White Mountain Scenic Road White Mountain Scenic Road
White Mountain Scenic Road is a State Scenic Byway in Arizona. Within Arizona it covers roughly 65 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along White Mountain Scenic Road with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
Arizona's White Mountain Scenic Road loops through the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest on State Routes 260, 261, and 273. It begins at Hon-Dah, an Apache word for 'welcome' or 'be my guest' adopted by the White Mountain Apache Tribe as they opened the reservation to visitors, southeast of Pinetop-Lakeside. From there SR 260 runs east along the edge of the Mogollon Rim through pine and fir forest before the route turns south on SR 261 deeper into the White Mountains, then loops back north on SR 273 to close the circuit. A-1 Lake along the way is named for the 19th-century White Mountain Apache chief Alchesay, and Mount Baldy, visible from parts of the drive, remains sacred to the Apache; climbers need tribal permission to reach its summit. The loop gives access to fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing across some of Arizona's highest and coolest forest country.
- Hon-Dah
- Fort Apache Reservation
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- A-1 Lake
- Mount Baldy
- State Routes 260/261/273
- Chief Alchesay
Plan a drive on White Mountain Scenic Road →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along White Mountain Scenic Road
11 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of White Mountain Scenic Road.
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