Five Reasons to Visit the White Mountains This Summer (Beyond the Hiking Trails)
The White Mountains around Pinetop-Lakeside have a reputation as a hiking and fishing destination. That reputation is earned. But there's a whole other layer of summer activity up here that most visitors don't know about until they're already in town asking locals what else there is to do. Horseback riding through the pines. UTV trails that run for miles into the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. A hot air balloon festival that turns the mountain sky into something worth waking up early for. A classic car show that draws serious collectors and casual admirers from across the Southwest. And some of the best birding in Arizona, right in the trees behind your cabin.
Here's what's worth planning your trip around.
Horseback Riding in the White Mountains
Riding through a Ponderosa pine forest at 7,000 feet is a different experience than most trail rides. The air is cool, the trees are tall, and the trails wind through country that looks the same as it did a hundred years ago. The White Mountains have several outfitters offering guided trail rides, from short one-hour introductory rides to half-day and full-day excursions that go deep into the national forest.
Hon-Dah Resort and Casino, just a few miles from Pinetop on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, has historically offered horseback riding access and is a good starting point for finding current outfitters in the area. The terrain around Pinetop-Lakeside is well-suited to riding: mostly gentle grades through open forest with occasional meadow clearings and creek crossings that make the ride feel like a genuine backcountry experience even on a guided route.
If you're bringing kids, call ahead and ask about age and weight minimums — most outfitters have them, and it's worth knowing before you build the day around it. Morning rides are the best call: the light through the pines is good, the temperature is comfortable, and you're back at the cabin before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in.
For experienced riders looking for more independence, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has designated equestrian trails and trailheads with horse trailer parking. The Big Lake area and the trails along the Mogollon Rim are particularly good for longer rides with serious scenery.
UTV & ATV Trails: Miles of Forest Roads and Designated Routes
The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is one of the best OHV playgrounds in Arizona, and the trails accessible from Pinetop-Lakeside are a big part of why. The forest has hundreds of miles of designated OHV routes ranging from easy gravel forest roads to more technical single-track and rocky two-track that will test your machine and your nerve.
The White Mountains Trail System is the main network to know. It covers over 200 miles of interconnected trails through the national forest, with routes that pass through meadows, along creek drainages, and up to ridge-top viewpoints that look out over the whole region. The system is well-signed and mapped, and the Arizona State Parks OHV map is worth downloading before you go.
Popular staging areas near Pinetop include the Hon-Dah area and the forest roads off Highway 260 heading east toward Springerville. If you're renting a UTV rather than trailering your own, there are rental outfitters in the Show Low and Pinetop area — call ahead to confirm availability, especially on summer weekends when demand is high.
A few practical notes: forest roads can be rough after monsoon rains, so check conditions before heading out. Carry water, a paper map as backup, and let someone know your planned route. Cell signal is unreliable once you're in the trees. And stick to designated routes — the forest is actively managed and off-route travel causes real damage to the terrain and the ecosystem.
The payoff is worth the prep. A full day on the White Mountains trail system, ending with a cold drink on the cabin porch as the sun drops behind the pines, is one of those days that's hard to top.
White Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival
The White Mountains Balloon Festival is one of those events that surprises people who stumble into it. A field full of inflating envelopes at dawn, the roar of burners, and then a slow lift-off as a dozen or more balloons rise over the pine forest and drift across the mountain sky. It's genuinely spectacular, and it draws a crowd that knows what it's looking at.
The festival typically runs over a summer weekend in the Pinetop-Lakeside area, with dawn launches being the main event — balloons fly best in the calm morning air before the wind picks up. There are usually tethered rides available for those who want to get off the ground without committing to a full flight, and the festival grounds have vendors, food, and live music through the day.
If you want to do a full balloon flight over the White Mountains, some operators offer private flights that can be arranged separately from the festival. It's a bucket-list experience: the forest stretches in every direction, the Mogollon Rim is visible to the south, and the silence up there — once the burner cuts out — is something you don't forget.
Check the White Mountains Regional Chamber of Commerce calendar for current festival dates, as scheduling can shift year to year. Staying in Pinetop-Lakeside puts you minutes from the launch site, which matters when the alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. for a dawn launch.
Run to the Pines Car Show
The Run to the Pines is one of the Southwest's best-attended classic car shows, and it happens right here in Pinetop-Lakeside. Held annually in the summer, the show draws hundreds of vehicles — pre-1980 classics, custom builds, hot rods, muscle cars, and trucks — displayed along the main corridor through town. It's a serious show with serious cars, and the mountain setting gives it a character that flat-land shows can't match.
The event typically runs over a full weekend, with the main show day drawing the biggest crowds and the most impressive vehicles. There's usually live music, food vendors, and a cruise night that takes the cars through town in the evening. For car people, it's a must. For everyone else, it's still a great excuse to be outside in Pinetop on a summer weekend, walking the show and watching the reaction of the owners when someone stops to really look at their car.
The show is free to attend as a spectator, and registration for show vehicles fills up — if you're bringing a car, register early. The town gets busy that weekend, so book your cabin well in advance if you're planning your trip around it. Our properties are close to the action, which means you can walk to the show, come back for lunch, and head back out without fighting for parking.
Birding in the White Mountains: One of Arizona's Best-Kept Secrets
Arizona is one of the top birding states in the country, and the White Mountains are one of the reasons why. The elevation transition from high desert to mountain forest creates a layered habitat that supports an unusually diverse mix of species — some that are hard to find anywhere else in the United States.
The Pinetop-Lakeside area is particularly good for birding because it sits at the intersection of several habitat types. The Ponderosa pine forest holds Steller's Jays, Pygmy Nuthatches, Western Bluebirds, and Hairy Woodpeckers. The riparian corridors along the creeks attract warblers, flycatchers, and hummingbirds during migration. And the open meadows and forest edges are good for raptors — Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, and the occasional Bald Eagle over the lakes.
Woodland Lake Park is one of the best spots in town for a morning birding session. The lake edge draws shorebirds and waterfowl, the surrounding pines hold the forest species, and the trail is flat enough that you can walk slowly and stop often without losing the path. The White Mountain Nature Center also runs guided birding programs through the summer — worth checking their schedule if you want a local expert to help you find what's around.
For more serious birders, the drive east toward Big Lake and the Escudilla Mountain area opens up higher-elevation species including the Olive Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, and Thick-billed Parrot sightings have been reported in the region. The Arizona Important Bird Areas map is a useful planning tool, and eBird has active checklists from local birders that will tell you exactly what's been seen and where in the days before your visit.
Bring binoculars, a field guide, and patience. The White Mountains reward both.
Where to Stay: Our Pinetop-Lakeside Cabins
All of these activities — the trail rides, the UTV routes, the balloon festival, the car show, the birding spots — are within easy reach of our Pinetop-Lakeside properties. Here's a look at what we have available.
Cozy Cottage Lakeside — 2 bed / 2 bath, sleeps 6
A comfortable two-bedroom cabin close to Woodland Lake Park, with a full kitchen, two bathrooms, and enough space for a family or a group of friends. Walk to the lake for morning birding, drive five minutes to the car show, and be back on the porch with a cold drink before dinner. Check availability.
Cozy Cub Log Cabin — 2 bed / 1 bath, sleeps 5
A classic log cabin with two bedrooms and a full kitchen. Sleeps five comfortably — a solid pick for a couple with kids or a small group who want their own space in the pines. Quiet, well-located, and the kind of place you stop rushing the moment you pull in. Check availability.
Hillside Hangout — 3 bed / 2 bath, sleeps 8
Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and room for eight. The right choice for a bigger group: extended family, a group of couples, or anyone who wants the extra space after a long day on the UTV trails or at the balloon festival. More room to spread out, more porch to sit on, same great location. Check availability.
Hillside Hangout + Cozy Cottage — 5 bed / 4 bath, sleeps 14
Book both properties together and you've got a private compound for up to 14 guests. Two cabins, two kitchens, four bathrooms, and enough space for a large family reunion, a multi-family trip, or a group that wants to be together without being on top of each other. This is the setup for the Run to the Pines weekend when you want the whole crew in town. Check availability.
All four options are in Pinetop, Arizona, at around 7,000 feet. The air is clean, the pines are tall, and everything on this list is a short drive from the front door. Browse live availability and book direct at pbvacationrentals.com — no booking fees, no middleman.
