# Tonto Natural Bridge

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Landform in Gila County, Arizona

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Location Gila County, Arizona, United States Coordinates 34°20′05″N 111°25′16″W / 34.334825°N 111.421065°W / 34.334825; -111.421065[1] Area 161 acres (65 ha) Elevation 4,530 ft (1,380 m)[1] Established 1969[2] Administrator Arizona State Parks & Trails Visitors 69,42 (in 2024)[3] Website Official website

**Tonto Natural Bridge** is a [natural arch](/source/Natural_arch) in [Arizona](/source/Arizona), [United States](/source/United_States), that is the central feature of **Tonto Natural Bridge State Park**.[4] Believed to be the largest natural [travertine](/source/Travertine) bridge in the world, Tonto Natural Bridge stands over a 400-foot-long (120 m) tunnel that measures 150 feet (46 m) at its widest point and reaches a height of 183 feet (56 m).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The [state park](/source/State_park) is located off [State Route 87](/source/State_Route_87_(Arizona)) ten miles (16 km) north of [Payson, Arizona](/source/Payson%2C_Arizona).

## History

This natural bridge was first documented by David Gowan, a Scotsman, in 1877 while hiding from [Apache](/source/Apache) tribe members.[2] Gowan was impressed by the location and persuaded his family to emigrate and live there.[5] 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](/source/Posse_comitatus_(common_law)), which found David's body in [Deer Creek](/source/Deer_Creek_(Arizona)).[6] 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](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places). In 1948, Glen L. Randall, a native of [Pine, Arizona](/source/Pine%2C_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 (0.5 miles (0.80 km) long), Waterfall Trail (600-foot (180 m) round trip to waterfall cave), and Gowan Trail (0.5-mile (0.80 km) long, ending at an observation deck in the creek bottom).[7]

## 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.[8][9] Three groups eventually donated funds to allow the park to stay open until the end of September 2011.[10] The park was reopened 5 days a week in 2013.[11] As of 2025, the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is open on a daily basis.[4]

## Climate

According to the [Köppen Climate Classification](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_Climate_Classification) system, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has a [hot-summer mediterranean climate](/source/Hot-summer_mediterranean_climate), abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Tonto Natural Bridge State Park was 109 °F (42.8 °C) on June 27, 1970, while the coldest temperature recorded was 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on January 13, 1963.[12]

Climate data for Tonto Natural Bridge, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914–present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °F (°C) 74 (23) 80 (27) 84 (29) 87 (31) 97 (36) 109 (43) 106 (41) 102 (39) 103 (39) 92 (33) 83 (28) 83 (28) 109 (43) Mean maximum °F (°C) 64.5 (18.1) 68.7 (20.4) 75.7 (24.3) 82.6 (28.1) 88.9 (31.6) 97.2 (36.2) 98.3 (36.8) 96.2 (35.7) 92.2 (33.4) 84.4 (29.1) 75.9 (24.4) 65.7 (18.7) 99.9 (37.7) Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 53.9 (12.2) 57.2 (14.0) 63.8 (17.7) 70.4 (21.3) 78.5 (25.8) 88.0 (31.1) 90.7 (32.6) 88.8 (31.6) 83.6 (28.7) 74.4 (23.6) 63.0 (17.2) 53.3 (11.8) 72.1 (22.3) Daily mean °F (°C) 41.9 (5.5) 44.6 (7.0) 49.9 (9.9) 55.5 (13.1) 63.0 (17.2) 72.8 (22.7) 77.7 (25.4) 75.4 (24.1) 70.0 (21.1) 60.4 (15.8) 49.6 (9.8) 41.8 (5.4) 58.5 (14.8) Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 30.0 (−1.1) 31.9 (−0.1) 35.9 (2.2) 40.7 (4.8) 47.6 (8.7) 57.7 (14.3) 64.7 (18.2) 62.1 (16.7) 56.5 (13.6) 46.4 (8.0) 36.3 (2.4) 30.2 (−1.0) 45.0 (7.2) Mean minimum °F (°C) 17.5 (−8.1) 18.4 (−7.6) 25.1 (−3.8) 29.4 (−1.4) 35.9 (2.2) 48.6 (9.2) 56.1 (13.4) 55.7 (13.2) 45.7 (7.6) 32.3 (0.2) 23.8 (−4.6) 19.1 (−7.2) 13.3 (−10.4) Record low °F (°C) 0 (−18) 8 (−13) 8 (−13) 22 (−6) 24 (−4) 36 (2) 44 (7) 37 (3) 31 (−1) 22 (−6) 10 (−12) 4 (−16) 0 (−18) Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.94 (75) 2.79 (71) 1.94 (49) 0.80 (20) 0.59 (15) 0.28 (7.1) 2.67 (68) 2.62 (67) 1.95 (50) 1.30 (33) 1.60 (41) 2.24 (57) 21.72 (553.1) Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.5 (8.9) 2.1 (5.3) 2.5 (6.4) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.0) 0.5 (1.3) 2.9 (7.4) 11.5 (29.3) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.8 5.4 4.5 2.6 2.6 1.6 11.8 9.3 6.3 3.1 3.0 7.8 64.8 Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.0 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.9 3.2 Source 1: NOAA[13] Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima, snow/snow days, precip days 2006–2020)[12]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-azparks2_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-azparks2_1-1) ["Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Maps"](https://azstateparks.com/tonto/explore/maps). Arizona State Parks & Trails. Retrieved October 24, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-azparks3_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-azparks3_2-1) ["History of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park"](https://azstateparks.com/tonto/explore/park-history). Arizona State Parks & Trails. Retrieved October 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aztourism_3-0)** ["Monthly State Parks Visitation Report"](https://tourism.az.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/State-Parks-July-2025.pdf) (PDF). Arizona Office of Tourism. July 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-azparks_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-azparks_4-1) ["Tonto Natural Bridge State Park"](https://azstateparks.com/tonto). Arizona State Parks & Trails. Retrieved October 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-asw_5-0)** ["Tonto Natural Bridge State Park"](http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/tonto_natural_bridge/state_park.html). *AmericanSouthwest.net*. The American Southwest. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220928163852/https://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/tonto_natural_bridge/state_park.html) from the original on September 28, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Coconino_Sun_1926,_pg._5_6-0)** Coconino Sun, Fri., 1926-01-15, pg. 5

1. **[^](#cite_ref-azparks4_7-0)** ["Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Hiking Trails"](https://azstateparks.com/tonto/things-to-do/trails). Arizona State Parks & Trails. Retrieved October 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Coates, Bill (February 27, 2009). "State park closures will turn away visitors and their money". *[Arizona Capitol Times](/source/Arizona_Capitol_Times)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Arizona State Parks (February 24, 2009). ["Arizona State Parks board temporarily closes two state parks"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091123202804/http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_02-24-09.html) (Press release). Archived from [the original](http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_02-24-09.html) on November 23, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Arizona State Parks (August 6, 2010). ["Tonto Natural Bridge State Park again rescued by rim country residents"](http://azstateparks.com/press/2010/PR_08-06-10.html) (Press release).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Bourguet, Gerald (February 25, 2013). ["After lean years, Arizona State Parks looks to repair, update facilities"](https://cronkitenewsonline.com/2013/02/after-deep-cuts-and-lean-years-arizona-state-parks-looks-to-repair-update-facilities/index.html). *Cronkite News*. Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Retrieved March 31, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NOWData_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NOWData_12-1) ["NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Flagstaff"](https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=fgz). National Weather Service. Retrieved March 25, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NOAA_13-0)** ["U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Natural BRG, AZ"](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). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 25, 2023.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Tonto Natural Bridge State Park](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tonto_Natural_Bridge_State_Park).

- [Tonto Natural Bridge State Park](https://azstateparks.com/tonto/) Arizona State Parks & Trails

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tonto Natural Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonto_Natural_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonto_Natural_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.