Lying 5 miles south of Ariz. 260 on unspoiled Ariz. 273, the pine-shaded center of Greer is low-key and pleasantly un-townlike. The Little Colorado River, which flows through Greer on its way to the Grand Canyon, is little more than a babbling brook here. Still, it’s known for its trout fishing, one of the main draws in these parts. North of town, the river has been dammed into three reservoirs, known as the Greer Lakes, that are top fishing spots. Also at the north end of town, Butler Canyon is worth exploring; turn east off Main St. onto East Fork Rd./CR 1121 to access an easy 1-mile nature trail that loops through the cool, verdant canyon. Follow Main St. another quarter-mile toward town and turn west onto Osborne Rd. to access the West Fork Trail, which climbs 7 miles through forests and meadows to the top of 11,590-foot Mount Baldy, the second-highest peak in Arizona, a mountain sacred to the White Mountain Apaches. At the south end of town at 8 Main St. is the trailhead for the East Fork Trail, which also leads 7 miles to the top of Mount Baldy; this trail starts with a steep 600-foot climb but then becomes a much easier ascent.
A 3-minute drive on Main St./Ariz. 373 north from Greer’s town center, the Butterfly Lodge Museum (www.butterflylodgemuseum.org; tel. 928/735-7514) is set in a restored cabin built in 1914 by James Willard Schultz (a writer) and his son, Hart Merriam Schultz (a painter). It’s now a memorial to these two unusual creative individuals, with period furnishings, artifacts, and examples of both men’s work. It’s open Memorial Day to Labor Day Thursday through Sunday (and holidays) from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for ages 12 to 17.
Winter is one of the busiest seasons in Greer because the town is so close to the Sunrise Park Resort ski area, about a 20-mile drive west from the center of Greer if you go via Ariz. 260. There’s a shorter route through the mountains (Ariz. 273), but it usually takes longer and is closed in winter.
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