Payson
Around Payson
Photo: Scotwriter21 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Arizona · 54k people
Payson
Locals say Rim Country · “The Friendly Town”, “City of the Pines”
Mountain air, small-town heart.
Saddle BrownForest GreenSky Blue
Welcome to Rim Country! Whether you're here for the rodeo, the fishing, or just the cool mountain air, you'll find friendly folks and endless outdoor adventures. Enjoy the small-town charm and the big sky.
Clubs for Payson
No clubs for Payson yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Payson. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Payson. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Home to one of the world's largest natural travertine bridges
- Mogollon Rim Dramatic cliff edge with panoramic views and hiking
- Roosevelt Lake Popular for boating, fishing, and camping
- Tonto National Forest Vast wilderness area with trails and campgrounds
- Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park Ancient Salado ruins and museum in Globe
- Payson Rodeo Grounds Hosts the World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo
- Outdoors Hike the Mogollon Rim
- Outdoors Fish at Roosevelt Lake
- With kids Visit Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
- With kids Explore Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park
- Evenings Catch live music at a local saloon
- Evenings Stargaze at the Rim
- Locals love small-town diners
- Locals love fishing holes
Through the year
- Payson Rodeo August World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo
- Payson Bluegrass Festival June Weekend of bluegrass music
- Gila County Fair October Local fair with exhibits and rides
Rim Country enjoys four distinct seasons with mild summers and snowy winters. The best time to be out is spring and fall when temperatures are comfortable. Summer brings monsoon thunderstorms, while winter offers snow and crisp air. Best: Spring and fall are mild and comfortable.
Talk like a local
- “Rim Country”
- Local name for the area
- “The Rim”
- The Mogollon Rim
- “The lake”
- Roosevelt Lake
- “The rodeo”
- The Payson Rodeo
Getaways
- Prescott Valley Visit Prescott's historic downtown and Whiskey Row
- Phoenix Big city attractions, sports, and dining
- Flagstaff Mountain town with Route 66 and skiing
- Show Low Gateway to the White Mountains
Local flavour
Rooting for Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, Arizona State Sun Devils, Phoenix Mercury
Eat and drink
- Sonoran hot dog Bacon-wrapped hot dog with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of condiments
- Green chili A staple in Arizona Mexican cuisine
- Fry bread
- Cowboy steak
- Prickly pear margarita A local twist on the classic cocktail using prickly pear fruit
Where people go
- Tonto National Forest One of the largest national forests in the US, offering hiking, camping, and fishing
- Mogollon Rim A dramatic escarpment with panoramic views and red rock formations
- Roosevelt Lake A large reservoir for boating, fishing, and water recreation
- Tonto Natural Bridge A natural travertine bridge and state park
- Rodeo grounds Payson hosts the annual World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo
- Small-town diners Classic American diners and local eateries
Heritage and traditions
The Rim Country is proud of its rugged Western heritage, from the World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo to the copper-mining towns of Globe and Miami, and its deep Native American roots.
This time of year in Payson
- Elk hunting season October A major fall tradition with hunters from across the country.
- Globe's Copper Dust October Celebrates the copper mining history with a parade and mining contests.
- Besh-Ba-Gowah Pueblo Festival October Native American dancing, crafts, and food at the archaeological park.
Say it like a local: “Monsoon” — Summer thunderstorms
Festivals
- Globe's Copper Dust October Celebrates the copper mining history with a parade and mining contests.
- Besh-Ba-Gowah Pueblo Festival October Native American dancing, crafts, and food at the archaeological park.
Landmarks with a story
- Gila County Historical Museum Local history in Globe, housed in a former courthouse.
- Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum In Miami, a former school now showcasing the region's mining and cultural heritage.
- Old Dominion Historic Mine A copper mine that shaped Globe's economy and is now a landmark.
- Tonto National Monument Salado cliff dwellings overlooking Roosevelt Lake.
Food traditions
- Tamale-making at Christmas A Hispanic tradition of making tamales together for the holidays.
- Posole for New Year's A hominy stew eaten for good luck on New Year's Day.
- Pinyon nut gathering in the fall Locals collect and roast pine nuts from the pinyon pines.
- Mesquite bean flour Used in baking, a desert staple with a sweet, nutty flavor.
Music and arts
- Cowboy poetry A local art form celebrating ranch life and the Western heritage.
- Native American basketry and pottery Crafts from Tonto Apache and San Carlos Apache communities.
- Bluegrass music scene Popular with local gatherings and the annual festival.
A little history
- 1200s–1400s Salado culture built cliff dwellings
- 1800s Apache Wars in the 1800s, with the Tonto Apache living in the area
- 1870s Copper mining boom in Globe and Miami brought immigrants
- 1882 Payson founded as a ranching and timber town
- 1884 World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo began
- Game day Payson Rodeo
- Game day High school football
- Outdoors Hunting elk and deer in the fall
- Outdoors Birdwatching along the Salt River
- With kids Visiting Tonto National Monument
- With kids Exploring the Gila County Historical Museum
Locals speak with a Southwestern accent, often mixing Spanish and mining terms. They refer to the Mogollon Rim simply as 'the Rim,' and a dry creek is a 'wash.'
Only here
- The World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo, held every August since 1884.
- The Tonto Natural Bridge is the largest travertine bridge in the world.
- The Mogollon Rim is a 2,000-foot escarpment that defines the region.
- The nickname 'Rim Country' is used by locals for the entire area.
New here? A few tips
- Payson is at 5,000 feet, so it's cooler than Phoenix, but summer afternoons can still be hot.
- Monsoon storms roll in almost every afternoon in July and August; carry a rain jacket.
- Watch for elk and deer on the roads, especially at dawn and dusk.
- It's a 90-minute drive to Phoenix, so plan your errands.
- Try the local tamales at Christmas and posole on New Year's.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Phoenix area
Nearby
Every areaPrescottArizonaHigh country charmPhoenixArizonaSunny skies and desert nights.FlagstaffArizonaWhere the pines meet the canyonShow LowArizonaWhere the pines meet the painted desertApache CountyArizonaWhere the desert sky meets the spirit of the NavajoSaffordArizonaDesert gold, mountain air, and a valley that feels like home.TucsonArizonaSunshine, saguaros, and Sonoran soul.
Payson, AZ. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.