Discover Greer: Trails, Rivers, and History

Greer brings together high elevation, trails, flowing water, and local history. The town sits at more than 8,000 feet; the Little Colorado runs through its center, and Butterfly Lodge offers a tangible connection to the past. There are also hiking and cross-country trails, annual events, and a restaurant serving regional cuisine. You can consider these themes as different priorities when planning your trip: scenery and outdoor activity, water, history, or event dates.

Hiking, High Elevation, and Views

Greer has more than 70 miles of trails for hiking and cross-country running at high elevation. There are also more than a dozen mountain hiking trails near town. From peaks and ridgelines along the White Mountain Trail System, you can see as far as New Mexico. Greer is also suitable for altitude training for mountain bike racing.

These details offer different points of reference for planning your trip: the trail mileage refers to hiking and cross-country running, the more than a dozen trails to mountain hikes near Greer, and the distant views to peaks and ridgelines along the White Mountain Trail System. This lets you weigh activity, proximity, and views as separate considerations for your stay. The reference to mountain bike racing is specifically about altitude training.

River and Lakes

Greer is surrounded by lakes and flowing water. The Little Colorado runs through the center and is used for stream fishing in Greer. The Greer Lakes are nearby and are known for rainbow trout, brook trout, and Apache trout. The waterways also differ in location: the river runs through the center, while the lakes are in the area around Greer. If you are interested in waterways, you can consider the river landscape in town separately from the lakes near Greer.

History and Scenic Road

Butterfly Lodge was built in 1913 by John Butler for James W. Schultz as a hunting lodge and first occupied in 1914. It later became the home of Hart M. Schultz, also known as Lone Wolf. This timeline establishes when it was built and first occupied, and shows its later change of use from hunting lodge to residence.

The White Mountain Scenic Road also offers a scenic point of reference for planning your trip: Greer is a point of interest along the 67-mile road, State Route 260. If you are considering a drive along this scenic road, Greer is a named point of interest on the route.

Restaurant and Events

Molly Butler Lodge offers authentic mountain dining in a historic restaurant. It serves hearty dishes made with fresh local ingredients. This adds a culinary dimension to trails, water, and local history: the restaurant description connects regional cuisine with the historic setting.

Greer Gazers is an annual event for solar observing and stargazing; in 2026, it is scheduled for October 10. Greer Days is also held annually by the Greer Civic Association. The events have different focuses: Greer Gazers centers on solar observing and stargazing, while Greer Days is another annual event on the town's calendar.

Discover more destinations: Springerville, St. Michaels, Chinle, Lupton, Ganado, Window Rock, Sanders, Steamboat

For the broader travel overview: Apache County.