Tonto Natural Bridge
Monday, 19th June 2006 by Alex Turnbull
This is the Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson, AZ - which is less like a natural bridge and more like a natural tunnel.
The creekbed disappears into the 50 metre-high tunnel for around 120 metres - the two entrances you can see in our thumbnails, and the inside of which you can see in numerous online galleries. (I've chosen this gallery to link to, because I like the way they've gone over the top with arty-farty photoshop filters 😀 )
Thanks to Jason Creach.
About the author
Alex has decided that his title will be Senior Vice President of Stuff.
Believe it or not, but it’s actually the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. I used to love this place as a kid, when it was still privately run. In the last decade or so, Arizona State Parks has acquired the property and has built a bunch of crap, including that god-awful parking lot (on top of the friggin’ bridge, no less). You used to park near the old ranch house and walk down some nice trails towards the bridge, and then, in a moment of discovery, notice what was there. After scrambling down into the canyon, you’d be rewarded with some great swimming holes and tales of indians and bandits that used the area.
Is it the largest natural bridge in the world? There is a very good one in Puentedey, province of Burgos, north of Spain, that seems to be larger. Here is a website to see it: http://www.puentedey.es/. Unfortunately, Google Earth has no good views of this place.
Dang, Alex, you weren’t kidding about the gallery!
Oh, and Ignacio, click on the link at the top of the post that says “natural bridge”.
Why is ‘thanks to Jason Creach” posted?
@Amy – because he suggested we post it!