The Mogollon Rim cuts across the state from Flagstaff to the Arizona-New Mexico border. Along the rim, high-desert landscapes to the south transition through rugged mountains to reach the Colorado Plateau to the north. Charming small towns along the Mogollon Rim provide relief from the heat in many other parts of the state. Up here, four seasons come into play. Discover another side of Arizona, where convenience stores sell fishing bait and people come to play in the snow.

Take the Scenic Route

Getting to Alpine is part of the adventure. Located on Arizona’s remote eastern border, Alpine takes some time to get to. Visitors approaching from the north take the scenic drive along the Mogollon Rim on Highway 260. Visitors approaching from the south take the Coronado Trail National Scenic Byway (Highway 191) to Alpine — one of Arizona’s most curvy and scenic roads. Along both routes, visitors stay in the slow lane to soak in the scenery. By the time visitors arrive in Alpine, the reboot from city life is already well underway. Rent a cabin or stay at a guest ranch to decompress for a few days.

Experience Winter in Arizona

Visitors may be surprised to learn that Arizona has high-elevation vacation destinations that stay covered in snow during winter. In the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest area surrounding Alpine, mountain peaks reach nearly 12,000 feet. From Alpine, head south to Hannagan Meadow for the area’s best cross-country ski trails. To the northwest, Sunrise Park Resort is Arizona’s largest ski resort. When the snow melts, visitors fly down the slopes on mountain bikes and the Alpine Coaster.

Find Outdoor Adventure in All Directions

The pioneer spirit of this remote part of Arizona shines through on the rugged trails that lead to pristine outdoor activities. Make reservations to join guided horseback rides through the forest at Sprucedale Guest Ranch. Just east of Alpine, Luna Lake swells with summer visitors looking to beat the heat and anglers year-round hoping to land rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. To the north, Lyman Lake State Park offers water recreation on a Little Colorado River reservoir. Nearby Escudilla Mountain and Mount Baldy feature many of Arizona’s toughest high-elevation hikes. Even the shorter foothills hikes take serious lung power at these heights.