Mountain Life

Situated in the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the world, Pinetop-Lakeside offers visitors a cool alpine retreat in the heart of the White Mountains. In 2015, Cabin Life Magazine published the results of their survey of cabin communities in the US, and Pinetop-Lakeside was declared the best in the country! Click here to read the article.

 

Incorporated in 1984, the town of Pinetop-Lakeside sits at an elevation ranging from 6,700 to 7,200 feet. It is surrounded by the natural beauty of the White Mountains, the Apache/Sitgreaves National Forest, and the Fort Apache Reservation. Its year-round population of about 5,000 expands to more than 35,000 in the summer months, as the mountain opens to seasonal visitors. 

 

 
 
Hiking, biking, skiing, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing are popular recreational activities; camping and picnic facilities are provided throughout the area, and the White Mountain Trail system provides over 180 miles of developed multi-use trails. There are over 40 lakes and hundreds of miles of streams for boaters and anglers to enjoy.
 
Sunny skies and four classic seasons enhance a variety of activities. In winter, visitors can enjoy sledding or tobogganing, snowboarding, ice-fishing, and, of course, world-class downhill and cross-country skiing at the nearby Sunrise Park Resort.  Miles of groomed trails and first-rate facilities draw enthusiasts from around the world to a ski area with a 9,000 foot base elevation and 12,000 foot peaks.