Tonto Natural Bridge is a natural arch

Natural arch

A natural arch or natural bridge is a natural geological formation where a rock arch forms, with an opening underneath. Most natural arches form as a narrow ridge, walled by cliffs, become narrower from erosion, with a softer rock stratum under the cliff-forming stratum gradually eroding out until...

 in Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

, USA, that is believed to be the largest natural travertine

Travertine

Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot...

 bridge in the world. The area surrounding the bridge has been made into a state park

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 called Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, which is located off State Route 87

State Route 87 (Arizona)

State Route 87 is a north–south road that travels from SR 84 near Picacho, Arizona northward to SR 264 near Second Mesa.-Route description:The road that becomes Route 87 begins at Second Mesa, Arizona...

, just 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Payson

Payson, Arizona

- History :Payson considers its founding year as 1882, at which time it was known as Green Valley or Union Park. On March 3, 1884, the town officially established a post office. Postmaster Frank C. Hise recommended that the town be named after a man named Levi Joseph Payson. Senator Payson was very...

. Tonto Natural Bridge stands over a 400 feet (121.9 m) tunnel that measures 150 feet (45.7 m) at its widest point and reaches a height of 183 feet (55.8 m).

History

This natural bridge was first documented by David Gowan

David Gowan

David D. Gowan was born in 1840 in Bervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland to Alexander and Jane Gowan. On the 1920 census he told the census taker that he was born on the Atlantic Ocean but at this time there is no evidence his parents ever left Scotland. In 1900, David was living with his sister...

, a Scotsman, in 1877 while hiding from hostile Apache

Apache

Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...

 tribe members. Gowan was impressed by the location and persuaded his family to emigrate and live there. Gowan also tried to claim the land for himself under squatter's rights.

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

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

.

Park facilities

• Walking trails
  • Pine Creek Trail - approximately 1/2 mile long
  • Waterfall Trail - approximately 600 feet (182.9 m) round trip to waterfall cave.
  • Gowan Trail - approximately 1/2 mile long, ending at an observation deck in the creek bottom.
• Picnic tables and recreation area
• Gift shop
• Portable restrooms

Closure

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. Since that time, three groups have donated funds to allow the park to stay open until the end of September 2011.