20 Attractions to Explore Near Mount Baldy Wilderness

Lee Valley Lake is Arizona's highest elevation reservoir, situated at 9,420 feet in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests near Mount Baldy. It is located approximately 35 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, connected by Arizona highways 260 and 273 and forest road 113. Access is restricted in the winter when roads are closed due to snow, generally December to early April.

Mount Baldy is a mountain in eastern Arizona in the United States. With a summit elevation of 11,409 feet, the peak of Mount Baldy rises above the tree line and is left largely bare of vegetation, lending the mountain its current name. The Mount Baldy Wilderness occupies the eastern slope of the mountain and is managed by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

Sunrise Park Resort is is an alpine ski resort. it is Arizona’s Ultimate Mountain Adventure! With 3 mountains of fun, they offer the most skiing acreage in the state. The ski slopes spread across the 3 peaks and cover 1,200 acres, making it the largest ski resort in Arizona. During the winter, the resort's three mountains offer alpine skiing. Night skiing is occasionally offered in mid-January and mid-February. There is also a snowboard terrain park.

Thompson Trail #629 is though one of the loveliest landscapes in the White Mountains. The trailhead is on a major forest road negotiable by vehicles. The trail is well-groomed and follows the West Fork of the Black River and remains always on the same side of the creek.

Sunrise Lake is located on the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation and sits just below the Sunrise Mountain Ski Resort. The lake is situated in a scenic setting of ponderosa pine and aspen trees. The lake restricts motorboats to 10 horsepower or less. The lake is great for fishing and wildlife viewing. There are boat ramps and campgrounds available at the lake. The lake is operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe and a White Mountain permit is required to access the area.

Crescent Lake is located approximately 2 miles north of Big Lake. The lake sits at just over 9,000 feet elevation on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, as such the facilities located here are managed by that authority. Access is restricted in the winter when roads are closed due to snow, generally December to early April.

Reservation Lake is an approximately 300 acre body of water located just inside the eastern boundary of the White Mountain Apache Reservation in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. This lake is not quite as accessible as the other lakes in the area. A 10 mile drive on a washboarded dirt road is necessary to get to Reservation Lake.

A beautiful a White Mountains' fishing lake, with attractive size, productivity and visitor amenities. Situated at 9,000 feet in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Big Lake is about 26 miles south of Springerville and Eagar. Primary fish species here include rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout, with an occasional Brown trout. It is an iconic location for a picnic and also bathing in allowed here.

The Butterfly Lodge Museum is the historic hunting lodge of Indian adventure author James Willard Schultz and later, the studio-home of his son, Lone Wolf . Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a step back in time, you’ll enjoy the original furnishing, artifacts and a gift and book area that include the creative works of both father and son. Open Memorial day weekend through Labor day weekend.

Drift Fence Lake Campground is definitely a “be self-contained” campground. It’s a long way back if you forget anything here. The 16 acre lake itself is small but beautiful. Surrounded by Ponderosa and aspens. It is one of the iconic location for a trip and also there are so many other opportunities too.

Tunnel Reservoir is an artificial lake and recreational area located in the White Mountains around the town of Greer, Arizona. This reservoir is one of three lakes known as the Greer Lakes. The Greer Lakes include Bunch, Tunnel and River Reservoirs, and are a short distance apart from each other. The boating facility offers a boat launching area, boat trailer parking, restrooms, and space for recreational vehicles.

Greer Lakes is a fishing and scenic destination in Arizona. It is an iconic destination for a day trip and also there are so many things to see and feel and also fishing is possible here. There are paths in and around the lakes that would appeal to day hikers, photographers, and mountain bikers.

River Reservoir is the largest and deepest of a trio of lakes collectively known as the Greer Lakes. Drained since 2004 because of safety issues, the dam at River Reservoir was repaired in 2005. Like the other two Greer Lakes, it has new amenities. The Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks River Reservoir with fingerling rainbow trout in the spring and catchable-sized rainbow trout in the spring and summer.

Horseshoe Cienega Lake is a lake in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. It is the one of the area's most popular fishing lakes due to its productivity and convenience to the main highway State Route 260. The lake is in Apache County. As the lake is on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, permits must be acquired in nearby Hon-Dah for all activities at the lake including fishing, camping and hiking.

Mexican Hay Lake is located off State Route 260 southwest of Springerville in the White Mountains. IT is an iconic location for a daytrip and also there are various options for leisure too.

Carnero Lake is a high elevation shallow lake in Apache County, Arizona. Built in 1979, the lake quickly became popular with anglers, to the dismay of downstream water users. Because of the dispute, the Arizona Game and Fish discontinued stocking for many years. In 1999, the Arizona Game and Fish has acquired a major share of the water rights, setting the stage for a new and vigorous trout fishery.

Earl Park Lake is a lake located in Apache County on the White Mountains Apache Indian Reservation in the White Mountains of Arizona. The lake is a reservoir on Earl Creek formed by Earl Park Dam with a surface area of 47 acres. Fish varieties found include brook, rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout.

This 260 acre lake is located on the White Mountains Apache Indian Reservation near Pinetop Lakeside in Arizona's White Mountains. It is surrounded by high mountain peaks covered with thick forests of spruce, pine and aspen.Ice fishing is popular in the winter when the lake freezes over. The lake is a remnant of Pliocene volcanism on the Mogollon Rim but it has been artificially extended as a reservoir for downstream irrigation plus trout and ice fishing.

Casa Malpaís is an archaeological site of the Ancestral Puebloans located near the town of Springerville, Arizona. The site is a nationally recognized archaeological site. The site features an ancient staircase, a Great Kiva, a solar calendar, and rock art. The museum features an introductory video with commentary by Zuni and Hopi elders and an interactive guide to artifacts from the site.

Becker Lake is a 35 acre lake located in Calumet County. It has a maximum depth of 52.5 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. The lake is stocked with sub-catchable rainbow trout twice a year and many of these fish survive the winter, reaching a good size the following spring. The lake has a boat ramp, dirt parking and barrier-free restroom. The Department has developed two hiking trails through the Wildlife Area.