Pine and Strawberry are two neighboring towns on the Mogollon Rim in Eastern Arizona.
Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Arizona State Routes 87 and 260 run concurrently through Pine and Strawberry, splitting in Payson to the south and near Cinch Hook Butte to the north.
State Route 87 connects Pine and Strawberry with Greater Phoenix and Interstate 40 in Winslow.
State Route 260 connects Pine and Strawberry to Show Low and other destinations in Eastern Arizona. To the west, it intersects with Interstate 17 in Camp Verde.
By bicycle/foot
[edit]- The
Arizona National Scenic Trail is passable to mountain bikers and hikers. It crosses Route 87 at the southern edge of Pine.
Get around
[edit]- In addition to the main highway, there are a number of Forest Service routes in the area.
Map of Pine and Strawberry
See and do
[edit]- 1 Tonto Natural Bridge, Nf-583A, Pine (about a third of the way from Pine to Payson, turn on Forest Route 583), ☏ +1 928-476-4202. 9AM–5PM (last entry at 4PM). Largest natural travertine bridge in the world, standing 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point. Hiking trails, picnic area, and the Goodfellow Lodge. 14 and over $10, 7–13 $5, under 7 free.
- 2 Pine-Strawberry Museum, 3886 AZ-87, Pine (right off of State Route 87 in central Pine), ☏ +1 928-476-3932. Friday–Sunday 10AM–3PM. Closed during the winter. Prehistoric and pioneer artifacts, period antiques and room displays. Free.
- 3 Strawberry Schoolhouse, 9318 W Fossil Creek Rd, Strawberry (in Strawberry, turn on Fossil Creek Rd from Route 87; the schoolhouse is on the right at Walnut Dr), ☏ +1 928-476-3547. F–Su 10AM–3PM. Closed during the winter. One-room log schoolhouse, the second oldest still standing in Arizona. It functions as a fully restored local history museum, complete with a late-19thzcentury classroom exhibit. Free.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Pine
[edit]- 1 Old County Inn, 3502 AZ-87 Pine (At the intersection of Route 87 and Old County Rd), ☏ +1 928-476-6560, [email protected]. W-Su 11AM–9PM. Woodfired pizza and crafty cocktails. About $20 per pizza.
- 2 Old County Burger, 6240 Hardscrabble Mesa Rd, Pine (at the intersection of Hardscrabble Mesa Rd and Ellison Dr off of Route 87), ☏ +1 928-476-3536. M Th-Su 11AM–7PM. Fast-casual, burgers. $7 for a single, $9 for a double. $3 for fries. $2.50 for a soda, $4–6 for beer.
- 3 The Early Bird Café, 3618 AZ-87, Pine (right off Route 87 in central Pine), ☏ +1 928-476-4092. W-Su 6:30AM–2PM, M 6:30AM-1PM. Traditional breakfast fare. About $15–20 per person.
Strawberry
[edit]- 4 Strawberry Lodge, 8039 W Fossil Creek Rd, Pine (on the corner of Fossil Creek Rd and Route 87), ☏ +1 928-363-1735, [email protected]. Th–Su 4PM–8PM. Italian cuisine, full bar. $25–50 per person.
- 5 Fossil Creek Farm, 8327 Fossil Creek Rd, Strawberry (at the intersection of Fossil Creek Rd and Strawberry Dr), ☏ +1 480-776-7666. Th–Su 8AM–2PM. Breakfast and lunch only. About $10 per person, not including drinks.
- 6 PIEBar AZ, 5096 AZ-87, Strawberry (Right off Route 87 at Parkinson Dr), ☏ +1 602-882-1442. M Tu Th-Su 9AM–5PM. Handmade sweet and savory empanadas, as well as pies. $5–6 per empanada. $3.50 drinks, $7 alcoholic beverages.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Lodging
[edit]- 1 Strawberry Inn, 5073 AZ-87, Strawberry (right off of State Route 87 in Strawberry), ☏ +1 928-202-7790, [email protected]. Boutique mountain getaway. $90-190.
- 2 Lodge at 5600, 4310 AZ-87, Pine (right off Route 87 on the northern edge of Pine), toll-free: +1-833-531-0030, [email protected]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Modern Arizona lodge. There is no check-in counter; guests go straight to their rooms. $230 and up, discounts available.
- 3 Beeline Guest House, 4042 N AZ-87, Pine (right off Route 87 in central Pine), ☏ +1 520-730-5401, [email protected]. Boutique hotel with old fashioned hospitality. $150-375, depending on season.
- 4 PineTime Cabin, 3648 Navajo Dr, Pine (in Pine, turn on W Hardscrabble Mesa Rd, then turn right on Navajo Dr.), ☏ +1 602-505-4698, [email protected]. 1800-square-foot cabin. Sleeps 9 people, minimum two-night reservations. $400 and up.
Go next
[edit]- Route 87 will take you north to Winslow and the Navajo Nation.
- Eastbound and southbound, Routes 87 and 260 will take you back to Payson.
- Route 87 heads south to the desert and Greater Phoenix.
- Route 260 heads east along the Mogollon Rim toward Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low, and Snowflake.
- To the west, Route 260 meets Interstate 17 in Camp Verde, providing access to Greater Phoenix and Flagstaff. You could also continue further west and head to Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, or even Prescott.
- Thru-hikers and long-distance mountain bikers on the Arizona Trail can head north to Flagstaff and eventually the Grand Canyon and the Utah border, or south past Lake Roosevelt to Tucson and the Mexico border.
| Routes through Pine-Strawberry |
Winslow  ←
|
N  S
|
→ Payson → Mesa 
|
Cottonwood  ← Camp Verde ←
|
W  E
|
→ Payson → Show Low 
|
| Flagstaff ← Mormon Lake Village ← | N  S
|
→ Roosevelt → Tucson |