Arizonans are definitely not strangers to natural wonders. And even though the state is populated with some of the best in the country, it never gets old exploring new places and learning more about The Grand Canyon State.
Did you realize the colossal natural bridge at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is considered the largest travertine natural bridge in the world?
At 161 acres, this Arizona State Park is the fourth smallest in the system, but what it lacks in acreage it makes up for in raw, natural beauty!
The park's main attraction is the natural bridge, including the massive 400-foot tunnel it creates. At the widest point, the tunnel is 150-feet in width.
And the park also features a waterfall at one end of the bridge opening. A waterfall, a natural bridge and a tunnel... what more do you need for a day trip that's fun for the whole family?!
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has three trails that all lead to the area of the bridge. Beware, they each have their own characteristics, and two of them are rated as difficult. You can read about the bridge trails at this link before you go.
You can expect to do a lot of climbing, especially if you want to head down to the bottom of the bridge to explore the tunnel, or the waterfall cave.
Be sure to wear proper hiking shoes and be on the ready to scamper over big boulders once you leave the observation area or trail to head inside the tunnel. Each of the three trails are under one mile round trip and should take approximately an hour to complete...
But that may not count the time spent exploring The World's Largest Travertine Natural Bridge — which is worthy of a day trip to see this Arizona wonder.
Did you know this mammoth natural bridge is the largest of its kind in the world? When was the last time you visited?
Find the entrance to the park at the end of NF-583A outside of Pine, Arizona. Here's a link to the Google Map location. The technical version of the GPS coordinates is Latitude: N 34 20.090
Longitude: W 111 25.264.
Admission to the park is $7 adults (14+), $4 youth (7-13), free for children ages 0-6. Park hours vary by season. Trails may close earlier than the park. From Tuesday after Labor Day until the Friday of Memorial Day weekend the park hours are 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.). Summer hours are from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.).
Learn more on the official website of Arizona State Parks.
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