Coolest things to do in Springerville, Eagar, Pinetop-Lakeside this summer

Why fight it?

The dog days of summer are so close you can hear them barking, even with the air conditioning cranked up high. Weeks of triple- digit temperatures still loom. You need a break.

Plan your escape now to the fortress heights of the White Mountains where desert heat perishes on the lower slopes. Travel to a land of deep pine forests, lush meadows, clear-running rivers and shimmering lakes — terrain so relentlessly green it could have been plucked from the Pacific Northwest.

The White Mountains cover hundreds of square miles across east-central Arizona, so you’ll find plenty of recreational opportunities. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

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White Mountain Dinosaur Exploration Center

It would be easy to walk past this storefront in downtown Springerville with only a curious glance. But take a closer look. The little museum is actually a hub of scientific research.

Founded and run by paleontologist Douglas Wolfe, his wife Hazel and son Christopher, the center houses fossils and reconstructions from the Zuni Basin Paleontological Project that yielded four new dinosaur species unique to the White Mountains region.

Wolfe began the Zuni Paleo Project in 1996, uncovering a wealth of fossils from 90 million-year-old rocks of the middle Cretaceous Period. The discoveries changed the scientific view of intercontinental migration. Notice that roaring guy in the front window. That’s Zuniceratops christopheri, discovered by Wolfe’s then-8-year-old son Christopher.

The museum is open Thursdays through Saturdays and is filled with family-friendly exhibits. Admission is $5 ($3 for children). Wolfe leads geology tours Mondays through Wednesdays that range from gentle photo outings and picnics to remote expedition hikes and specimen-recovery efforts that require backcountry travel and camping. Rates start at $25 per hour per person.

Details: 224 E. Main St., Springerville. 480-202-8362, www.whitemountaindino.com.

Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area

Sitting in the shadow of Escudilla Mountain, this 1,362-acre property offers a handful of short trails rambling through a range of habitats, along with historic cultural sites and a visitor center.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department manages the wildlife area, which is a few miles southeast of Eagar on U.S. 180/191. There is no entrance fee. Stop at the visitor center, open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through mid-October, for some basic information. Then explore the meadows, wetlands, historic sites and scenic vistas of the property.

The best birding is along Rudd Creek and in the orchard near the visitor center. The High Point Trail leads to several wildlife-viewing overlooks with benches and one with a 20X spotting scope so you can scan the forests and meadows.

An elk workshop on Oct. 1 will include discussions on elk biology, their history in the White Mountains and how the herds are managed. Reservations are required and will be accepted at the beginning of September. The workshop is limited to 20 people. Call the Pinetop Regional Office of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, 928-532-3680.

Details:www.azgfd.com/wildlife/viewing/wheretogo/sipe.

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Sunrise Park Resort

Arizona’s largest ski resort is also a summer playground full of high-flying, fast-moving and bouncy thrills. You can ride the scenic chair lift to the 10,700-foot summit of Sunrise Mountain, with forest views rolling off in all directions.

If that’s too slow-paced, take Arizona’s longest zip-line tour ($79, $69 for age 12 and younger) and soar above the pines for over a mile. That means latching onto six zip lines, including one that's 2,300 feet long, traversing a suspended bridge 70 feet above the ground and screaming back to base on the Apache Flyer Tandem Zip Line at over 45 miles per hour. You can ride just the Apache Flyer for $39.

There’s also a 300-foot tubing slide (three rides for $12), airbag jumps (three for $12) and downhill mountain biking, which is just what it sounds like — ride the chair lift to the top and zoom down the ski runs clinging to your bike. Tickets are $35 and courses are suitable for beginners, advanced and expert riders. Bike rentals are also available.

Details: 855-735-7669, www.sunriseskiparkaz.com.

White Mountains Trail System

One of the best ways to enjoy the mild temperatures and beautiful scenery of the White Mountains is to get out and walk. The hard-working folks at TRACKS, a volunteer group that plans, builds and maintains trails, have made that easy.

Centered in the forests surrounding Pinetop-Lakeside, the White Mountains Trail System consists of more than 200 miles of trails of varying length and difficulty. It’s a beautiful network of well-designed paths, mostly built as loops and spoked with connectors that allow a wide range of options.

Download a map from the TRACKS website and lace up your hiking boots. A few favorites are Ice Cave (3.6 miles), Springs (3.6 miles) and Panorama (9.5 miles).

Details:www.tracks-pinetop-lakeside.org.

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Mount Baldy

The highest point in the White Mountains — and the highest point in Arizona outside the San Francisco Peaks — Mount Baldy makes for a beautiful day of hiking. Two trails climb toward the 11,403-foot summit. Both are about 7 miles long.

The West Baldy Trail swoops through a picturesque meadow following the West Fork of the Little Colorado River as it twists and curves back into the timber. The East Baldy is a bit less shaded and cuts through a maze of sandstone boulders with expansive views. Both trails reach a high ridgeline just below the peak.

The summit is on the Fort Apache Reservation and access is restricted to tribal members only.

Details: 928-333-6200, www.fs.usda.gov/asnf.

Casa Malpais 

Casa Malpais Archaeological Park perches on a high terrace amid a field of volcanic boulders near Springerville. It protects a pueblo from the Mogollon culture that was built and occupied between 1250 and 1340. The structure contains an astronomical observatory, a great kiva and a natural stone stairway that leads to breathtaking views.

Hopi and Zuni people consider Casa Malpais a sacred ancestral place. Tours of the site are offered from March through November and start at the Casa Malpais Museum in Springerville. The museum displays beautiful artifacts excavated from the site. Museum admission is free; tours cost $10 ($5 for age 17 and younger) and involve a hike of three-quarters of a mile with some steep, rocky places. Tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Details: 418 E. Main St., Springerville. 928-333-5375, www.casamalpais.org.

Woodland Lake Park

The interconnected communities of Pinetop and Lakeside don’t really have a downtown. They have something better at their core.

Woodland Lake Park is a swath of open space practically in the middle of the commercial district. Miles of trails slice through the meadows and forests of the 583-acre park and a paved path encircles the lake. Amenities include picnic tables and grills, playgrounds, ball fields and restrooms.

Within the park are the Big Springs Environmental Study Area, with a spring-fed pond and wetlands bustling with wildlife, and the White Mountain Nature Center. Make the non-profit Nature Center your first stop for helpful information on trails, wildflowers and possible wildlife sightings. Be sure to find out what programs they’re offering during your visit.

Details: 425 S. Woodland Road, Lakeside. 928-358-3069, www.whitemountainnaturecenter.org.

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