, then make your way to the Shoofly Village Ruins. This is a place where history shifts from prehistoric sea creatures to stone foundations and human ingenuity.
This ancient settlement, hidden in plain sight just outside Payson, sat quietly for centuries before revealing its secrets to archaeologists in the late 20th century. Shoofly is believed to have been part of the Mogollon cultural tradition, but its stone masonry and settlement design suggest strong influence from the Ancestral Puebloan world. Whether it was a crossroads, a blend, or something else entirely, it still holds a bit of mystery.
Dating back 750 to 1,000 years, Shoofly likely served as a seasonal community, complete with stone dwellings, agricultural terraces, and a commanding view of the surrounding forest—because even back then, it was all about location.
It’s a walkable site with interpretive signs, and standing among those weathered ruins, with the wind threading through the pines and silence settling over the stones, feels a bit like stepping sideways through time. You come for the mystery—but you leave with something quieter. A reverence. A sense that you’ve brushed up against something old, enduring, and not entirely understood.
And then… the story deepens.
For a moment of solemn reflection, visit the Monument of the Battle of Big Dry Wash. Located in the rugged terrain of the Mogollon Rim, this forested ridge marks the site of the last major engagement between the U.S. Army and Apache warriors during the Indian Wars. On July 17, 1882, this quiet stretch of pine-covered land witnessed a violent and pivotal clash. Apache leader Na-tio-tish and his warriors, fighting to defend their ancestral territory, were met by U.S. Cavalry forces in what would become a tragic symbol of encroachment and resistance.
While the battle ended in a U.S. military victory, commemorated with the awarding of four Medals of Honor, it also marked the continued displacement and suppression of Indigenous peoples, part of a long and painful legacy of forced removal.
Today, the site offers more than battlefield history. It offers space for reflection on bravery, on loss, and on the enduring resilience of the Apache, who stood against overwhelming odds to protect what was sacred. Standing there, surrounded by towering pines and stillness, you can almost feel the echo of that day carried on the wind. I shuttered.
If history’s not your thing and you’re itching for just the outdoors, well, you’re in the right place. There’s so much to do in Payson when it comes to immersing yourself in nature whether it’s fishing, hiking, off-roading, or pitching a tent on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land under a sky full of stars. Just you the fire and your can of beans.
For a gentler outdoor experience, check out Green Valley Park, a beautiful 17-acre space that offers urban fishing, shaded paths, and lush green lawns perfect for a family picnic. Don’t forget the cooler. You’ll thank me. Then there’s Deming Pioneer Park, operated by the Northern Gila County Historical Society. Such a lovely place to stretch your legs while learning about the pioneers who helped shape the area over a century ago. History with a breeze (a real breeze, not that it is a breeze).
If hiking, or walkabouts is your thing, Payson has you covered. One especially quirky spot is the Railroad Tunnel Trail. Fun fact: there was never a railroad that actually made it to Payson, but the ghost of that dream lingers. The tunnel site stands as a rugged reminder of ambitious plans that never quite panned out making it an oddly poetic and scenic place to wander.
Now, if you’re one of those 4-wheeling, high-clearance, back-road thrill seekers, oh, are you in for a treat. Unfortunately, my Honda CRV who currently identifies as a Jeep, but lacks the rambunctious tires and horsepower. Yeah… she’s not fooling anyone; she’s more “Costco parking lot queen” than “rock crawler.” But if your ride can actually can do the thing, you’ll have no shortage of places to explore. And if you are wanting some ideas or maybe a group to go out with, check out
Rim Country 4 Wheelers
Central Arizona Jeepers
AZ Offroading
Rides & Events group on Facebook
Your primal senses will be fully engaged as you tackle off-road adventures with breathtaking views, hidden mines, and ruins as your reward. I am so jealous! Bring lost of water!
As much as my heart wants the Jeep adventure, we were on a mission: good hiking and a taste of the Mogollon Rim. We also have a few big-ticket natural gems that should absolutely be on your list too. Among the most popular:
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Mogollon Rim overlook trails
Water Wheel Falls
And the lesser-known but fascinating Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery
Tucked away in the cool pines northeast of Payson, the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery is a peaceful and surprisingly educational stop. Operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the hatchery raises rainbow, brook, and brown trout, which are later stocked into high-country lakes and streams across the state. Visitors can stroll the hatchery grounds, watch the fish dart through the raceways, and learn about native species and conservation efforts through hands-on displays and scenic overlooks.
Just beyond the hatchery lies a network of hiking trails and creekside paths, perfect for a short, tranquil stroll or a longer meander through the Tonto National Forest. The Tonto Creek Trail is especially family-friendly, hugging the creek with shady spots, birdwatching opportunities, and the soft soundtrack of flowing water. It’s one of those places where you can stretch your legs, snack under a tree, or simply sit and let the forest remind you to slow down.
And next on our list? We’re heading for Water Wheel Falls, Mogollon Rim, and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. A trifecta of natural beauty that’s calling our names.
But first, we checked out the thrift shops and found a Goodwill too. I’ve been thrifting long before it was cool. And this time? It paid off. I finally found a BMW I could afford, and it fit perfectly. My good friend Laura, who’s also a big-time thrifter, says: “If you come out with loads of stuff, it’s a good store. If you find nothing, it’s a shitty store.” Well, I’m torn. It was a good store because I found a BMW I could afford… but we found nothing else. Then again, we had a good laugh, so I’m calling it a good store.
We grabbed some Thai food from one of Marteen’s must-try stops, Ayothaya Thai Café. Although the food was fantastic, it didn’t stand the test of time and is no longer around today. Still, I can say with certainty, it didn’t disappoint.
With full belly’s reminiscing over the day’s adventures captured on our phones, it was time to hit the head, then hit the hay. We had big hiking plans tomorrow and I couldn’t wait.
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Need to catch up?
PT 40 Where the Pine Bark Smells Like Butterscotch: Only in Payson, Arizona
PT 39 Bulls’ Testicles and My Love-Hate Affair with Payson’s Wild West
Or, start from the beginning
Thank you for tuning in and reading this. I super appreciate you.
~Karen
I love your new gear 🚙😃
Wow! That's some adventure with a variety of things to do. I love the picture of you in the BMW 😻