Payson, Arizona Micropolitan Area Local whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information. If whitewater paddling is your thing and you're in Payson, Arizona you may have to drive some distance to get to some decent whitewater. In the list below you can find a good whitewater stretch to paddle. It's not a very long list of nearby whitewater as you can see but not too bad either. Spending some time picking the right whitewater stretch will make you paddling trip more enjoyable. HIGH QUALITY TOPO MAP, CLICK HERE Important Whitewater Safety Information Whitewater paddling spots near Payson, Arizona: Whitewater 0 to 25 miles from Payson, Arizona Salt River, Arizona, Gleason Flats to Horseshoe Bend, 15 miles away, class III-IV, 19 miles long. Salt River, Arizona, Route 60 to Roosevelt Reservoir, 16 miles away, class II-IV, 60 miles long. Whitewater 25 to 50 miles from Payson, Arizona Gila River, Arizona, Kelvin to Ashurst-Hayden Dam, 33 miles away, class -blank-, 15 miles long. Salt River, Arizona, Highway 60 to Mescal Rapid, 31 miles away, class III-IV, 7 miles long. Salt River, Arizona, Stewart Mountain Dam to Granite Reef Dam, 46 miles away, class -blank-, 12 miles long. Tonto Creek, Arizona, Box, 31 miles away, class IV(V), 2 miles long. Verde River, Arizona, Bartlett Reservoir to confluence with Salt River, 48 miles away, class I-II, 19 miles long. Whitewater 50 to 75 miles from Payson, Arizona Chevelon Creek, Arizona, Woods Canyon Lake to Little Colorado River, 59 miles away, class -blank-, 75 miles long. East Verde River, Arizona, US Route 87 to Verde River confluence, 54 miles away, class V+, 34 miles long. Verde River, Arizona, Beasley Flat to Gap Creek, 70 miles away, class II-IV, 7 miles long. Verde River, Arizona, Childs to Horseshoe Reservoir, 60 miles away, class I-III, 25 miles long. Verde River, Arizona, Horseshoe Reservoir to Bartlett Reservoir, 51 miles away, class I-II, 19 miles long. Whitewater 75 to 100 miles from Payson, Arizona Beaver Creek, Arizona, Wet Beaver Creek to Verde River, 82 miles away, class -blank-, 9 miles long. Black River - & East Fork, Arizona, Below Wildcat Point, 76 miles away, class IV-V, 90 miles long. Oak Creek, Arizona, Pump Stabove Sedona Cornville to Verde River, 89 miles away, class -blank-, 35 miles long. Verde River, Arizona, Camp Verde to Beasley Flat, 79 miles away, class -blank-, 8 miles long. Verde River, Arizona, Clarkdale to Camp Verde, 90 miles away, class -blank-, 28 miles long. Wet Beaver Creek, Arizona, Beaver Ranger Station to Beaver Creek, 80 miles away, class -blank-, 9 miles long. Whitewater 100 to 125 miles from Payson, Arizona Black River - East Fork, Arizona, Diamond Rock to Wildcat Point, 108 miles away, class -blank-, 18 miles long. Blue River, Arizona, Blue Crossing to Forest Service Road 475, 122 miles away, class IV-V, 34 miles long. Little Colorado River, Arizona, Below Grand Falls to above Black Falls, 106 miles away, class -blank-, 16 miles long. Verde River, Arizona, Perkinsville to Clarkdale, 105 miles away, class -blank-, 18 miles long. * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the middle of the river section listed, actual driving distance is longer. Other Outdoors Recreation Nearby: Ski Resorts near Payson, Arizona: Ski Areas 50 to 100 miles from Payson, Arizona Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona, 99 miles, vertical drop 2300 feet Ski Areas 100 to 150 miles from Payson, Arizona Sunrise Park, Arizona, 105 miles, vertical drop 1800 feet Williams Ski Area, Arizona, 125 miles, vertical drop 600 feet Ski Areas 150 to 200 miles from Payson, Arizona Ski Areas 200 to 250 miles from Payson, Arizona Ski Areas 250 to 300 miles from Payson, Arizona Durango, Colorado, 296 miles, vertical drop 2029 feet Elk Meadows, Utah, 280 miles, vertical drop 1400 feet Brian Head, Utah, 258 miles, vertical drop 1707 feet Ski Areas 300 to 400 miles from Payson, Arizona Wolf Creek, Colorado, 333 miles, vertical drop 1604 feet Crested Butte, Colorado, 395 miles, vertical drop 3062 feet Silverton, Colorado, 322 miles, vertical drop 3000 feet Telluride, Colorado, 315 miles, vertical drop 3530 feet Powderhorn, Colorado, 354 miles, vertical drop 1650 feet Deer Valley, Utah, 372 miles, vertical drop 3000 feet Park City Mountain Resort, Utah, 372 miles, vertical drop 3100 feet Alta, Utah, 368 miles, vertical drop 2020 feet Snowbird, Utah, 368 miles, vertical drop 3240 feet The Canyons, Utah, 370 miles, vertical drop 3190 feet Solitude, Utah, 371 miles, vertical drop 2047 feet Sundance, Utah, 352 miles, vertical drop 2150 feet Sandia Peak, New Mexico, 321 miles, vertical drop 1700 feet Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico, 347 miles, vertical drop 1410 feet Sipapu Ski, New Mexico, 391 miles, vertical drop 1055 feet Ski Apache, New Mexico, 367 miles, vertical drop 1900 feet Las Vegas Ski, Nevada, 329 miles, vertical drop 1000 feet * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the ski areas listed, actual driving distance is longer. National Parks near Payson, Arizona: National Parks 0 to 100 miles from Payson, Arizona Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, 55 miles Montezuma Castle National Monument, 80 miles Petrified Forest National Park, 99 miles Hohokam Pima National Monument, 55 miles Saguaro National Park, 86 miles Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, 100 miles Tonto National Monument, 3 miles Walnut Canyon National Monument, 99 miles Wupatki National Monument, 99 miles * Distances listed are direct linear distances from the center of the metro area to the parks listed, actual driving distance is longer. Important Outdoors Safety Information       Go to Arizona Rivers