Payson is a bastion for mountain-side greenery, just an hour’s drive for nearby Phoenix. Camping near Payson gives you access to the hiking and biking trails that snake through the Apache-Sigears National Forest and Tonto National Forest. Wildlife watching, which includes regular sightings of migratory bald eagles and resident ring-tail cats, is plentiful throughout the region. Red rock canyons carve through much a Payson, with hikes along Mogollon Rim, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ Mogollon Rim trail being particularly beautiful. When fresh powder falls during the winter and fall months, skiing and snowboarding slopes open north toward Flagstaff. Enjoy rustic camping, lakeside camping, mountainous camping and camping among the soaring viewsheds on both private and public land near Payson.