Springerville/Eager are small towns about 15 miles northeast of the CG. The area is general high grassland, near 7000 feet above sea level and the population is about 2000. About 4 miles from the CG, there is a dramatic change in the habitat, from large Pine trees to open grassland. On the way from Greer into Eager, along Route 260, there are many cinder cones. Near the base of one these cones, lives a herd of Mountain Sheep. When they are visible from the road, it is a good photo opportunity.
Springerville has grocery stores and a unique pharmacy. The pharmacy doubles as a hardware, sporting goods and anything in between store. There is a Heritage Center that has different types of exhibits, including archeology (Malpais ruins), European Art (Renee Cushman collection) local history (John Wayne owned a 160,000 acre ranch nearby), as well as local artist exhibits.
About 30 minutes southeast of Eager, on a well maintained gravel road, is the restored homestead of Renee Cushman, now known as the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area. The homestead, as well as the surrounding land, is now owned and operated by Arizona Game & Fish.
eUS 191 passes through Eager and is the northern end of the Coronado Trail, the route follows the trail used by Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado as he searched for the fabled “Seven Cities of Cibola.” Along the way is some of the evidence of careless camping. The Wallow Fire, which was started in 2011 by two campers, torched more than 550,000 acres of gorgeous forest. Some of the worst evidence of the fire can be seen from the road just before the town of Alpine.