Payson is just below the Rim - your family has to go thru Payson on their way to their cabin. I will guarantee you there is a lot of snow on the Rim - we got 12" here in Payson yesterday with more forecast.

Yes, the road closes in the winter, but I've been over the loop from Woods Canyon Lake where the pavement ends, to where the pavement starts again 30 miles later - when it was closed. Ex-hubby decided to venture out "a little way" to see how much snow was there and realized too late he could neither stop nor turn around. Luckily, he had turned the locks on the 4-wheel-drive already. There was about 18" of unbroken snow on the road and we were throwing fishtails over the cab of the truck and leaving a deep rut from the transfer case. We hit the bar ditch three times but he was nothing if not an expert driver. He gunned the engine and we bounced back onto the road and kept going. We met a snowplow at the other end of the loop who was astonished to see us. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. We had not planned that little adventure and had no food, no snow boots, no shovel or other gear and no one knew where we were. And our 2-year-old was with us. Just one of the many reasons he's an "ex."

Your Pictures are Very good... I don't mind Hot/Cold/snow/rain/sunshine...... all offer their own pleasure...lol

I was visiting family several years ago, and stopped in Payson (on m/c) and asked where a nice Scenic Road was... was told to go up on the rim and there was a good road... UN HUH.. LOL and just a mile or two of Gravel... SOME TOUR BUREAU GUY....lol I went ahead, thankful that Arizona Gravel is actually well packed sand/shells, etc. NOT marbles like in Ill, because it was gravel for the entire trip... somewhere around 30 miles or so.. Anyway, got about half way through and came upon a flat bad Semi, trying to get around one of the turns.... He was in a mess. I stopped (No other option but to turn around.. lol) and stood where he could see me and finally got him turned around, Pointing back the way I had just come which didn't have any turns quite as sharp as the one he was on..... Anyway, I finished up my ride on a paved road (???) and ended up back in Payson in time for the Rodeo/Music Festival....

I LOVE all of Arizona exactly for the "DIFFERENCE" in weather that can be had by a relatively short drive..

Mike