Discover the North Central Region of Arizona
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Overview      
Cities/Towns & Counties in this Region
 

Overview

The North Central region of Arizona is known for it's cool ponderosa pine forests, dozens of lakes and is famous for it's mountain retreats. With it's four beautiful seasons, it offers all year round recreation and entertainment from hiking, biking, and horseback riding to rodeos and festivals. Aspen leaves turn red and yellow in fall, and in winter a snowy landscape of the White Mountains overlooks the desert below.

It is also home to Prescott, Arizona's first capital and home of the infamous Whiskey Row with it's exciting frontier heritage. The Verde Valley is home to Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Camp Verde where remnants of Arizona's mining history are still evident. The lush Verde River Valley provides habitat for birds and wildlife and two of the most popular sites for Native American ruins, Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle National Monuments are found here. The Verde Canyon Railroad starts in Clarkdale and visitors can experience the Old West in Cottonwood and Camp Verde.

Payson boasts the largest continuous Ponderosa Pine Forest in the world and is a great place from which to view the famous Mogollo Rim. Zane Grey wrote his novels in this area and there are remnants of prehistoric inhabitants in the Shoofly Village Ruins. The Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, the world's largest natural travertine bridge is also in the Payson area.

The Mogollon Rim Country encompasses Pine, Strawberry and Christopher Creek known for their rustic but luxurious streamside accommodations and pioneer history still seen in Snowflake. This is one of the countries most popular hiking destinations encompassing  the Highline Trail, the Fossil Springs trail, the Horton Creek trail and the General George Crook National Scenic Trail.

The White Mountains offer angling, hiking and in winter, skiing at Sunrise Ski Resort, Arizona's largest ski resort. Here you can downhill ski, cross-country ski, showshoe, snow mobile, ice fish horseback rid, and take a sleigh ride. The White Mountain Trail system offers 25-30 interconnected multi-use trails, for hikers, bikers and equestrians. There are also three golf courses. The town of Greer is near the headwaters of the Little Colorado River, great for fly fishing, and a superb wildlife and wildflower viewing spot.

There are five Native American Communities is this area; the San Carlos Apache Tribe; the Tonto Apache Tribe; the White Mountain Apache Tribe; Yavapai-Apache Nation and the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe.

From great skiing, superb hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing, this mountainous area that overlooks the desert below, offers the ultimate in outdoor recreation. It also is home to several casinos with entertainment and luxury accommodations and services.