Disc Golf, Geocaching & Summer Fun in the White Mountains
Most people think of the White Mountains as a winter destination. Ski Sunrise, drive up through the snow, head home. But summer here is a different story, and if you're staying in Pinetop-Lakeside between May and October, you've got a full menu of outdoor fun that most visitors never find. Disc golf at Woodland Lake Park, geocaching through the pines, mountain biking and zip lines at Sunrise Park Resort, and a trail network that rewards anyone willing to wander off the main loop.
Here's what's worth your time.
Disc Golf at Woodland Lake Park
Woodland Lake Park is the kind of place locals keep to themselves. Tucked into the pines on the east side of Pinetop-Lakeside, the park sits at the edge of a quiet mountain lake and runs a free, well-maintained disc golf course through the trees. The layout winds through Ponderosa pines, across open meadow sections, and along the lakeshore — 18 holes that play differently depending on the wind and how well you know the lines through the timber.
The course is free to play and open year-round, though summer is the sweet spot: the canopy keeps things cool, the lake is glassy in the morning, and you'll often have stretches of the course to yourself on weekdays. Bring your own discs — there's no rental shop on site — and plan for a couple of hours if you're playing all 18. The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling, so it's accessible for beginners and kids, but the tree placement makes it genuinely interesting for experienced players too.
After your round, the lake loop trail is a short, flat walk that takes maybe 30 minutes and is worth doing while you're already there. Benches along the water, good birdwatching, and a calm that's hard to find in most places.
Geocaching in and Around the White Mountains
The White Mountains have a surprisingly active geocaching community, and the area around Pinetop-Lakeside is loaded with caches at every difficulty level. The Woodland Lake Park area alone has several hides, ranging from easy lakeside finds to more involved multi-stage hunts that take you deeper into the forest. It's a good way to explore trails you'd otherwise walk right past.
Beyond the park, the broader White Mountains region has hundreds of active caches spread across the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, along the Mogollon Rim, and through the small towns between Show Low and Springerville. The Geocaching.com app works well here — download your target caches before you leave the cabin since cell signal gets patchy once you're in the trees.
Woodland Lake Park also hosts a disc golf course that doubles as a geocaching hunting ground, so if you're playing a round, keep an eye out. Some of the hides are right along the fairways. It makes for a good combined afternoon: play the course, hunt a few caches, walk the lake loop, and be back at the cabin in time for dinner.
Families with kids tend to love geocaching here because the forest setting makes even a simple find feel like a real discovery. Pack a small trade item if you're opening physical caches — the tradition is to leave something when you take something.
Summer at Sunrise Park Resort
Most people know Sunrise as a ski mountain. What fewer people know is that it runs a full summer operation, and it's one of the better warm-weather activity hubs in the state.
The resort sits at around 11,000 feet on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, about 30 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside. In summer, the ski runs give way to mountain biking trails, scenic chairlift rides, and a zip line that crosses the mountain with views stretching across the White Mountains and into New Mexico on a clear day. There's also an alpine slide, mini golf, and a trout fishing pond on the property — enough to fill a full day without repeating yourself.
The chairlift ride alone is worth the drive. You ride up through the spruce-fir forest, step off at the summit, and get a 360-degree view that puts the whole region in perspective. Bring a jacket even in July — it's noticeably cooler up top, and the wind picks up in the afternoon.
The resort also hosts summer events and festivals through the season, so check their calendar before you go. Weekend mornings are the best time to arrive: the trails are less crowded, the light is good for photos, and you can get a full day in before the afternoon thunderstorms roll through.
If you're staying in Pinetop-Lakeside, Sunrise is an easy day trip. Drive up in the morning, spend the day on the mountain, and be back at the cabin for dinner. It's one of those days that ends with everyone agreeing it was the best day of the trip.
More to Do Around Pinetop-Lakeside
The disc golf, geocaching, and Sunrise day trip are the highlights, but the area has more going on than most visitors expect. The Mogollon Rim Trail runs along the edge of the Colorado Plateau with cliff-edge views that are genuinely hard to beat. The White Mountain Nature Center runs guided programs through the summer. Fishing is good at Woodland Lake, Rainbow Lake, and the streams that run through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. And the town itself has a handful of good restaurants, a Saturday farmers market in season, and enough coffee shops to keep you going through a long morning.
The White Mountains reward slow travel. The more time you give it, the more it gives back.
Where to Stay: Our Pinetop-Lakeside Cabins
We have three properties in Pinetop-Lakeside, each within easy reach of Woodland Lake Park, the Mogollon Rim trails, and the road up to Sunrise. Here's a quick look at each one.
Cozy Cottage Lakeside — 2 bed / 2 bath, sleeps 6
A comfortable two-bedroom cabin with a full kitchen, two bathrooms, and enough space for a family or a group of friends. The name says it: it's cozy, it's close to the lake, and it's the kind of place you settle into quickly. Good base for disc golf mornings and Sunrise day trips. Check availability.
Cozy Cub Log Cabin — 2 bed / 1 bath, sleeps 5
A classic log cabin feel with two bedrooms and a full kitchen. Sleeps five comfortably, which makes it a solid pick for a small family or a group of friends who want their own space without paying for more than they need. Close to the park, close to the trails, and quiet enough that you'll actually sleep. Check availability.
Hillside Hangout — 3 bed / 2 bath, sleeps 8
The biggest of our Pinetop properties, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms for groups up to eight. More room means more flexibility: a longer stay, a bigger group, or just the luxury of not feeling on top of each other after a full day outside. The extra space is worth it if you're coming with extended family or a group of couples. Check availability.
All three properties are in Pinetop, Arizona, at around 7,000 feet. Summers are cool, the air smells like pine, and the disc golf course is a short drive from any of them. If you're planning a summer trip to the White Mountains, these are the right base camps.
Browse all our Pinetop-Lakeside properties and check live availability at pbvacationrentals.com.
