Located at an elevation of 7,200 feet in Arizona's pine forested White Mountains is Pinetop-Lakeside, one of the state's most popular tourist and recreation area. The two towns, Pinetop and Lakeside incorporated into one town in 1984. Pinetop-Lakeside is surrounded by the White Mountains, the Apache-Sitreaves National Forest, and the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation.
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| Pinetop-Lakeside Arizona Museum |
Visitors are able to enjoy a four season climate surrounded by the world's largest stand of Ponderosa Pines. There are also forty lakes within forty miles of Pinetop-Lakeside. Seasonal events include the White Mountain Native American Festival, the Pinetop-Lakeside Fall Artisans Festival and Parade, the Woodland Wildlife Festival and the Run to the Pines Car Show.
Arizonians who reside in the lower elevation desert communities of Tucson and Phoenix have long enjoyed visiting the White Mountains for it's cool mountain air and clear streams and lakes.
In addition to the above, hikers can enjoy some 180 miles of multi-use trails at an average elevation of about 7,000 feet. Most of the trails have connector trails which give hikers a wide choice of routes to enjoy. Trails are not crowded and the wildlife in the area is abundant. Another popular activity is horseback riding. Many of the multi-use trails offer some great scenic rides.
Golfers can enjoy ten regional golf courses and of course hunting and fishing is spectacular. Add to this snowmobiling, sledding and skiing during the winter months.
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| Hiking trails through the pine forest |
Pinetop-Lakeside History
Pinetop-Lakeside is located in Navajo County Arizona. The location is in pines near the top of the Mogollon Rim. The town was established by the Anglos in 1885 prior to habitation by both Native Americans and Spaniards. Mormons also migrated to the area during the 1870's. Originally there were about six LDS families in the area. Coronado traveled through the White Mountains during his 1540 expedition in search of gold. Pinetop is said to have received it's name by the Buffalo Soldiers stationed at nearby Fort Apache. This was the name they used to refer to a man named Walt Rigney who operated a saloon in the area.
Prior to the official designation of the town as Pinetop it had been known as Penrod, named after William L. Penrod who had also ran a saloon prior to Rigney. Lakeside derived it's name due to the numerous lakes in the area.
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| Scenic lodging in the pine forests |
Farms and orchards developed during the 1890's. This was the decade that the settlement really began to grow.
Sheep ranching was a major industry in the White Mountains. Northern Arizona has a long history of both cattle and sheep ranching. The state saw it's share of conflict during it's early days when sheep and cattle ranchers vied for the same pasture land. Cattle rustling during the latter decades of the 1800's was not lost to northern Arizona. When the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad ( a partner of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad) built through northern Arizona in 1881 more settlers and more cattle arrived. As a result, rustling increased. There was more cattle to steal.
The beautiful pine forests of the White Mountains also meant that the timber industry would thrive there. Today there is a large paper and pulp mill located in Snowflake Arizona. Interestingly enough, the town received it's name not from the flake of snow that falls from the sky but rather from the names of two early settlers. These were Mormon pioneers Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake sent to the area of northern Arizona by Brigham Young. Snowflake Arizona is located about twenty-eight miles north of Pinetop-Lakeside along Arizona Hwy 77.
The links below are additional photo articles from Western Trips of great sites to visit in Arizona.
A Visit to Prescott Arizona
Historic Downtown Flagstaff Arizona
Visit the Desert Botanical Garden / Phoenix
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| Plenty of excellent horseback riding through the pines |
Skiers will enjoy excellent cross country skiing along many of the White Mountain Arizona trails. In addition to that there is a fine downhill ski spot at the Sunrise Park Resort located on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. This resort offers some of the best skiing in the western U.S. with a base elevation of 9,300 feet and a peak elevation of 11,000 feet.
The Nature Center in the White Mountains of Arizona offers clear streams and lakes and contains the worls's largest stand of Ponderosa Pines. Plenty of hiking trails at this site.
The Pinetop-Lakeside Historical Society Museum opened in 2009 and is located next to the town's city hall. The museum collects, exhibits and preserves historic documents, photographs and artifacts regarding both the town of Pinetop-Lakeside and the larger White Mountain Arizona area. You'll learn all about the rich history of the area at this excellent museum.
(Article and photos copyright Western Trips)
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