Show Low was named by the turn of card. Two early settlers, Corydon Cooley and Marion Clark, decided there wasn’t enough room for both of them in the community and agreed to let a game of cards decide who was to get the 100,000 acre ranch and who was to move on. The card game went on through the night and according to the story, Clark said to Cooley, “If you can show low, you win.” Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs and replied, “show low it is.” Show Low got its name from that card game and Show Low’s main street is named “Deuce of Clubs” in remembrance.
Show Low, Pinetop, & Lakeside and the entire White Mountains are swarmed in the summer time with visitors from the Metro Valley area and all over Arizona. This beautiful country is known as the country of Tall Timber and even is known as God’s country. Pinetop and Lakeside stretching all the way into McNary and Greer have some of the most beautiful forests and scenery in Arizona. Moving up into Round Valley Home of the Elks and up into Nutrioso and Alpine at 8500 feet this beautiful small Mountain area is well known for Luna Lake and all of the great rivers and lakes surrounding including the famous Big Lake. The White Mountains range starts west of the Arizona transition zone, a place known as the Mogollon Rim located in the eastern part of Arizona. This mountainous region stretches mostly East, but a little South, and meanders to the West as far as New Mexico. The geologist have deemed this area the Colorado Plateau, which includes the High Country of Northeastern Arizona, Eastern Utah, Northwest New Mexico, and Southwestern Colorado. Much of the White Mountains range is also within the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The highest Summit is Mount Baldy, meeting up with the sun somewhere around 11400 feet. It is the tallest, but not the only Peak. There are a number of other Peaks calling to the hiker, camper, Hunter, and other Outdoorsman, not to mention the Three Peaks at the Sunrise ski park, which play host to more than 60 downhill ski runs, sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, sledding, tubing, and much more. Of course, this is Mountain Country, so snow and water play, both motorized and non-motorized, is encouraged nearly everywhere you go.Tracks, trails, And staging areas are maintained throughout the year to ensure visitors can access area safely. The White Mountains shed rain and snow to the South, which feeds tributaries of the Salt River, and to the north, to feed the little Colorado River. If you enjoy fly fishing, stream fishing, water events, ice fishing, white rapids, and outdoor activities the White Mountains will be your Paradise.