Arizona State Road 87, which runs from Coolidge to Winslow, is part of the National Highway System. The section of this road between Second Mesa (in the city of Mesa) and Payson is known as the Beeline Highway; it leads to a number of a canyons in the southern escarpment of the Mogollon Rim, as well as the Rim itself.

Since Payson is just about 90 minutes from Phoenix, it makes for a lovely weekend drive, especially in the summer, since climbing up a mile's elevation escapes the worst of the Valley's heat.

Technically, AZ-87 is the Beeline only between Second Mesa and Payson. AZ-260 then turns northeast to wind up the side of the Mogollon Rim escarpment.

Snow Day

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 1/24/2010		Page Views: 1,115
Hashtags: #Zachary #Payson #Arizona #PineTrail
We travel north of Payson to play in the snow.
Estimated reading time: 5 minute(s) (964 words)

It's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good, and an ill storm as well. The weather that just blew through Arizona didn't disappoint; it left behind several feet of snow in Flagstaff as well as bringing us almost to normal water levels in our lakes and dams. That meant that a short, two hour drive was enough to take us to a snowy place to play, which we'd been promising Zach we'd do for a couple months now. So we took it, driving up the Beeline Highway to Payson and then a little farther, to where there was clean air, clean snow, and space for Zach and his friend, Lane, to play.

Snow on the Beeline

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 3/10/2008		Page Views: 1,425
Hashtags: #Places #Payson #Arizona #Snow
We take the boys on a drive from desert to snow!
Estimated reading time: 5 minute(s) (1008 words)

Last Wednesday I bought a new car. (New to me; not to the world. It's a not-very-fuel-efficient 2004 Ford Expedition.) So, of course, we had to take it out to stretch its tires this weekend, even though simply owning it is enough to melt Greenland, not to mention actually driving it. Our destination: the snow I hoped was still lying on the ground at the top of the Mogollon Rim. Our purpose: to let Zach and his friend Chris play in the snow for a couple of hours. (Yes, there are pictures!)

Introduction to the Beeline

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 2/21/1998		Page Views: 1,046
Hashtags: #Places #Arizona #Payson #BeelineHighway
My first photo op of Central Arizona's most scenic highway.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (55 words)

When my daughter, Jennifer, and Michael's friend, Celeste, came to visit Arizona at the same time, we decided to show them the "real" Arizona by taking a ride along the Beeline Highway.