The Mogollon Rim Road

April 22, 2026 — Day 29

Houston Mesa Optional Horse Campground, Tonto National Forest, Payson, AZ

Today we’re going to drive FR300 along the Mogollon Rim. Supposedly there are some pretty good views here. The road will not be technical at all, just a dirt road. For this post it’s a lot of pictures with a little commentary.

On the way up to the Rim.

More prescribed burns. Later on we could see the smoke from the rim.

Two cute buildings in the town of Pine.

Now we’re climbing.

We never did make it to this ranger station for a stamp. We did pass by it, but neglected to stop in.

We pulled over at the first of many pull off spots on the Rim and we heard birds. Lots of birds and they were close by. We got our binoculars and camera gear ready.

And we waited and waited, two life birds, right there. No no sightings. We swear they were taunting us!

Not hiding and not taunting us. It was a very cooperative forest citizen. We thought it was a chipmunk at first. It was not. This is a Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.

Must maintain proper signage in these high traffic areas.

We had been seeing lots of logging trucks hauling logs. We worried about meeting one head on but we were stopping so much listening for those birds that never showed themselves. We never came face to face with one. We must have slipped in between shipments. But we did find the logging area.

Now for some views.

Clearly there had been a fire here. This is why they do the prescribed burns, to make sure the fires are small, not huge.

We were many miles away and we can see the smoke from the prescribed burn up here.

We made a side trip to this cabin.

Built in 1918 by Louis Fisher and used for many years as a fire guard station. A small spring near here was named after General George Crook who used the spring while traveling the old fort apache-camp verde military road.

This cabin preserved for historical significance.

Use is prohibited.

We saw this strange structure with a very large pipe going in and out. Our best guess is that it is for water hammers, just like the small ones hidden in your walls at home.

But you can’t crawl inside the ones at home.

This was a pull off and you could drive right up to the edge. Paul declined, it was super spooky. Susan was relieved.

It was around this point we were done and just wanted to be off the dirt road and heading home on pavement. It was getting covered in washboard and wasn’t fun. But aside from making a hard right turn, you just had to power through it. Fortunately, the Cococino National Forest edge and a different road surface appeared. They knew how to make a road. And how to make a view!

Susan found a second Paul!

Soon after this view the road turned away from the rim, became paved, and we could go much faster. Sadly, the Mogollon Rim Visitor Center was closed, so no stamp for our National Parks book. It’s got 400 entries. A lofty goal for sure!

Back to the RV!