We're Obsessed With This Arizona Trail That Leads To An Incredible 80-Foot Waterfall
By Melissa Mahoney|Published May 22, 2024
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
For those who have been to the Payson area, chances are you’ve stopped at the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park in nearby Pine. Home to the largest known travertine bridge in the world, it’s another natural wonder we are proud to have here in the Grand Canyon State. And depending on what time of year you visit, you can also view a gorgeous waterfall cascading over the bridge. So, have you ever seen the Tonto Natural Bridge Waterfall, Arizona? I have many times, and I will tell you all about it!
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is a place I visit nearly every time I make the drive up the Beeline Highway from Scottsdale to the Payson area. It’s a gorgeous park with a few short trails but, most impressive, a massive travertine bridge considered the largest on our planet.
Just so you're prepared for your visit, there is an entry fee of $7 for ages 14 and older, $4 per youth (7-13), and free for children ages 6 and under.
There should be a ranger at the booth by the historic Goodfellow Lodge (pictured here), so you can pay there. If not, you will have to park your car and go inside to pay.
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After parking your car in the large parking lot, follow the signs and take a short trek to an overlook where you'll see the natural bridge and the top of the waterfall.
To get to the observation deck, you will take the Gowan Trail, a somewhat steep descent. Make sure you take water with you, wear sunscreen, and wear a good pair of hiking boots.
There are some switchbacks along the trail and – I have to say – it's quite exciting to see the bridge and waterfall cave come closer into view as you descend. There is also a creek running under the observation deck and through the entirety of the natural bridge.
The travertine bridge measures 183-feet-high, 150-feet-wide, and has a depth of more than 400 feet, creating a cave-like tunnel you can actually hike through if the park allows it during your visit. I have hiked through it before and it requires a lot of climbing up, over, and around rocks. Due to the water in the cave, many of the rocks are slippery. It's definitely not a hike for everyone!
Now, I must warn you, this waterfall has been different every time I've visited. I've seen it flow so powerfully in a jaw-dropping fashion and as a mere trickle, depending on the time of year and if there was recent rainfall. And yet, I find it impressive no matter what.
While it was a cold and rainy day the last time we visited Tonto Natural Bridge and its waterfall, it was worth it! If you haven't yet been, I strongly urge you to add it to your Arizona bucket list.
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If you’re looking for “waterfalls near me” in the Payson area, I highly suggest heading here. Have you ever been to this incredible state park? Have you ever seen the Tonto Natural Bridge Waterfall, Arizona? Let us know! For park information, visit the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park web page.
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