Why the White Mountains Are Worth the Drive from Phoenix or Tucson

Most Arizonans know the White Mountains exist. Fewer actually go. That's a shame, because the drive from Phoenix is about three and a half hours, Tucson is closer to four, and what you find when you get there feels nothing like the desert you left behind.

Pinetop sits at 7,000 feet in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, surrounded by one of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forests in the country. The air is cooler, the light is different, and the pace slows down in a way that's hard to manufacture anywhere closer to the city.

Every season has a reason to go

Summer is the obvious one. When Phoenix is pushing 110°F, Pinetop is in the low 80s. Locals have known this for decades, which is why the area fills up in July and August. But the shoulder seasons are just as good, and far quieter.

Spring brings wildflowers along the forest trails and good fishing on the lakes before the summer crowds arrive. Fall turns the aspens gold around mid-October. The drive up Highway 260 through the Salt River Canyon alone is worth the trip. Winter brings real snow, sledding at Sunrise Park Resort, and the particular pleasure of a fireplace in a cabin when it's cold outside and you have nowhere to be.

What to do once you're there

The Mogollon Rim runs along the northern edge of the region and has some of the best hiking in the state. The Rim Lakes Vista Trail is flat and easy with long views over the canyon. If you want something more demanding, the Bear Canyon Lake Trail drops into the forest and ends at a quiet lake good for fishing or just sitting.

In town, the Pinetop-Lakeside area has enough restaurants, coffee shops, and small grocery stores to keep you comfortable without feeling like a resort. The White Mountain Nature Center runs guided hikes and wildlife programs if you're traveling with kids.

In winter, Sunrise Park Resort is about 45 minutes east and has three mountains of skiing and snowboarding. It's smaller than a Colorado resort, but the crowds are smaller too, and lift tickets cost a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere.

Where to stay in Pinetop

We have four properties in Pinetop, ranging from a two-bedroom lakeside cottage to a five-bedroom compound that sleeps 14. All of them are in the trees, and all of them are a short drive from the trails, the lakes, and the ski mountain.

• Cozy Cottage Lakeside — 2 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 6. Right on the lake, good for a couple or a small family.
• Cozy Cub Log Cabin — 2 bed, 1 bath, sleeps 5. A proper log cabin in the trees with a wood-burning fireplace.
• Hillside Hangout — 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 8. A newer build with a big deck and a fire-pit table that faces the sunset.
• Hillside Hangout and Cozy Cottage — 5 bed, 4 bath, sleeps 14. Book both properties together for a large group or a multi-family trip.

Weekends in summer and fall book out early. Browse all four on our Pinetop-Lakeside page and check availability before you plan.