{{Short description|Landform in Gila County, Arizona}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Tonto Natural Bridge State Park | image = Tonto Natural Bridge (24102183557).jpg | image_caption = | image_alt = Tonto Natural Bridge | image_size = 280 <!-- map --> | map_image = {{maplink-road|from=Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.map}} | relief = 1 | map_label = Tonto Natural Bridge State Park | map_label_position = | location = [[Gila County, Arizona]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|34.334825|-111.421065|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name=azparks2/> | area = {{convert|161|acre}} | elevation = {{convert|4530|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=azparks2/> | established = 1969<ref name=azparks3/> | free_label = | free_data = | administrator = [[Arizona State Parks & Trails]] | visitation_num = 69,42 | visitation_year = 2024 | visitation_ref = <ref name=aztourism/> | website = {{Official website}} | module = }} '''Tonto Natural Bridge''' is a [[natural arch]] in [[Arizona]], [[United States]], that is the central feature of '''Tonto Natural Bridge State Park'''.<ref name=azparks/> Believed to be the largest natural [[travertine]] bridge in the world, Tonto Natural Bridge stands over a {{convert|400|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} tunnel that measures {{convert|150|ft}} at its widest point and reaches a height of {{convert|183|ft}}.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} The [[state park]] is located off [[State Route 87 (Arizona)|State Route 87]] {{convert|10|mi|spell=in}} north of [[Payson, Arizona]].
==History== This natural bridge was first documented by David Gowan, a Scotsman, in 1877 while hiding from [[Apache]] tribe members.<ref name=azparks3/> Gowan was impressed by the location and persuaded his family to emigrate and live there.<ref name="asw">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Tonto Natural Bridge State Park |url=http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/tonto_natural_bridge/state_park.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928163852/https://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/tonto_natural_bridge/state_park.html |archive-date=2022-09-28 |website=AmericanSouthwest.net |publisher=The American Southwest}}</ref> Gowan also tried to claim the land for himself under squatter's rights. David Gowan died in January 1926. When deputy sheriff Jim Kline on his regular two weeks' visit, couldn't locate Gowan at his little cabin, he looked around and secured the help of a [[Posse comitatus (common law)|posse]], which found David's body in [[Deer Creek (Arizona)|Deer Creek]].<ref name="Coconino Sun 1926, pg. 5">Coconino Sun, Fri., 1926-01-15, pg. 5</ref> The remains were buried just where they were found beside the creek.
Gowan family members lived near the bridge until 1948. Their lodge building survives to this day and is included in the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. In 1948, Glen L. Randall, a native of [[Pine, Arizona]], purchased the Tonto Natural Bridge, the Lodge including 160 acres surrounding the natural wonder with his father Walter Randall and a brother owning a portion of it also. After Randall's death in 1967, his wife Eloise Kleinman Randall sold the property and it eventually was made into a State Park.
==Park facilities== Walking trails at the park include the Pine Creek Trail ({{convert|0.5|mi}} long), Waterfall Trail ({{convert|600|ft|m|adj=on}} round trip to waterfall cave), and Gowan Trail ({{convert|0.5|mi|km|adj=on}} long, ending at an observation deck in the creek bottom).<ref name=azparks4/>
==Closure and reopening== It was announced in early 2010 that the park was scheduled to close on June 3, 2010, because of budget cuts and to allow for repairs to the historic lodge.<ref>{{cite news |last=Coates |first=Bill |date=2009-02-27 |title=State park closures will turn away visitors and their money |newspaper=[[Arizona Capitol Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=Arizona State Parks |title = Arizona State Parks board temporarily closes two state parks |url=http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_02-24-09.html |date=2009-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123202804/http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_02-24-09.html |archive-date=2009-11-23}}</ref> Three groups eventually donated funds to allow the park to stay open until the end of September 2011.<ref>{{cite press release |author=Arizona State Parks |title=Tonto Natural Bridge State Park again rescued by rim country residents |url=http://azstateparks.com/press/2010/PR_08-06-10.html |date=2010-08-06}}</ref> The park was reopened 5 days a week in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bourguet |first=Gerald |title=After lean years, Arizona State Parks looks to repair, update facilities |url=https://cronkitenewsonline.com/2013/02/after-deep-cuts-and-lean-years-arizona-state-parks-looks-to-repair-update-facilities/index.html |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=2023-03-31 |newspaper=Cronkite News |publisher=Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2025, the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is open on a daily basis.<ref name=azparks/>
==Climate== According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has a [[hot-summer mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Tonto Natural Bridge State Park was {{convert|109|F|C|1}} on June 27, 1970, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|0|F|C|1}} on January 13, 1963.<ref name = NOWData />
{{Weather box |location = Tonto Natural Bridge, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914–present |single line = Yes |collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 74 |Feb record high F = 80 |Mar record high F = 84 |Apr record high F = 87 |May record high F = 97 |Jun record high F = 109 |Jul record high F = 106 |Aug record high F = 102 |Sep record high F = 103 |Oct record high F = 92 |Nov record high F = 83 |Dec record high F = 83
|Jan avg record high F = 64.5 |Feb avg record high F = 68.7 |Mar avg record high F = 75.7 |Apr avg record high F = 82.6 |May avg record high F = 88.9 |Jun avg record high F = 97.2 |Jul avg record high F = 98.3 |Aug avg record high F = 96.2 |Sep avg record high F = 92.2 |Oct avg record high F = 84.4 |Nov avg record high F = 75.9 |Dec avg record high F = 65.7 |year avg record high F = 99.9
|Jan high F = 53.9 |Feb high F = 57.2 |Mar high F = 63.8 |Apr high F = 70.4 |May high F = 78.5 |Jun high F = 88.0 |Jul high F = 90.7 |Aug high F = 88.8 |Sep high F = 83.6 |Oct high F = 74.4 |Nov high F = 63.0 |Dec high F = 53.3 |year high F =
|Jan mean F = 41.9 |Feb mean F = 44.6 |Mar mean F = 49.9 |Apr mean F = 55.5 |May mean F = 63.0 |Jun mean F = 72.8 |Jul mean F = 77.7 |Aug mean F = 75.4 |Sep mean F = 70.0 |Oct mean F = 60.4 |Nov mean F = 49.6 |Dec mean F = 41.8 |year mean F =
|Jan low F = 30.0 |Feb low F = 31.9 |Mar low F = 35.9 |Apr low F = 40.7 |May low F = 47.6 |Jun low F = 57.7 |Jul low F = 64.7 |Aug low F = 62.1 |Sep low F = 56.5 |Oct low F = 46.4 |Nov low F = 36.3 |Dec low F = 30.2 |year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = 17.5 |Feb avg record low F = 18.4 |Mar avg record low F = 25.1 |Apr avg record low F = 29.4 |May avg record low F = 35.9 |Jun avg record low F = 48.6 |Jul avg record low F = 56.1 |Aug avg record low F = 55.7 |Sep avg record low F = 45.7 |Oct avg record low F = 32.3 |Nov avg record low F = 23.8 |Dec avg record low F = 19.1 |year avg record low F = 13.3
|Jan record low F = 0 |Feb record low F = 8 |Mar record low F = 8 |Apr record low F = 22 |May record low F = 24 |Jun record low F = 36 |Jul record low F = 44 |Aug record low F = 37 |Sep record low F = 31 |Oct record low F = 22 |Nov record low F = 10 |Dec record low F = 4
|precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 2.94 |Feb precipitation inch = 2.79 |Mar precipitation inch = 1.94 |Apr precipitation inch = 0.80 |May precipitation inch = 0.59 |Jun precipitation inch = 0.28 |Jul precipitation inch = 2.67 |Aug precipitation inch = 2.62 |Sep precipitation inch = 1.95 |Oct precipitation inch = 1.30 |Nov precipitation inch = 1.60 |Dec precipitation inch = 2.24 |year precipitation inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 6.8 |Feb precipitation days = 5.4 |Mar precipitation days = 4.5 |Apr precipitation days = 2.6 |May precipitation days = 2.6 |Jun precipitation days = 1.6 |Jul precipitation days = 11.8 |Aug precipitation days = 9.3 |Sep precipitation days = 6.3 |Oct precipitation days = 3.1 |Nov precipitation days = 3.0 |Dec precipitation days = 7.8
|Jan snow inch = 3.5 |Feb snow inch = 2.1 |Mar snow inch = 2.5 |Apr snow inch = 0.0 |May snow inch = 0.0 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 0.0 |Oct snow inch = 0.0 |Nov snow inch = 0.5 |Dec snow inch = 2.9 |year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 1.0 |Feb snow days = 0.6 |Mar snow days = 0.6 |Apr snow days = 0.0 |May snow days = 0.0 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.0 |Nov snow days = 0.1 |Dec snow days = 0.9
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00025825&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Natural BRG, AZ |access-date = March 25, 2023 }} </ref> |source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima, snow/snow days, precip days 2006–2020)<ref name = NOWData> {{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=fgz |publisher = National Weather Service |title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Flagstaff |access-date = March 25, 2023 }} </ref> }}
==References== <references> <ref name=azparks>{{cite web |url=https://azstateparks.com/tonto |title=Tonto Natural Bridge State Park |publisher=Arizona State Parks & Trails |access-date=October 24, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name=azparks2>{{cite web |url=https://azstateparks.com/tonto/explore/maps |title=Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Maps |publisher=Arizona State Parks & Trails |access-date=October 24, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name=azparks3>{{cite web |url=https://azstateparks.com/tonto/explore/park-history |title=History of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park |publisher=Arizona State Parks & Trails |access-date=October 24, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name=azparks4>{{cite web |url=https://azstateparks.com/tonto/things-to-do/trails |title=Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Hiking Trails |publisher=Arizona State Parks & Trails |access-date=October 24, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name=aztourism>{{cite web |url=https://tourism.az.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/State-Parks-July-2025.pdf |title=Monthly State Parks Visitation Report |date=July 2025 |publisher=Arizona Office of Tourism |access-date=October 24, 2025}}</ref> </references>
==External links== {{commons category|Tonto Natural Bridge State Park}} *[https://azstateparks.com/tonto/ Tonto Natural Bridge State Park] Arizona State Parks & Trails
{{AZ Parks}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State parks of Arizona]] [[Category:Landforms of Gila County, Arizona]] [[Category:Landmarks in Arizona]] [[Category:Natural arches of Arizona]] [[Category:Parks in Gila County, Arizona]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1969]]