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Tonto NF
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Steep hills and canyons make most of the wooded land towards the north of the Tonto National Forest quite inaccessible, and the few paved roads are rather winding and not conducive to speedy cross-country travel. In one of the narrow V-shaped ravines that stem from the Mogollon Rim, a series of underground springs with mineral-laden waters have built up large deposits of travertine (calcium carbonate) through which Pine Creek, a year-round stream flowing through the canyon, has eroded a passageway leaving the rocks above standing a natural bridge. The formation has been protected as the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park since 1990.
Update - June 2009: due to both budget constraints and a reconstruction project, the state park has only limited opening during summer 2009: check http://azstateparks.com/Parks/TONA/ for the latest information.
Hotels: The nearest towns with hotels close to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park are Payson (13 miles) and Camp Verde (50 miles) - follow the links for hotel information and reservations.
Background: The natural bridge was discovered by David Gowan, a Scotsman, in 1877 while hiding from Apache Indians, and so impressed was he by the unusual, secluded location that he persuaded his family to emigrate and live there. Although they left in 1948 their lodge remains - since being included in the National Register of historic places - and forms the centerpiece of the buildings in the state park, which is reached by a short, newly paved side road (FR 583) off AZ 87 11 miles north of Payson - this crosses a plateau with wildflowers and small trees, then drops steeply 800 feet to the canyon floor. The bridge is not immediately apparent, as beyond the park buildings stretches a flat meadow that seems to cover all the ground between the canyon walls. The creek actually runs a hundred feet lower in a narrow gorge, the edge of which is hidden by trees, flows under the bridge beneath the meadow and continues downstream through a rather wider canyon. Depending on which dimension is used as a measurement, Tonto is the worlds largest travertine bridge - 180 feet high, 400 feet long and about 100 feet thick on top.
Exploring: The opposing sides of the valley receive unequal amounts of sun and exhibit very contrasting vegetation; thick pine trees on the northwest facing slopes but yucca, cacti and bushes on the southeast side, plus a variety of colors of exposed sandstone rock. A large number of bird species live in the different habitats, and besides watching them, the park is popular for picnics and hiking. One could probably explore the area by following the creek up or downstream for a few miles, or climbing the adjacent cliffs, but the official options are viewing the bridge from various overlooks
and walking along three short trails that start from the central meadow:
- Bridge Trail - a route down the cliffs just below the bridge. This is quite steep and rather slippery in places but well worth the trip as it leads directly beneath, and in times of low water it is possible to walk through and link with the end of the River Trail. High above, a small waterfall cascades over the edge of the bridge with more trailing grasses and ferns.
- Waterfall Trail - a very short path down into the canyon above the bridge to a grotto with hanging greenery, seeping water and travertine formations.
- River Trail - a longer path alongside the west side of the creek to a viewpoint beneath the bridge, a good place to appreciate the stalagtite-like formations that hang from beneath the bridge and adorn the west-facing canyon wall - aptly described as an 'outdoor cave' by the park brochure. This trail has recently been extended to link with another path above.
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Tonto Natural Bridge - Nearby Places
Roosevelt Lake (50 miles) - lake in desert country towards the south of the Tonto National Forest
Tonto Creek (35 miles) - beautiful desert stream through a rugged canyon
West Clear Creek (35 miles) - deep canyon at the edge of the Mogollon Rim | |
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