Greer is a small mountain town in Eastern Arizona, but there’s a lot about this place that you probably don’t know. Any westerner understands that the history of the American West runs richer than deeper than one first suspects at an initial glance. Here are 30 of the most interesting, special facts about this wonderful place that will help guide your next trip to the haven of Greer:

1.) Elevation

At an elevation of 8,356 ft, Greer is the Highest town in Arizona and the 5th Highest in the entire country!

2.) Weather

Greer, Arizona has a delightfully mild temperature, with average highs of 75°F during Summer; and just over 50°F in Winter.

3.) Climate

In the Winters, snowfall amounts to an average of 8 feet! Pleasant summers see 8 inches of Rainfall.

4.) Fall Colors

In Fall, the leaves take on the familiar reds, yellows, and oranges of New England, providing some of the finest scenery imaginable out west, perfect for photography. 

5.) Small Town

Looking for a taste of small town America? Greer houses a permanent population of just 122 people! Get away from the masses and enjoy the great outdoors in this charming, down-to-Earth community.

6.) “The Road to Nowhere”

Greer, AZ is called the town on “The Road to Nowhere”, as it sits at the dead-end of the 5-mile long highway 373 south of Highway 260.

7.) The Drive

You don’t drive “through” Greer on your way to somewhere else; you drive “to” Greer! Greer is home to some of the best outdoors and wilderness activities in Arizona. You’ll want to spend some quality time here!

8.) Highway

The turnoff to Greer is on Highway 260, just 8 miles east of the Sunrise Ski Area turnoff. It’s an excellent place to secure a winter wonderland cabin on your next ski trip.

9.) Ski Park

Sunrise Ski Park is generally open from Thanksgiving to Easter, and has a lot of intermediate (difficulty rating) runs, a wonderful staff of instructors, and the resort also makes their own snow to ensure quality conditions.

10.) Snow Tubing

The Ultimate Tubing Experience can also be found at the Sunrise Ski Park in Greer, AZ, with a helpful lift that takes tubers to the top of the hill so you can spend more time having fun riding down the hill than lugging your tube up it!

11.) Little Colorado River & Resort

Sunrise Ski Park also has some great summer activities, including zip lining. Home to Arizona’s longest zip line, “The Apache High Flyer”, the course presents riders with thrilling views from over the White Mountains.

12.) Animals & Wildlife

Two rivers converge in the Greer Valley Meadow, where wildlife is abundant. The valley is surrounded by mountains, which are covered in Ponderosa Pines and Aspen trees (and they are simply stunning in their fall colors!). Deer and Elk often emerge from the woods in late afternoons to graze and play in the Greer meadow and drink from the rivers, presenting an awesome sightseeing experience for visitors.

13.) Apache-Sitegraves National Forest

Roughly 90% of Greer is National Forest, making it one of the most beautiful, pristine natural habitats that can be found in Arizona. Also, as part of the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the world, it’s a pine tree lover’s haven.

14.) Touch Nature

Touching nature becomes a daily occurrence in Greer, as visitors often report sightings of Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Ospreys, Goshawks, Blue Herons, Song Birds, Raccoons, Squirrels, Fox, Coyotes, and Skunks.

15.) Sunset Magazine

The Greer Lodge Resort & Cabins was named by Sunset magazine as 1 of the Top 9 Resorts in the Western USA to “Touch Nature.”

16.) Fisherman’s Paradise

Fishing is in ever abundance in Greer, AZ. There are 630 miles of trout streams and 22 trout lakes within a 30-mile radius of the town.

17.) American Bird

Canadian Bald Eagles will migrate over 2,000 miles to spend time in Greer, because it’s worth it!

18.) American Bird

Greer is widely renowned for bird watching, with several rare species that are found nowhere else west of the Mississippi.

19.) Darkest Skies in the World

The Greer area has been designated as one of the best places in the world for star gazing, due to the absence of city lights, clear skies, and high altitude. Its comfortable climate also makes it a wonderful place to sit on your front porch with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, admiring the peaceful stars resting overhead on cool evenings.

20.) Scenic 4 Hour Drive

For Arizona residents, the town of Greer is just a 4-hour, scenic drive from both Scottsdale and Tucson, making it easily accessible to weekend trips and getaways for most of the state’s population. Get directions here.

21.) 365 Days a Year

Greer Lodge Resort & Cabins are open 365 days a year. Come enjoy this beautiful land anytime you want!

22.) Spiritual Retreat

Greer Lodge was built in 1948 as a spiritual retreat center for a Phoenix church. You will feel that spirituality today!

23.) Doug Sandahl

The Owner of Greer Lodge Resort & Cabins is Doug Sandahl, a life long resident of Arizona and a University of Arizona Graduate. Doug has done many high profile Real Estate Developments (including Royal Palm Estates at 50th Street/Camelback Rd’s in Phoenix) and built over 1000 luxury homes in Phoenix – Arcadia – Scottsdale – Paradise Valley. Doug opened the 1st ever La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Store in the US in 1988, launching what has become the largest and most recognized furniture retailer in the country.

24.) Molly Butler’s Lodge & Restaurant

The nearby Molly Butler Lodge opened in 1910, and is the oldest, continually operating lodge in the state. At the time it was constructed, Arizona hadn’t even achieved statehood yet! The lodge is a great place to spend an evening and enjoy a nice meal at its fabulous restaurant, which overlooks the Greer Meadows.

25.) Cowboy

John Wayne fans will love to explore Greer! The legendary figure owned the famous 26 Bar Ranch alongside Louis Johnson, which is just an hour’s ride by horse from the X Diamond headquarters near Greer. It’s certainly a ride worth taking to this haven so adored by the renowned actor and filmmaker.

26.) Country Singer

Country singer George Strait visits Greer each Fall to enjoy the great outdoors and hunt for trophy elk.

27.) Greer Day’s

In 1979, the town of Greer celebrated its 100 year anniversary with a 3-day extravaganza of events, including a parade, fishing derby, wagon rides, barn dance, and barbeque. The event drew in 2,000 people and was so successful that the town created Greer Days, an annual event that continues this tradition with those fun activities and many more, making it a delightful time to check out Greer each year.

28.) White Mountains

A classic mountain getaway, Greer is set at 8,500 ft elevation, high within the White Mountains. It also resides in the two-million acre Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, providing supreme natural beauty all around.

29.) Butterfly Museum

Greer’s Butterfly Lodge Museum is a wonderful testament to the way of life when the town was but a fledgling outpost in the rural west. Preserving the cultural heritage of the area, the museum is a must-visit, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

30.) The Restaraunts

Note that while Greer has several delectable restaurants, there is no grocery store or gas station in town. The nearby towns of Eager and Springerville have plenty of food options, but are a 15 minute drive away. Be sure to stock up on supplies before heading into town!