Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

Park Will Remain Open

The Town of Payson agreed to assist financially in keeping that park open until September 27, 2010. Arizona's rural communities rescue State Parks from closures. Learn More

Tonto Natural Bridge Featured in Highlands Magazine

The Summer 2010 edition of Arizona Highlands Magazine has a feature story with beautiful pictures of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. To read the issue online, go to Payson.com scroll down the page, and click on the Highlands magazine cover on the righthand side. The digital edition of the magazine will open on your monitor (Adobe Flash required). Flip through to page 46 to read the Tonto Natural Bridge article and see the amazing pictures.

5 Day Schedule Five Day Schedule: This park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The park is open from 8 am to 6 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, & Mondays. Read Press Release about this Park's five day schedule. You may also check out the construction progress on the Tonto Construction Blog

Looking through a section of the natural bridge at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.

Tucked away in a tiny valley surrounded by a forest of pine trees, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has been in the making for thousands of years. It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point.

The discovery of the small and beautiful valley between Pine and Payson was documented in 1877 by David Gowan, a prospector who stumbled across the bridge as he was chased by Apaches. Gowan hid for two nights and three days in one of several caves that dot the inside of the bridge. On the third day, he left the cave to explore the tunnel and green valley surrounding it. Gowan then claimed squatter's rights.

In 1898 he persuaded his nephew, David Gowan Goodfellow, to bring his family over from Scotland and settle the land permanently. After a week of difficult travel from Flagstaff, the Goodfellows arrived at the edge of the mountain and lowered their possessions down the 500 foot slopes into the valley by ropes and burros.

Today, visitors can stand on top of the bridge or hike down below to capture the true size and beauty of this geologic wonder.