Waterfall trails are open, after a rough monsoon at AZ State Park

Tonto Natural Bridge is a great family day trip from the Phoenix area, in any season, and all trails are back open after flooding damage over the summer.

As I write this, the forecast calls for sunny skies and 70 degrees this weekend. It doesn’t get much better for exploring this natural wonder!

Mother Nature created (what is now) an Arizona State Park, through millions of years of erosion, volcanic eruptions, and natural springs.

The “Bridge” is thought to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world! The rock is about 60-feet thick, and spans a tunnel which runs nearly 400-feet in length below.

There are several enjoyable trails, and aspects of the park which I didn’t expect.

First, there’s the hike down to the main area under the bridge.  People of all ages make the trek, which is short, but steep, rocky, and uneven.  The view down below makes the hike worthwhile.

A natural spring feeds the waterfall that runs over the top of the bridge year-round. 

Rita, the staff member down at the base, told us the spring water will sometimes form icicles in the winter months. 

In the summer, the waterfall turns the boulders below green with moss and plant growth.

Once in a while, after heavy rainfall, the canyon floods and closes for a few days.  It happens a couple times a year… aaaaaaand it happened right before our visit back in August, so we didn’t get the “full” Tonto Natural Bridge experience.

It usually takes a few days for the waters to subside. The staff waits for the pools under the bridge to diminish, before allowing people to go wandering through the unique tunnel terrain again.

Even when it’s closed, the newly-built viewpoint offers a spot to relax and enjoy the site.

The floods wiped out the Anna Mae Trail, which is another scenic walk down to the cavern. It’s on the opposite side of the parking areas, and it remained closed for several summer months.

In general, the Payson area was hit with several big storms in 2021. By the end of August the rain gauges were 226% above normal. Around 13-inches of rain fell in the summer months.

You can keep updated on the Arizona State Parks website.

Aside from the bridge, be sure to check out the Waterfall Trail.  It’s short and slippery, but leads to another spring-fed waterfall, which cascades over a path. 

It’s refreshing in the hot summer months.  It’s not a huge, magnificent wonder … but it’s a mossy and beautiful piece of nature that’s worth checking out in the park.   You’ll need to navigate down a long flight of steps to get there.

For people looking for sunrise photos, beware: there’s a gate that’ll prevent you from going down.   You’ll have to wait until it opens at 9am.

As for me, I’m planning a trip this winter to catch the icicles Rita promised!

All of these beautiful photos are from Matt Ehnes.