Looking at Greer?
Greer is gorgeous, small, and an hour farther out. Here's how to get the best of it.
Greer is the high-country postcard: a small village at about 8,400 feet in a meadow along the Little Colorado River, with trout lakes just outside town. If you've been searching for cabins in Greer, it's worth knowing the trade-off before you book.
What Greer is great for
- Quiet. Greer had 58 year-round residents in the 2020 census. It swells to about a thousand in summer.
- Trout water. The Little Colorado River runs right through it, and the three Greer Lakes (Bunch, Tunnel and River reservoirs) are just outside town. River Reservoir is the biggest, about 50 acres, and is stocked with rainbow trout.
- Cool summers. At 8,400 feet it runs cooler than anywhere else you can easily drive to in Arizona.
- History. Molly Butler Lodge is known as the oldest guest lodge in Arizona.
The trade-off
Greer is small, with only a handful of places to eat and few services, and it's about an hour farther from Phoenix than Pinetop-Lakeside, since you drive through Lakeside to get there.
That's why a lot of people do Greer as a day trip. Stay in Lakeside, where you've got restaurants, stores in nearby Show Low, and a lake you can walk to. Then drive the 55 minutes to Greer for a morning on the river or the reservoirs, and be back at the fire pit by dinner.
A Greer day trip from Grumpy Toads
- Leave Lakeside early and take Highway 260 east to Highway 373 into Greer (about 55 minutes).
- Fish or walk the river in the morning, or hit River Reservoir for stocked trout.
- Lunch in the village.
- In winter, swap the river for Sunrise Park Resort, just outside Greer. Pole Knoll, also near Greer, is a Forest Service area for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
| Destination | Typical drive |
|---|---|
| Greer | about 55 min |
| Sunrise Park Resort | about 45–50 min |
| Show Low | about 15 min |
| Phoenix / East Valley | about 3 hrs |
Grumpy Toads Getaway
4 bedrooms · sleeps 10 · one dog welcome · steps from Rainbow Lake. Book direct with us and skip the Airbnb service fee.
Check dates at Grumpy ToadsCommon questions
How far is Greer from Pinetop-Lakeside?
About 55 minutes, roughly 40 miles east on Highway 260 and then Highway 373.
Is Greer bigger than Pinetop-Lakeside?
No. Greer is a tiny village. It had 58 year-round residents in the 2020 census and grows to around a thousand in summer. Pinetop-Lakeside is a full town with more restaurants and services.
What's the elevation in Greer?
About 8,400 feet, often called the highest town in Arizona. It's noticeably cooler than Pinetop-Lakeside.
What are the Greer Lakes?
Bunch, Tunnel and River reservoirs, just outside Greer. River Reservoir is the largest at about 50 acres and is stocked with rainbow trout. Bunch and Tunnel are electric-motor only.
Is Greer close to Sunrise ski resort?
Yes. Sunrise Park Resort is just outside Greer. From Grumpy Toads in Lakeside it's about 45 to 50 minutes.
Nearby: Pinetop-Lakeside · Show Low · Winter in the White Mountains
Sources
Drive times are typical, measured from the town or neighborhood, and change with traffic and weather. Event dates are as published when we wrote this; confirm with the organizer before you plan around them.