Christopher Creek, which winds beneath the Mogollon Rim, is one of the state’s most popular destinations for lazy afternoons spent at water’s edge. So it’s no surprise that its namesake lodge has enjoyed a lengthy tenure as one of the oldest continuously operated businesses under the Rim. Built in 1950, the first lodge cabin originally served as the Christopher Creek Store and Bar, and it didn’t entertain its first overnight guest until 1953.
Since then, the property has grown to include eight cabins, nine tandem trail bunks and six motel units. That original cabin, now “the Founder’s Cabin,” features two bedrooms and a kitchen. Although the lodge’s accommodations are numerous, the scenery is the real draw at Christopher Creek. Located at an elevation just shy of 6,000 feet, the property features wild grapevine, spruce, oaks, walnuts and maples. And, of course, there’s the water, which is regularly stocked with rainbow trout.
1355 E. Christopher Creek Loop
Payson, AZ
United States