Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
The Waterfall Trail is a 300 foot steep trail that takes you to a Cave & a Waterfall
The Pine Creek Trail is around a half mile & gets you closet to the Bridge
The Anna Mae Trail is a 500 foot Trail that takes you to the Bridge Trail
The Gowan Trail is about 2,200 feet long leads to the Bridge and the Creek below
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park sits just south of the Mogollon Rim and north of Payson on Highway 87. It offers hikes to waterfalls, rushing water, gorgeous scenery, some seclusion, and an incredible natural bridge that is purported to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. It stands 183 feet high & spans 150 feet across with a 400 foot tunnel. It is a beautiful sight to behold.
There are four main trails and each have their own unique views and sights. The trails are: the Pine Creek Trail, Waterfall Trail, Anna Mae Trail, and Gowan Trail. Scroll down to learn about each trail. Although, I’ve only done two of them as the others were closed due to slippery conditions (I went in January).
The Pine Creek Trail is around a half mile trail that leads to the Pine Creek Natural Area and the Natural Bridge. You’ll get up close and personal with the amazing natural feature and it should take you about an hour. Unfortunately, this was closed when I was there with my wife and friend.
The Waterfall Trail is a 300 foot steep trail on steep uneven steps that takes you to a cave with a waterfall and… it is absolutely gorgeous. It is so very green and lush and if you’ve got the right stuff on, you’ll have a great time admiring the dripping wet rocks and moss and the insides of the slimy cave. Not to mention the river flowing down below. It’s a great trek.
The Anna Mae Trail is a 500 foot Trail that leads to the Pine Creek Trail that takes you to the Natural Bridge. This one too was closed when I was there, unfortunately.
The Gowan Trail is about 2,200 feet long and it leads down to the creek and the natural bridge from the south side. It’s got a great observation deck and plenty of spots to sit and admire the natural bridge’s huge tunnel while listening to the creek below. It only takes an hour to do and although it is steep, it is very easy. You really should though, allow more than an hour so that you can enjoy the views at the bottom of the trail at the lookout platform.
Above is the waterfall trail although, this picture really shows the waterfallness of it all. I loved it here and I didn’t want to leave. My wife and my friend had to pull me away. They would have done so physically if they weren’t so averse to getting soaked. My bison felt cowboy hat and poncho kept me warm.
The Gowan Trail is a fantastic trail that leads you down some switchbacks until you reach the river, some prickly pears, beautiful rocks, and then the relaxing and calming view of the tunnel beneath the behemoth that is the natural bridge. I don’t know about y’all but I love water features and the sound of water and the dripping of water, which this trail has plenty of all of them. Even out here in the desert mountains just below the Mogollon Rim.
