I’ll be honest – when it came to exploring Arizona, I wasn’t sure what more there was beyond the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Saguaro National Park. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is a TON to see and do!
One of the first things we do when researching potential destinations within a state is to look up the state parks. These are designated natural wonders for a reason, and there can be some awesome views and trails to explore! And when I saw Tonto Natural Bridge State Park online, I knew that we had to stop here in person.
About Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
This state park is in Pine Creek Canyon just north of Payson, AZ, and is surrounded by tree-covered mountains. (It’s a nice change of pace if you’re coming from the Arizona desert!)
Tonto Natural Bridge is known to be the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, standing 183-feet high over a 400-foot-long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point. It’s one of the most beautiful natural bridges in the United States, and unique in that most natural bridges are made of sandstone or limestone, not travertine.
In 1877, a Scottish prospector named David Gowan stumbled upon the bridge while trying to evade the Apaches who were chasing him away from the Tonto Rim area. He hid for three days in one of several caves that are within the bridge’s interior. On the third day, Gowan then claimed squatter’s rights. (Not cool, bro.)
Be sure to stop by the visitor center, which has some cool history about the area, as well as park information. If you have kiddos with you, you pick up a Junior Ranger workbook. It’s a great way for children to learn about Tonto Natural Bridge, and pledge to do their part to help preserve the beauty of our natural places for everyone to enjoy!
When to Visit Tonto Natural Bridge
Although you can visit year-round, you’ll experience the best weather during the spring and fall. The winters can get below freezing, and the average temperature is around 90 degrees in the summer months. We visited in mid-November and found it to be a perfect time of year to visit!
You should note that the last possible park entry is 4:00 p.m. Anna Mae, Gowan, Pine Creek, and Waterfall Trails close at 4:00 p.m. The paved path and all viewpoints remain open until 5:00 p.m. Pets are allowed on the paved path and viewpoints and restricted from all other trails.
Hiking Trails in Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
You can take in views of Tonto Natural Bridge from multiple angles within the state park. There are paved walkways on top, where you can see the sheer scale of the bridge, while also seeing a panoramic view of Arizona’s rim country. Or you can take one of the four hiking trails available within the park. We went with the park ranger’s recommendation – the Gowan Trail. Be sure to pack a lot of water! Even though the hikes are short, most consider these to be difficult due the steep grades and desert climate.
Gowan Trail
Distance: 1 mile (out & back) | Elevation Change: Unknown
For a closer view, you can take the Gowan Trail, a one-mile hike that takes you down a steep and rough trail to an observation deck and underneath the natural bridge. If you decide to head down underneath the bridge, please keep in mind that the rock is extremely slick! Even with good tread it can be slippery. The sheer size of the Tonto Natural Bridge is unlike anything we have ever seen before! We explored the canyon for nearly 1.5 hours, often just simply staring up in awe.
Pine Creek Trail
Distance: 1 mile (out & back) | Elevation Change: Unknown
Pine Creek Trail is about one mile total, with a bit of it developed (it’s mostly undeveloped near the creek bottom). The trail leads to the Pine Creek natural area and offers a view of the Tonto Natural Bridge from above.
Waterfall Trail
Distance: 0.2 mile (out & back) | Elevation Change: Unknown
This trail about 300 feet long and ends at waterfall cave. It should take less than a half hour but note that there are uneven steps.
Anna Mae Trail
Distance: 0.2 mile (out & back) | Elevation Change: Unknown
This short and sweet trail leads to Pine Creek Trail and the Natural Bridge.
Where to Camp
Before heading to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, you’re going to want to secure your campsite first. The road down to the state park entrance is steep and windy, and not advised when towing.
Dispersed Camping
We scouted a few dispersed campsites that are within a 30-minute drive of the state park but found that none had cell service. However, if you prefer to be off grid, we recommend checking out the national forest land in the area.
Houston Mesa Campground
After giving up on dispersed camping, we settled for the Houston Mesa Campground. It’s located in the forested northern section of Tonto National Forest, just one mile north of Payson, Arizona, and less than two hours from Phoenix. There are 74 RV, tent, and equestrian campsites available, but no water or electric hookups. There are several amenities like coin-operated showers and flush toilets, and all the sites are accessible. The campsites range between $20-27 per night. Extra vehicles are $8 per day and it’s $10 to dump your grey/black water tanks.
Another perk of camping here is that there are two fantastic trails that can be accessed from within the campground. The Houston Mesa Interpretive Trail is an easy 0.5-mile self-guided trail. There’s also the Houston Mesa Loop Trail, which offers a nine-mile hike through a pinyon and juniper woodland.
Where to Eat
While we were only in the area for two nights, we did most of our own cooking. However, there is one place that you MUST check out while you’re near Pine, AZ.
PieBar
Steven discovered this spot while doing some recon on the area. Knowing how much of a pie lover he is, we had to stop and try the Pie Bar’s sweet and savory empanadas. Once we got inside, the smell of the empanadas baking is mouthwatering… so we ended up getting quite a few options to try! Their menu changes seasonally, and we happened to stop a few days before Thanksgiving so we tried their Pumpkin Pie and Thanksgiving empanadas. The latter had cranberries, mashed potatoes, gravy and turkey in it! We also got the Buffalo Chicken, the Mountain Man (sausage, potato, gravy and cheese), the Mountain Baby (mac & cheese with bacon), the Lemon Bar and the Panda (oreo and cream) empanadas. Yes, we went overboard! But trust me on this… every single one was SO delish. It’s worth a stop if you’re driving through the area!
In Summary
This was easily one of the coolest things we’ve seen in our 2.5 years of full-time travel! What is your favorite natural wonder?
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