Forest Road 300 — Mogollon Rim Road from Payson to Show Low via the Rim Edge
Arizona's rim edge at 7,000 feet. All of it.
The Mogollon Rim is the geological backbone of Arizona — a 200-mile escarpment that drops 2,000 feet from the Colorado Plateau to the Basin and Range desert below. Forest Road 300 rides its very edge from near Payson northeast toward Show Low, threading through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest on a mixed dirt, gravel, and rocky two-track that keeps the canyon views constantly off your left shoulder. Zane Grey wrote about this country. The Army scouted it during the Apache campaigns. You’ll pass old fire lookout sites, unnamed stock tanks, and pull-offs that look south across 50 miles of desert. The road occasionally dips into side drainages, crosses seasonal streams, and passes through unlocked cattle gates — leave them as you find them.
Most of FR-300 is manageable in a stock 4WD high-clearance rig, but wet weather turns sections into a muddy mess and makes a few steep side-canyon dips genuinely sketchy. Dry late-summer monsoon mud and early-season snowpack are the two main hazards — plan for June and September. No permit required, no fees. Fuel in Payson or Show Low. Water sources are scattered and unreliable — carry your own. Dispersed camping along the rim is free and legal on National Forest land with stunning sunset views over the Tonto Basin. This is one of Arizona’s best-kept overland secrets, and it’s sitting right there on the map.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 48 mi / 77.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7600 ft |
| Best season | May-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Payson, AZ |
| Land manager | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler run FR 300 without modifications?
Yes. A stock 4WD with decent clearance handles this route fine under normal conditions. Lifted rigs have more margin on the rougher rocky sections, but this isn't a trail that demands lockers or 35s.
When does FR 300 typically open after winter and is snow a real concern?
The route sits at 7,000–7,600 feet, so snow and mud can close sections from November through April. May is the safe bet for a reliable open road — check current conditions with the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest before you go.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to drive FR 300?
No permit required and no fee to drive the route. It's USFS land — dispersed camping is free, though you're expected to follow Leave No Trace and any posted fire restrictions, which change seasonally and are strictly enforced in Arizona.
What's the hardest section and what does it actually throw at you?
The roughest stretches are the rocky, rutted sections near the rim edge where the road narrows and drops away on one side. Nothing technical enough to call extreme, but washboarding, loose rock, and tight lines keep you focused — it's not a cruise-control fire road.
How far is it between gas stops and is there water available on the route?
Fuel up in Payson before you start — there's no gas on the 48-mile route itself, and Show Low is your next real stop at the far end. Water crossings exist on the trail but treat anything you pull from them; carry at least a day's supply of potable water per person since reliable sources aren't guaranteed.
Trail track
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