Tonto Natural Bridge
Tonto Natural Bridge
Map showing the location of Tonto Natural Bridge
Map showing the location of Tonto Natural Bridge
Location of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park in Arizona
LocationGila, Arizona, United States
Coordinates34°19′11″N 111°27′24″W / 34.31972°N 111.45667°W / 34.31972; -111.45667
Area161 acres (65 ha)
Elevation4,530 ft (1,380 m)
Established1969
Visitors124,614 (in 2022)[1]
Governing bodyArizona State Parks
The entrance sign at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.

Tonto Natural Bridge is a natural arch in Arizona, United States, that is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The area surrounding the bridge has been made into a state park called Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, which is located off State Route 87, just 10 miles (16 km) north of Payson. 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).

History

This natural bridge was first documented by David Gowan, a Scotsman, in 1877 while hiding from Apache tribe members.[2] Gowan was impressed by the location and persuaded his family to emigrate and live there.[3] 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 week's visit, couldn't locate Gowan at his little cabin, he looked around and secured the help of a posse, which found David's body in Deer Creek.[4] 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
  • Pine Creek Trail - approximately 0.5-mile (0.80 km) long
  • Waterfall Trail - approximately 600-foot (180 m) round trip to waterfall cave.
  • Gowan Trail - approximately 0.5-mile (0.80 km) long, ending at an observation deck in the creek bottom.
  • Picnic tables and recreation area
  • Gift shop
  • Portable restrooms

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.[5][6] Three groups eventually donated funds to allow the park to stay open until the end of September 2011.[7] The park was reopened 5 days a week in 2013.[8]

Hours

As of 2020, the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is open. The park hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, the last entry is at 4:00 pm. The Park entrance fee is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for kids between the ages of 7 -13, children 6 and under are free.

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 109 °F (42.8 °C) on June 27, 1970, while the coldest temperature recorded was 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on January 13, 1963.[9]

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[10]
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima, snow/snow days, precip days 2006–2020)[9]

References

[11]

  1. ↑ "Monthly State Parks Visitation Report" (PDF). Arizona Office of Tourism. December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Tonto Natural Bridge State Park". Arizona State Parks. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Tonto Natural Bridge State Park". AmericanSouthwest.net. The American Southwest. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ Coconino Sun, Fri., 1926-01-15, pg. 5
  5. ↑ Coates, Bill (February 27, 2009). "State park closures will turn away visitors and their money". Arizona Capitol Times.
  6. ↑ Arizona State Parks (February 24, 2009). "Arizona State Parks Board Temporarily Closes Two State Parks" (Press release). Archived from the original on November 23, 2009.
  7. ↑ Arizona State Parks (August 6, 2010). "Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Again Rescued By Rim Country Residents" (Press release).
  8. ↑ Cronkite, Gerald Bourguet. "After lean years, Arizona State Parks looks to repair, update facilities". cronkitenewsonline.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Flagstaff". National Weather Service. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Natural BRG, AZ". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Tonto Natural Bridge State Park in Arizona | USA". azstateparks.com. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
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