Things to Do in Pinetop, AZ that Will Make Your Weekend Unforgettable

by | Aug 20, 2023

Pinetop, Arizona is a small town (population 4,000) in the White Mountains of Arizona. It’s at 7,000 ft elevation- much higher than Denver even! It’s the perfect foresty, mountain getaway from Phoenix anytime of year. Wanting to head up for the weekend? Let’s go over the best things to do in Pinetop, AZ.

PINETOP, ARIZONA IS LOCATED at 7,000 ft in the white mountains- even higher than denver.

mountain and cactus

WHY SHOULD I VISIT PINETOP, ARIZONA?

Pinetop, Arizona is a unique getaway. There’s many popular weekend getaways from Phoenix, like Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, etc that are amazing, but Pinetop is special. I would say it’s more quiet, calm, and homey. It’s a smaller town, so there’s less hustle and bustle and modern amenities than the previously mentioned areas, which is nice. You should go to Pinetop if you’re looking for a quiet, calm, nature-focused getaway. It’s perfect for older adults, families, and couples. So what is there to do? Let’s get into it!

THINGS TO DO IN PINETOP, AZ

1. VISIT A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP

mutiple photos of coffee shops and a man enjoying coffee

My husband and I LOVE checking out cute, local coffee shops. They’re so homey and cozy. Every time we visit, we check out Cyclelogical Coffee- it’s our favorite. The decor is on point, the vibes are chill, and the drinks are BOMB. Last time, we checked out Pinetop Coffee House and also enjoyed it. We watched people walk up to the counter and order “their usual” which is just adorable. I love the wholesome small town vibes. Even if you don’t like coffee (like me)- these shops are fun to hang out in, and you can get non-coffee drinks too!

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

CYCLELOGICAL COFFEE: 850 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85935- Open 6:15am-4pm M-F, 6:15am-5pm Sat-Sun

PINETOP COFFEE HOUSE: 1684 E White Mountain Blvd Suite 1, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85935- Open 6-3 M-F, 6-5 Sat-Sun

ARIZONA MOUNTAIN COFFEE CO: 1450 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85935- Open 6-4 M-Sat, Sun 7-2

YO SIPPITY: 19 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85929- Open 630-530 M-F, 7-5 Sat, 7-6 Sun

2. CHECK OUT SUNRISE SKI RESORT

photo of a ski lift, a mural, the forest, and a sign saying sunrise ski resort

Sunrise Ski Resort is located 35 minutes from Pinetop in the White Mountains. It is FULL of fun activities and perfect for families. This was my first time checking it out. I wasn’t able to do much because we had our pup with, but here’s some recommendations for activities if you are able.

You can also visit the area in winter to ski. Yes you can ski in Arizona. Sunrise is one of the three ski resorts in Arizona, along with Mt. Lemmon in Tucson and Snowbowl in Flagstaff.

SUNRISE SKI RESORT ACTIVITIES

SCENIC SKI LIFT: Ride the lift from 9,200′ to Sunrise peak, at 10,700′. 7 minute ride. $15 for youth, $19 for adults, Thursday-Sunday 9-4

ZIP LINE: Sunday-Thursday 9-4, $45-49 pp

DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE: Arizona’s Only Lift-Served downhill mountain biking. $42 day pass. Can rent bikes and gear as well

SKI: Rates released each season HERE.

OTHERS: Rock Climbing, Balloon Jump, Tube Slide, etc

3. WALK AROUND WOODLAND LAKE PARK

photo of a man in front of a lake

Woodland Lake Park is located in the heart of Pinetop. There’s a paved trail for walking, which I loved. You can also rent kayaks, play pickleball, baseball, and more. It has dreamy small town vibes- check it out!

4. HIKE THOMPSON TRAIL #629

photos of a man and woman near a river with wildflowers

The Thompson Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the White Mountains and one of the best things to do in Pinetop in general, and for a good reason! You walk along the river and hear the sound of water rushing over the rocks, the wind whistling through the tall grass and the trees. August is the most LUSH AND GREEN, which makes it a good time of year to visit. This trail is <1 hour from Pinetop, which seems long, but it’s such a pretty drive that it goes fast! This is a can’t miss. Make a half-day out of it by also visiting Sunrise Ski Resort.

READ MORE ABOUT THOMPSON TRAIL

Want to know more about Thompson Trail? I wrote a detailed post HERE.

5. EAT AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT

Obviously, when you visit a new place, you have to try out the local food. There’s so many fun places in Pinetop-Lakeside. I usually have my dog, so I opt for outdoor patio spaces or take out. On my first trip, we tried Pinetop Brewing Company. On our second trip, we got take out from Red Devil Pizza and went back to our hotel- honestly it was even more fun than being at the restaurant. They also have the Lion’s Den- a local restaurant that has concerts and live music. For breakfast, you have to try Darbi’s Cafe- it’s the BOMB. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong. Eating yummy food is one of the best things to do in Pinetop.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

PINETOP BREWING COMPANY: 159 W White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85929

LION’S DEN: 2408 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop, AZ 85935

RED DEVIL PIZZA: 1774 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85935

THE SPAGHETTI SHACK: 592 W White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ 85929

DARBI’S CAFE: 235 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop, AZ 85935

6. GO GOLFING

Golf is big in Arizona. When it’s too hot to golf in Scottsdale (probably the most popular city in the state to golf), people flock up north. There are multiple beautiful golf courses in the White Mountains. Consider playing a course!

GOLF COURSES IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

TORREON GOLF CLUB: 2732, 651 Torreon Loop- Show Low, AZ 85901

SILVER CREEK GOLF CLUB: 2051 Silver Lake Boulevard- Show Low, AZ 85901

BISON GOLF CLUB: 1 N Bison Preserve Drive- Show Low, AZ 85901

PINETOP COUNTRY CLUB: 6734 Country Club Drive- Pinetop, AZ 85935

PINETOP LAKES AND COUNTRY CLUB: 4643 Buck Springs Road- Pinetop, AZ 85935

WHITE MOUNTAIN COUNTRY CLUB: 3644 Country Club Circle- Pinetop, AZ 85935

7. CAMP NEAR ONE OF THE LAKES

Girl sitting in a tent in the forest

One of the nice things about the Show Low, Pinetop, Lakeside, Greer area is a of the lakes nearby. I highly suggest camping near one of them. Enjoy sunsets at the lake, read a book, go fishing, paddle boarding, etc. Sitting by the lake is one of the best things to do in Pinetop.

NORTHERN ARIZONA LAKES

Hawley Lake: Within 20 minutes of Pinetop-Lakeside, popular!

Fools Hollow Lake State Park: In Show Low, has amenities, close to town

Big Lake: 45 minutes from Pinetop, close to Thompson Trail, popular fishing area

Reservation Lake: 1.5 hours from Pinetop, past Thompson Trail, remote area

NEED SOMEWHERE TO CAMP??

I’ve created a FORTY PAGE GUIDE outlining all the best free and paid campsites in Northern Arizona, like Pinetop-Lakeside.

It can be hard to spend hours researching campsites, trying to figure out were they’re located, what they look like, the price, and the amenities. With my guide, those days are over! I give you everything you need to know, with links to my Google Maps AND it’s in a PDF so you can access it any time!

girl with curly hair and a black shirt and yellow shorts in front of a canyon

8. CUT DOWN A CHRISTMAS TREE

Cutting down a christmas tree northern arizona

You can also get away to the White Mountains in the winter. Last year (2022), my husband and I got Christmas Tree Permits (HERE) to cut down a tree. It was such a good memory. If you do it, get a truck.

NEED A HOTEL FOR THE WINTER?

Camping is popular in the white mountains in the summer, which isn’t feasible in the winter. I highly suggest The Nook Pinetop. It’s pet-friendly, kid-friendly, and super cozy.

Use my code “DO23” to get 15% off HERE.

I wrote an entire blog post reviewing the hotel HERE.

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT PINETOP-LAKESIDE

I hope you enjoyed learning fun things to do in Pinetop. Pinetop is a great year-round weekend trip from Phoenix. It’s fun, homey, and cozy. There’s so much to do, from hiking to fishing to camping to eating good food. You won’t regret it!

Looking for other weekend trips from Phoenix? Read my post HERE.

black and blue coffee shop

WELCOME TO MY PAGE!

I’m Danielle, a midwesterner turned desert rat with a passion for the outdoors.

I’ve lived in Phoenix, Arizona since 2014 and went on my first real hike in March 2015. Being in the middle of the mountains is an unbelievable experience. I promised myself from now on, I won’t live more than 15 minutes from a trail. I promise you’ll benefit from more time outside.

By career, I am a Physician Assistant, trained in Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine. I hope to use my knowledge to help prepare others to be safe outdoors. This is my prescription to you to GET OUTSIDE.

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