Mogollon Rim, Payson

A beautiful and magical place . Take the rim road and stop often. Great camping, hiking and bike riding. Just keep an eye out for the occasional bear lol.

We camp and fish on the rim frequently. Great place to visit. Just be sure to watch out for the wildlife up there. Lots of elk and bear. If you hear whistles or screams out in the forest, pack up and leave. Won’t go into it but just leave. Doesn’t happen often enough to deter people from going up there just be aware

The Rim Trail runs right along the edge of the Mogollon (say mugghee on) Rim. It is easily accessible from the Rim Road, which is also called FR 300. The best views are right before the turn to Woods Canyon Lake Road, as the Rim Road is nearest the rim's edge there.There are several turnoff parking areas, (none with facilities) and in my opinion, the best is Rim Lakes Vista Overlook. The rim edge is quite near the parking area. There are trails along here and several are paved and in good shape. It's not a tough walk. This view is south and west and during the day, the view provides vistas of several mountain tops, including the Four Peaks. The sunsets are great from the vantage points, and then when the stars come out on clear nights, it's like a window into heaven. It's cool here at just about 7,000 feet and there is often a gentle breeze blowing across the rim edge. There are no guardrails, and it is very inviting to scramble around on those huge boulders. The drop is steep, straight, and hard, landing on more rocks, so use caution. The are benches in various places to sit and admire what you see. If you bring snack food, please pack out the trash, and leave this place pristine for the next person.

I enjoyed this hike to Milk Ranch Point (Pine trailhead) with a group of friends. Being summer we should have started earlier in the day. We didn’t make it to the top due to heat. Definitely wear proper hiking shoes. Great views and various wildflowers. There are lots of trail options depending on time and interest.

I visited the Rim many times as a youth. It’s a beautiful scenic wonder!