Tonto National Forest

The largest national forest in Arizona and one of the most visited in the nation, Tonto National Forest stretches across nearly 2.9 million acres from the saguaro-studded Sonoran Desert to the pine-covered Mogollon Rim. The forest encompasses an extraordinary range of ecosystems, from low-desert terrain at 1,300 feet elevation to mixed-conifer forests at nearly 8,000 feet, creating one of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in the Southwest. Six major lakes -- Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon, Saguaro, Bartlett, and Horseshoe -- provide vital water storage for the Phoenix metropolitan area and outstanding recreation opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming.\n\nThe Superstition Wilderness, one of eight wilderness areas within the forest, is famous for the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine and draws hikers into its rugged volcanic terrain of towering spires and deep canyons. The forest also protects the Tonto Natural Bridge, the world's largest natural travertine bridge, spanning 183 feet over a 400-foot-long tunnel carved by Pine Creek. The Salt River and its tributaries offer world-class whitewater kayaking and tubing that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors during the scorching Arizona summers.\n\nOriginally established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905, the Tonto has a rich cultural heritage that includes ancient Salado cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument, historic mining sites, and the Apache Trail scenic drive -- one of America's most dramatic byways. The forest's proximity to the Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan area, home to over five million people, makes it an essential outdoor recreation resource while also serving a critical watershed protection role for central Arizona.