Our last nature spot on this Arizona adventure was Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. The park is in Pine Canyon, a tributary of the East Verde River.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
2023 Price: $7 per person
As the name suggests, the key feature is a natural travertine bridge. Most natural bridges are made of sandstone or limestone.
Travertine comes from evaporation of calcium carbonate-rich spring water. Slightly-acid water dissolves calcium carbonate from underlying limestone. This solution gathers in the aquifer supplying area springs. As spring water emerges and evaporates, calcite is forced out and forms travertine over time.
Waterfall Trail
Our first hike attempt was the 300-foot trail to the waterfall. There are several winding, steep steps to the dirt path. It was soaking wet, and we had to maneuver around puddles and falling water. The trail dead-ends at the waterfall cave.
Here we got our first look at Pine Creek below.
Tonto Natural Bridge
We took two main trails to explore the bridge – a paved walking path and the Gowan Trail.
Walking Path
The universally accessible, 0.5-mile path is a great place to start. It has four overlooks to take in the stalactites, stalagmites, and scale – two on each side of the tunnel.
Begin at View 1 for your first sight of travertine stalactites. There is a bench here as well as a viewer to see the bridge in closer detail.
Cross over the creek for View 2. From here, you could also jump on the Anna Mae Trail which goes down to the water, but it was closed when we visited in January.
Views 3 and 4 are close together on top of the cliff wall. Here you can look down on the tunnel and observation deck. I love the half circle formation in the cliff wall.
Near View 4, area wildlife was painted on flat stones next to the path.
Gowan Trail
For a closer view, try the Gowan Trail. This path is 2,200 feet long and steep with uneven terrain. There are multiple switchbacks and stairs.
The trail dips quickly into the adjacent Tonto National Forest before ending at an elevated observation deck in Pine Creek.
In person, the tunnel and bridge are massive! I tilted my head back and it just went up and up.
A tree above the center of the tunnel acted as a constant source of dripping water.
Bridge Facts
According to the State Park, the bridge is 183 feet high, 150 feet wide, and 400 feet long. Above the tunnel, the travertine is 60 feet thick!
As for wildlife, we spotted dark-eyed juncos and ruby-crowned kinglets.
After exploring the state park, we ate dinner at Diamond Point Shadows Restaurant in nearby Star Valley.