Greer

Arizona’s higher elevations feature expansive pine forests with colorful little towns and welcoming locals. At the far-eastern edge of Arizona, Greer is the perfect gateway to outdoor adventures along the Mogollon Rim. Up here, outdoor adventures draw active visitors year-round. Hikers and mountain bikers hit the trails in the warmer months and yield the trails to cross-country skiers and snowshoers in winter. There is one road in and out of Greer, a mellow town that stays active all year long.

Walk in the Woods

Greer sits above 8,000 feet, making it the highest-elevation town in the state. Most visitors find that all they need is a comfortable pair of hiking shoes and a fishing pole when they visit the communities in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. From the summits and ridges along many hiking trails that make up the White Mountain Trail System, look east and see as far as New Mexico. Pick up more than a dozen mountain trails close to town or drive an hour to Mount Baldy to try the area’s signature hike. The long West Baldy Trail hike climbs above 11,000 feet and features massive rock formations, old-growth forests and scenic vistas overlooking the Little Colorado River. Get some relief in the meadows before powering up.

Sunrise Park Resort

Arizona’s largest ski resort attracts outdoor adventurers in the winter but keeps the action going all year long. When the snow melts, the ski lift at Sunrise Park Resort takes visitors and their mountain bikes to the top of the slopes to shred the trails on two wheels. The resort’s Alpine Coaster, the longest zipline in Arizona, and trails for horseback riding give visitors more ways to embark on outdoor adventures. When touring this ultimate outdoor playground, there is a high chance of seeing elk and deer.

Stay the Night

For a town as tiny as Greer, its variety of lodging options is surprising. Choose from resorts, woodsy lodges, mom-and-pop motels, high-end cabins and campgrounds situated lakeside. The town swells with summer visitors escaping the heat and swells again when the aspen trees change colors and leaf peepers make the trek to the mountains. Greer boasts a pair of destination restaurants to handle the visitor traffic. Molly Butler’s and The Rendezvous Diner have colorful backstories, draw locals from across the region and serve big plates of comfort food classics.

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