Payson is a lively mountain town tucked beneath the Mogollon Rim and surrounded by the Tonto National Forest, offering year‑round outdoor options—hiking, fishing, refreshing swimming holes, scenic drives, craft breweries and a compact downtown—so a multi‑week contract feels like a forested getaway rather than being stuck somewhere with nothing to do.
If you want occasional bigger‑town variety, Camp Verde (about 58 miles) and the Verde Valley are close enough for day trips with more restaurants, wineries and historic sites, while Payson itself has enough trails, rivers and community events to keep you busy between shifts.