| Tonto National Forest | |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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| Location | Gila, Maricopa, Yavapai, and Pinal counties, Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Payson, Arizona |
| Area | 2,873,200 acres (11,627 km2) |
| Established | 1905 |
| Visitors | 5,922,000 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | United States Forest Service |
The Tonto National Forest, encompassing 2,873,200 acres (11,627 km2) , is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the fifth largest national forest in the United States.[1] The Tonto National Forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet (427 m) in the Sonoran Desert to 7,400 feet (2,256 m) in the ponderosa pine forests of the Mogollon Rim (pronounced MOH-gee-on, or MUH-gee-own). The boundaries of the Tonto National Forest are the Phoenix metropolitan area to the south, the Mogollon Rim to the north and the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian Reservation to the east. The Tonto (Spanish for "fool") is managed by the USDA Forest Service and its headquarters are in Phoenix. There are local ranger district offices in Globe, Mesa, Payson, Roosevelt, Scottsdale, and Young.[2]
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Tonto National Forest began charging user fees in 1996 for daily and overnight stays at expanded amenity recreation sites in the national forest. Five different passes are currently offered for sale:
The Half Price passes are for use by Golden Age/Access Passport or Interagency Senior/Access Pass Holders. The Tonto Upgrade must be used in addition to an Interagency Pass for use of the recreation sites.
Tonto Passes are available through online vendors at the Tonto National Forest recreation passes and permits web page. Daily and Half Price Daily Tonto Passes are now available for purchase online, immediate printing at home and use at the Tonto National Forest. Passes are also available through many local merchants.[3]
The Tonto National Forest has six notable cold water reservoirs:
The next four are created by the Salt River chain of dams:
There are seven federally designated wilderness areas, protecting 589,000 (2,383 km2) acres of forest land, within the Tonto National Forest:[4]
A portion of the Verde Wild and Scenic River also lies within the forest.
The Tonto Forest Reserve was established on October 3, 1905 by the General Land Office. In 1906 the forest reserves were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service, and on March 4, 1907 Tonto became a National Forest. On January 13, 1908 the Pinal Mountains National Forest was added along with other lands. On July 1, 1908 part of Black Mesa National Forest and other lands were added, and on July 1, 1953 part of Crook National Forest was added.[5]
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