I've been here twice and I love this park. The first time I visited the trail under the bridge was closed for repair but the trails that were open were beautiful. The water was really flowing over the waterfall and we got to see a lot of rainbows because of it. This last trip the trail had been repaired and we got to hike down under the bridge. It's gorgeous down there! Once you get under the bridge the trail is very rough so make sure you have good shoes. I was the only one from my group that made it though the underside of the bridge. It was worth it! Visiting this park is now going to be an annual event. read more

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Wonderful place to visit but the do close early so be there with plenty of time to visit. We visited during record flooding so we did not get to explore under the natural bridge. It was incredible to see the amount of water that was coming through while we were there and the amount of force it was pushing. We did the rest of the trails and explored the park as well. read more

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Wow! What an amazing place! This is truly a hidden gem. The hike through the tunnel of the arch is the only way to truly appreciate the wonder of this place. I love the spot in the tunnel where you are getting rained on by droplets seeping through the ceiling above. Don't miss taking the Waterfall trail as a side hike. It's super short but the view at the end is like out of an Indiana Jones/Jurassic Park movie. Recommendations: Bring cash to pay the entrance fee otherwise they make you park, get out and pay by card in the gift shop. If you are hiking through the tunnel bring a Camelback or backpack to hold your water to free up your hands. You'll need both hands to navigate some of the boulders and other rocks. FYI Dogs are allowed in the park BUT not on the trails. So don't bring Fido unless you're comfortable leaving him in the car or taking someone who can hang out with him while you're on the trail. read more

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One of the most gorgeous places I have been ever been to and it feels so magical that makes you not want to leave this place. However the stones are super slippery with water on them, so try to get a grip where the surfaces are dry. Your normal shoes won't cut it, you gotta get the hiking shoes. read more

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park - Tonto natural bridge - Hiking Near Me - Pine, Arizona

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About a hour and half drive out of Scottsdale, and you will find yourself surrounded by pine trees. You'll enter the town of Payson, keep heading north, then you'll come to the city of Pine and you will see the turn for the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park on the left. Great pull out area to photograph the sign and stretch your legs. The actual park entrance is a short 3 mile drive down into a valley. Signage points you to pay the park entry fee at the gift shop. Easy parking there next to the gift shop (likely only required to do this step when the entry shack is not being manned). No restrooms at the Gift shop but there are a set of detached restrooms down past the gift shop closer to the ample parking lot areas. There are 4 view points to check out. All are worth exploring. Hiking under the bridge is not permissable right now given the recent monsoon weather/water flow. I visited on a Monday afternoon around 1pm. There was only a dozen people around so nice to have that "place to myself" feeling. The Gowan trail to the observation deck is an easy 1/2 mile with a winding decline. Entry fee: $7 Adult, $4 Youth, $0 Child Hours: 9am to 5pm (Trails close 1 hour before closing) Website: azstateparks.com Highly advisable to check the azstatepark website before venturing to the park to avoid any planned closures or road work. This is a must visit. The views are spectacular, what a magical place. read more

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great hike highly recommend not that much to get in vary buttelful we did the hole trail it's about 2 and a hafe mills maybe but we got distracted so it was closer to 3 super fun highly recommend read more

MUST SEE if you're up in Pine. We didn't really know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. It's gorgeous. You can view the bridge from a few different viewpoints but can also hike down to the pools of water. Family and dog friendly. read more

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The drive to the bridge is a beautiful and scenic winding road. The bridge and surrounding area is also quite lovely. However, all trails and Viewpoints 3 and 4 are closed for construction/repairs. Therefore admission is half price. They are hoping to be fully open in December. It was still worth the drive because we were in the area. There are covered picnic tables to enjoy a nice lunch. Also, there's an adorable family of javelina that roam the area. read more

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Absolutely beautiful and an easy hike to most parts of the natural bridge. We parked in the last parking lot and walked over to viewing spots 3 and 4 and then did the Gowen trail which is a decline down to a wooden walkway and takes you underneath the bridge. It's totally worth the hike down and strenuous hike back up to see the beauty of the natural bridge. You're also allowed to hike under the bridge and then catch the Anne May trail back up. I also recommend checking out viewing points 1 and 2. The entrance fee for the park is $7 per adult, and I recommend bringing cash. If you only have a card, you can use it by going into the gift shop, but that process is a bit ridiculous. We waited for about 20 minutes to pay the $14 entrance fee (there was 2 of us). They only have one register and their system seems really slow and non-user friendly. read more

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Esté es uno de tantos lugares hermosos para pasar un día muy fresco, sobretodo en días de mucho calor yo le pongo un 10

This park is a pretty awesome place and was a good time for siteseeing, hiking, and adventuring. The place has trails for every one from ADA friendly trails (fully paved) to hard 21.4 mile out and back trail with 3,458 feet elevation gain. The main sight is the nature bridge and you have to check it out from both sides. There are a few ways to checkout the bridge. One I would recommend is to take Grown trail down then fallow Pine Creek Trail through the bridge and back up to the parking lot. This is a 6 mile + hard trail with you having to climb on and over slippery wet rocks. If that's not something you want to do then I recommend Grown Trail out and back then take Annie Mae Trail out and back to view both sides of the bridge. Don't miss the view from the top of the bridge this is right off the back of the parking lot by Grown Trail. This part ADA friendly and something every one can do and see. There is also a lots of picnic tables, coverd areas, and bathrooms to use in the park. Last thing is there is NO CELL RECEPTION IN THE PARK so be safe and have fun. I took water fall trail too to end the day and its a very short trail .1 or .2 miles round trip that hikes you right into a water fall. Was pretty awesome and have not been on anything like it before. If you have 10 minutes check it out. read more

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Beautiful park with a nice hiking trail to the most beautiful natural bridge. Plenty of parking and spacious park for walking.

Who knew you could find such a beautiful place in Arizona? I grew up in Arizona and never heard about this place until I came back 20 years later - I've found that moving away and then returning, I'm seeing Arizona through tourist eyes and I love it! We stayed in Strawberry and spent the afternoon exploring and hiking here. I highly recommend you add this to your itinerary - bring a picnic, lots to drink, SPF, and good hiking shoes. We saw a woman in high-heeled boots and I'm sure she left with an ankle injury. Folks, please prepare your date if you want to impress them - set them up for success and ask them to leave their nice shoes at home. Also, know your limits. We had our 5-year-old with us and there are parts that are a very risky - we were okay with turning back and not forcing us to continue the path of it felt too dangerous. The waterfall, tunnel, and natural water hole are amazing and refreshing! You will pay a small entrance fee and they take cash or credit. Go, enjoy nature - your mind and body will thank you...unless you wear high-heeled boots. read more

Very fin hike, wouldn't recommend the full hike for kids or new hikers though. The terrain is a bit rough and steep as well as narrow at times. The full hike takes about 2 hours if you take your time to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. The weather around mid to late October is incredible! But go early because the line to get in can be long. read more

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This place was amazing! There are 3 hikes to get to the bridge. We took all 3. There were different in difficulty. Some rockier than others. There was also a short trail to another water fall that made me feel like I was in Hawaii, at least until I turned and looked the opposite direction. lol I highly recommend seeing for yourself the beauty of this place. Thank you God! read more

One of my favorite hikes in Arizona! I know it's a little bit of a touristy/not off the cuff one, but it's popular for a reason. The overall hike is beautiful and has you going through a little bit of forest but mostly walking along the water and on rocks. Be careful - it can be slippery! I didn't think this would be a tough hike so instead of hiking boots I just brought sneakers and I slipped on one of the wet rocks. Hiking boots are definitely a good idea here given the need for traction. Now, the overall hike is beautiful but the climax of the natural bridge is definitely the best part. I honestly haven't seen many other places like it - it's huge, and under the bridge water is constantly falling from within the rock so it feels like it's raining. It's overall a really cool experience and a hike any Arizonan nature enthusiast should do at least once (or more than once!) read more

Very pretty park with a couple cool trails to explore and view points to check out. We went when one of the trails was closed which was a bummer because there are only 4-5, most of which are short. Highly recommend for families who want something to do with the kids for the day. Can bring a lunch to eat at the picnic tables. Bring good hiking shoes if you plan to explore the trail under the bridge and walk through it. The rocks are slippery! Slightly disappointed with how expensive parking was but did enjoy our hike. Finished exploring all the available spots within an hour. read more

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I can say I did this gorgeous hike on New Years day and despite being ill I survived. Lol. This is a beautiful and tranquil place to see. It is a nice getaway from the city. read more

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Tonto Natural Bridge is a must-visit for the state of Arizona. There should be little excuse with the drive being less than 2 hours from Phoenix and a cost (as of March 2020) of $7 per adult and $6 for kids, far less than any organized event you'll find elsewhere. Bringing cash will expedite getting into the park and the park rangers are extremely friendly and helpful. The park itself is very well maintained and extremely cleaned and manicured. The hike down under the bridge (if you choose) can be accomplished with a moderate amount of effort without any special hiking gear; just a good pair of shoes, water, and appropriate clothing for being outside should be adequate. I will warn that there virtually no way to use a stroller to do the hike down. You don't need to make the hike to enjoy yourself or see the bridge. There are plenty of viewpoints to look down and enjoy the scenery. The park area above have plenty of tables, shade, parking, BBQ grills, and space. You can fly a kite, throw a frisbee, or put a blanket out and just enjoy the clean air and picturesque surroundings. read more

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This is a must do State Park. Try to go on a week day and in the morning when the birds are most active. The Pine Creek trail is amazing, with stunning pools, views of the travertine formations on the cliffs, small caves, many birds, and culminating under the bridge linking up to the Gowan trail. The last few 100 feet under the bridge is extremely slick, steep and treacherous, so we turned around. Even if you do not hike this last bit, the trail is slippery and requires boulder hopping so proper footwear is essential. Another great hike is the very short but steep waterfall trail where a springs shoot out from the cliff creating hanging gardens of maidenhair ferns and close up views of travertine formations from the dripping water. There are also numerous shaded picnic spots and the gift shop has a nice selection of books and other items. Be sure to pick up the free pamphlets on the history and geology of the park. read more

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Hike was beautiful, many great photo ops! We started on the Anna Mae trail and somehow ended up on the Gowan trail. Was definitely a challenge, left with a couple scrapes but overall beautiful hike. It gets a little slippery at times so definitely bring good shoes! read more

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This was so beautiful. WEAR SHOES WITH GRIP. The rocks down by the water are slippery. Or just prepare to be wet. LoL. Loved it!

Don't miss this wonderfully beautiful park. The natural bridge is amazing. The trails range from east to difficult but it's worth the hike. Picnic benches and Ramada's are available most of them first come first serve. Large grassy area for your pups to enjoy but not allowed on the paths. There is an entry fee per person. Don't miss it!!! We are local to the area and love it! read more

I've been to Tonto Natural Bridge a couple times while on day trips up in the Payson/Pine area and have had a great experience on both occasions. There are a few short hiking trails that take you to either side of the natural bridge. The most popular of the trails heads down the west/south side of the bridge and ends directly underneath it. Almost always, the water will be flowing off the bridge and you can feel the cool droplets hit you like you're walking in the rain. Be careful once you go inside under the bridge, as the rocks have been smoothed over time and are very slippery (especially when wet)! In addition to the bridge itself, there is a wide grassy area for picnics and gatherings, as well as a lodge building with a gift shop and areas for special events. Seeing the natural bridge in person is something everyone should do at least once, as it's truly a rare find in this world! Come check it out next time you're in Rim Country! read more

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WEAR REAL SHOES! The rocks are slippery when wet. This is a very cool place to do a day trip with friends and family.

This sat in my bookmarks list for a while. And, with a visit planned that would skirt the region, I took Lindsey D's advice and made a point of driving in. The extra 40 minutes out of my way was well worth it. Tonto is stunning. It is magnificent and spectacular. You want to feel like an ant? This is how you feel like an ant. And the feeling of standing before this behemoth is nothing like standing in the shadow of a skyscraper, no matter how impressive. The site was absolutely amazing. And bonus: There were a couple of families of javelinas moving through during my trip. They even had wee ones. Here's the 411: Word on the street is that the Bridge is one of the largest natural travertine bridge worldwide. Looking over from the top is more than 180 feet down. The tunnel is more than 400 feet long. A rare sight, indeed. The park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m. You can come an take a hike or just enjoy the view. There are wide open grass lands for picnics, picnic tables and even a few ramada areas for large parties. Good news -- all trails are now open at the Bridge. You have the Pine Creek Trail, which is about 1/2 mile long; Waterfall Trail is about 300 feet long; Gowan Trail is about 2,200 feet long and is steep and rough (I took this one); and Anna Mae Trail, which is about 500 feet long. Pets are not allowed on any of the trails. Swimming is not allowed in the Bridge. But you can swim in Pine Creek. If you have mobility issues, or do not want to take the hike, you can view the Bridge from several lookout points. Check the event page: http://azstateparks.com/Parks/TONA/. You can find educational events occurring sometimes. There's a gift shop on site. read more

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Sweat dripping over my eyes a million times over. Humidity laughing in my face- literally. Rubbles of rough rocks and smooth stones merry their way throughout the path. Countless steps up and steps down to reach the natural bridge gleaming across the cooling spring water and spritzing down the heated bodies. What a refreshing feeling to take in nature's beauty! A total round trip of about one hour - if you start at Pine Creek Trail. Be prepared for a full on sweaty hike - at least for me- if you're going in July. A couple water bottles is good enough but always prepare more than what you need. You could make it out in a pair of Converse shoes if you're careful. Some water sandals are nice to splash in some of the streams. You'll see some crayfish along the way. Park rangers will be at the entrance on either side of the bridge because the rocks are quite slippery. Little 3 year olds were fearless of the slippery rock climbing. Sit and enjoy the view of the spring water streaming down. If you're the less inclined to hiking, start at the end - Gowan Trail (which I believe it's near viewpoint #4) to view the bridge within 10 minutes. Odds and ends: $7 per person (used to be $5). Bathrooms throughout the park. Ample parking. Picnic tables and forts and bbq grills are available. Gift shop at entrance. Park ranger's fly may be open at your car window with at least 5 cars ahead that didn't say anything to the poor fellow. Friendly park rangers. read more

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Nice place to hike! Decent bathroom. We enjoyed hiking the many different trails here. Fairly easy to get to see the entire trail system in one day. Wear your good hiking shoes. Rocks can get slippery. Poles are helpful especially for creek trail. Glad we took the ride up to the park from Phoenix! Different area, trees, water.... read more

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I've been here more than a half dozen times in last 10 years but never made it here in winter. It's been so cold last week and snowed everywhere in Arizona. The first day after warmed up a little, I decided to visit the park to see the bridge and snow. It cost $5 per person to enter this state park. it worth more than $5 you pay for entrance fee as this place is so magnificent. Nature's beauty offers breathtaking view from so many places inside the park. I normally spend 1-3 hours at this park. Bring plenty of water if you plan to hike down to under the bridge. Hiking trail is closed during winter due to snow but it still gives you plenty of amazing views of the natural bridge. In summer I like to bring picnic lunch to enjoy cooler weather. This time around, I saw many family with kids enjoying sledding and making snowman. There is no cell signal at the park. I changed it to airplane mode so my battery doesn't drain... (I made a mistake once). Highly recommend everyone to visit this park at least once. (View is still beautiful without hiking down). read more

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Beautiful hike in is moderate but can be slippery because of water and dust. Worth the hike and awesome escape

There are a few places in the US where the natural wonders have not been overrated in some sense. I felt that way going through Niagara falls for example a few years back. This place however... words don't quiet do it justice. Compared to other locations in the Sedona and Red Rock area this has really not received much attention and I think most of us prefer it that way. Just an hour and a half from the greater Sedona area this is worth a half day's trip. At the entrance I saw some families turn around and drive off as we were told that we could not hike all the way through the natural bridge and I guess the $7 per adult fee can be a steep for some larger families. It was still totally worth every dime though... It is a fair steep hike and despite the fact the water levels were too high for us to hike through the natural bridge, you just have to be here to appreciate it. My folks who are in theirs 70s with hip issues had to take a few 10 min breaks on the way back up but still made it without too much hassle. I definitely would not recommend it in the summer. In Feb here it was perfect in the 70s but I can only guess how hot it could get in the summer. Get away from the touristy Red Rock and come here! read more

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So pretty! We loved hearing the sound of the waterfalls and the tiny hikes were good.

Highly recommended. Do yourself a favor and do the harder trail. It's a completely different experience and not that hard. read more

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park - Hiking Near Me - Pine, Arizona

It's unfortunate that coming with a dog limits your on what you can do and where you can go. It's also a bummer that you pay and find out you're limited with a dog. I suggest go early and don't bring kids or dogs. From what I saw the trails are pretty simple. read more

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Not a bad hike. You get to walk/climb on dirt, steps and rocks. To get to the hole, you have to take steps on huge slippery rocks but it's worth it. If you have short legs, I recommend bringing a tall friend or a pogo stick...leave the stripper shoes at home. Bring a small towel or a change of clothes - there's a great chance you'll get wet. The view is beautiful! read more

What a wonderful state park. The serene drive getting there was awesome- we saw some amazing views of central AZ landscapes. There's a few parking spaces near the ranger's office (and subsequent gift shop) where you can pay your fee, grab a map and discuss trail options with the park ranger. The ranger who helped us during our visit was super friendly and was very sweet with our 8 year. He shared the best trails for our small family- which ones were a bit easier of a hike, etc. At the time the main observatory deck trail to see the natural bridge was closed for refurbishment. Bummer. There were; however, several lookout points that allowed us to catch a glimpse of the bridge from a distance. There was a natural creek running down the bridge, which only added to its beauty. As you navigate away from the ranger station you'll enter a large parking lot area that has spaces to park near several trailheads. We took a short trip to the lookout areas to see the bridge and then went through the Ana Mae Trail, which takes you to the base of the bridge. You will traverse over some slippery rocks after you've used some "steps" to make a small 500-feet decline. Our 8 year old, with patience made it to the bottom just fine but she did freak out just a little in the beginning. The views once below were very pretty. Lots of photo opportunities. The hike back up was much easier. A blurb from the official web site: Tucked away in a 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. There are ramadas to stop and enjoy a picnic- or host a larger party event? Leashed pets are allowed in the park, which is nice. We love AZ state parks so much. some of the best in the US! read more

Definitely worth the $7 entrance fee and stop, if you're in the area! Tbh, I was tempted to skip this place because we'd spent the day driving up from Phoenix and hiking in Payson (aka it had already been a long day), but I'm so glad my friend convinced me to stop here! I don't think you'd spend more than a couple hours here, but the walk down to the bottom of the bridge is worth it -it feels like you're in an entirely different environment! The ranger told us we'd need an hour minimum and good boots with ankle support to reach the bottom, but I guess it just depends on your activity level -my friend wore Adidas slides and I wore rubber slippers, and we were fine walking down.. I think we probably spent an hour total in the park, but that's also because we had to get back to Phoenix by a certain time. Plus, we passed families with small children, so it's definitely not a strenuous hike/ walk :) If you're already in Payson/ the general area and looking to get outside, I'd highly recommend stopping here!! I'm not sure I'd drive up just for this site though haha but it's definitely worth at least one visit :) read more

Beautiful place! The waterfall and scenery is just gorgeous to take in! It was breathtaking and a great hike. Definitely would recommend this place to anyone looking for a change of scenery and taking in all that Mother Nature has to offer. We also saw a pack of Javelina during our visit was a little nervous but no incident read more

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This place is a pretty amazing sight, and for $7 a person, it's hard to complain about the price. The drive isn't bad either; only about 2 hours from most of Phoenix. The park offers two spectacles: a fairly small waterfall (or two just a few yards apart), and more notably, an enormous and beautiful natural bridge/cave, with ponds within and a mini waterfall drizzling down near it's entrance. The kids were fascinated, as were we. We spent well over an hour scoping out the inside and hanging around, taking it all in. And last but not least, the hiking trails to get to these attractions offers a good/free cardio workout. ;) read more

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4 stars for cool photo op and easy access. Beautiful natural travertine bridge. Lots of rock hopping over slippery rocks. Crowded. You can exhaust the entire trail system and park in an hour. The observation deck was closed. read more

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