Mogollon Rim Cliff

The Mogollon Rim is a major escarpment in central Arizona that forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau and extends for roughly 200 miles (about 320 km).

The rim provides numerous overlooks, forested plateaus, and access to trails, lakes, and campgrounds; elevations around the rim create cooler, forested habitats distinct from nearby low deserts. Recreational uses include hiking, fishing in rim lakes, and scenic drives along forest roads.

The rim is a long-lived physiographic boundary formed by uplift and erosion of plateau rocks; it has long marked a geologic and ecological transition in Arizona. Human history includes Native American use of rim resources and later recreational and forest management activities.

The escarpment runs across central Arizona, forming a clear topographic boundary between the higher Colorado Plateau to the north and lower country to the south. It is a prominent regional landmark visible from many central Arizona communities.

• Elevation range: Elevations along the rim commonly range from about 5,000 to over 8,000 feet, producing a clear climatic and ecological transition between the plateau and lower desert lands.
• Hydrology: The rim functions as a major watershed divide, feeding rivers and streams that flow off the plateau into central Arizona valleys.

What to See#

• Rim escarpment: A continuous escarpment of bedrock and forest that stretches roughly 200 miles (about 320 km) across central Arizona and forms the abrupt southern edge of the Colorado Plateau.

The Mogollon Rim is a long escarpment across central Arizona with multiple access points. From Phoenix drive north on AZ‑87 (the Beeline Highway) roughly 80-100 miles to the Payson area, then follow AZ‑260 and local forest roads west/east to the rim overlooks; driving time to popular overlooks is typically 1.5-2.5 hours. From northern and eastern Arizona you can reach various rim access points via AZ‑260 as well.

Most formal overlooks and trailheads have small parking areas and short walks from the road (often a few hundred metres to under 1 km) to view points and trailheads; check local Forest Service maps for the specific trailhead you’re aiming for.

• Visit at sunrise or late afternoon for the best light and to avoid the midday heat if you're hiking the Rim; those times also often bring clearer skies for long vistas.
• Access many of the best overlooks and trailheads from the Payson/Heber-Overgaard corridor (State Route 260 and connecting forest roads); pullouts along the rim give easy short-viewing stops as well as trailheads for longer walks.
• Check current wildfire, trail and road-status notices with Arizona's forest services before you go and be prepared for rapid weather changes-summer monsoon storms can arrive suddenly and reduce visibility and trail safety.