Local Area Activities and Information:   Every season brings its own variety of activities.  The cool summer breezes in the tall pines at 6,600 foot elevation bring welcome relief from the heat of the Phoenix and Tucson valleys, and you may not need more than a hammock to fill your time.  But, if you would like more activity, the White Mountains area is a perfect spot. Trout are the fish of choice for most anglers in the numerous lakes and streams, but there are other species to pursue.  Smallmouth bass are abundant in the waters of the Black River and Salt River, along with channel catfish and perch.  Several of the local lakes have walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish and perch in addition to the trout.  For the young ones, crayfish can be easily caught with a net or line and a piece of bacon.  Show Low Lake is about 1/2 mile from Elk Springs and has several species of fish. There are numerous golf courses, both private and public in the area, and tee times can be arranged from April through October. Hiking and mountain bike trails in the summer double as cross country ski trails in the winter.  For the harvester, there are wild strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries in the late summer, asparagus can be found after an early summer rain, and several edible and choice mushrooms are abundant.  Please don't pick mushrooms unless you know exactly what you are looking for.  Several poisonous species can be found here too. In the fall, the elk can be heard bugling in many places from elevations as low as Show Low to as high as Mount Baldy.  The meadow to the north of Elk Springs is often visited by elk.  Last spring we had several cows with their calves feeding in the lush grass. Winter activities include downhill skiing at Sunrise Ski Area, downhill skiing or snowshoeing on the many trails, ice fishing, or snowmobiling.  The snow that falls at Elk Springs doesn't usually last long, but the higher elevations may have snow for up to 5 months. The White Mountains are home to the White Mountain Apache Tribe with over 1.6 million acres of reservation land.  Numerous outdoor activities are available to non-members for a small fee, as well as a top-notch casino at Hon Dah, about 15 minutes from Elk Springs.   Click here for current weather information