Overview

Hype:

Tonto National Forest, the largest national forest in Arizona, spans nearly 3 million acres of diverse landscapes ranging from saguaro-studded desert lowlands to cool pine-covered mountains. Located just outside the Phoenix metropolitan area, it offers a striking contrast of ecosystems, with rugged canyons, river-fed lakes, sprawling wilderness areas, and scenic mountain ranges. Popular for year-round recreation, the forest provides opportunities for hiking, boating, camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing, while showcasing iconic sights like the Salt River, Mogollon Rim, and Roosevelt Lake. Its vast size and variety of environments make Tonto National Forest a unique destination where visitors can experience both the stark beauty of the Sonoran Desert and the refreshing alpine forests of central Arizona.

Time:

Fees: None

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Features:

National Forest

Links: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto

Maps

Closest City or Region: Arizona

Coordinates: 33.871858, -111.275638

Interactive Guide Map

Download Guide Map

View map fullscreen.

February 23, 2025 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Story

For my last activity of the day, I went to the Usery Mountain Regional Park and hiked the trail up to Wind Cave and an unnamed peak next to it. I thought that wind cave was actually going to be a cave, so I took my headlamp, but it ended up being just a little overhang at the base of a cliff. That was a bit disappointing. But the last little hike to the peak was fun and offered great views in all directions.