The Mogollon Rim

The Mogollon Rim offers breathtaking mountain views. The 100-mile vistas, the undulations of forests and the billows of clouds that break against the 200-mile-long row of tall cliffs rising up more than 1,000 feet in some places. In fact, the views from the long line of sandstone, and limestone cliffs also offer a view of the violent history of a tempestuous earth.

This line of cliffs that mark the edge of the vastly uplifted Colorado Plateau runs from near Flagstaff all the way to New Mexico. The sheer layers are made from sand dunes and sea bottoms laid down, buried, compressed and then uplifted once more into sunlight and storm. The Mogollon Rim sharply divides the Sonoran Desert from the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest. It affects the climate of the region, forcing the release of snow and rain from passing storms and in the process making Phoenix possible by filling up a chain of reservoirs. The Rim forms one of the most dramatic ecological divides in the country.

Hikers have long marveled at some of the canyons, like West Clear Creek, Black River Canyon, Fossil Creek, Tonto Creek, the East Verde River, Pine, Sycamore, Oak Creek, Wet Beaver, Greenback, Salome, Sawmill, San Carlos and the immense gash of the Salt River Canyon – with world-class whitewater rafting during the spring thaw and the summer monsoons. Many canyons remain guarded by cliffs and waterfalls that require rock climbing skills and a reservation permit to navigate. That includes Cibecue Canyon, which requires adventures to rappel through two or three waterfalls in the company of a certified Apache guide.

The uplifted wall of lave-capped, fossilized sand dunes has shaped every aspect of the states history and ecology. It forms a boundary line for many plant and animal species; it controlled patterns of travel and settlement and controls the weather of the whole state.

Rim Country Flora and Fauna

The Rim Country offers a vast variety of Flora and Fauna Species. Generally they can be found in Chaparral Woodlands and Interior Chaparral biotic communities and also attract plants and animal species commonly found in Riparian communities. Some of the common Flora Species is Alligator Juniper, Pinon Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Arizona White Oak, Emory Oak, Goodding Willow, Mountain Mahogany, Netleaf Hackberry, Pine Clover, Manzanita and many more.

Rim Country golf communities also are visited by many Fauna Species such as Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, Squirrel, Rabbit, Coyote, Chipmunks, Gray Fox, Cougars, Bob Cat, Javelina, and Skunks.

By far the most traveled of the Fauna Species are Birds. Whether they are here year round or “snow birds”, visitors and residents alike of the Rim Country can sit and observe the Red Tail Hawk, Northern Cardinal, American Kestral, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Gambel Quail, Canada Goose, Spotted Owl and Pygmy Owl just to name a few.