‘Zane Grey Country’ some folk call it but most recently the area around Payson, Arizona is referred to as ‘the Rim Country’.  The Payson area was a favorite of the early western fiction writer Zane Grey as he owned a cabin near the Mongollon Rim. Located just south of the Mongollon Rim Payson was once known as Green Valley or Union Park.  The town is named in honor of Senator Payson who at the time was chairman of the congressional Post Office and Post Road Committee of the Unitited Sates Congress.  The Mongollon Rim, pronounced MUG-EE-OWN, which is the southern edge of the great Colorado Plateau, recieves its name in honor of a early spanish governor of New Mexico.  Ten miles north of Payson on the way to Pine one can visit the largest known travertine natural bridge in the world.  Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is one stop along Hwy 87 that you should take the time to visit.  The road is paved all the way to the park. Make sure to stop in the small communities of Pine and Strawberry for a break.  There are plenty of places to grab a bite in these small mountain communities.  Some say that to enjoy the beauty of the area one should visit the lakes and hike the trails of the area.  I say to enjoy the area just stay on your bike and ride.  Get out your map and count the ways you can head out from Payson.  Head up towards Winslow through breathtaking forested mountains. Up over the Mogollon Rim towards Eber and Show Low.