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Tonto National Forest

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Gems in Tonto National Forest - 2

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gem Favorite This view gives you an idea of the creek valley, one of the basins, and the general terrain along the Hieroglyphics Trail.

Hieroglyphs

(21) Apache…, AZ
gem Favorite Cliff jumpers take advantage of the scenery for excellent action shots (we saw one person jump from the top of the waterfall)

Fossil Creek Falls

(16) Pine, AZ

Recommended Routes in Tonto National Forest - 14

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Favorite Christopher Creek
Difficult

See Canyon Horton Springs Loop

14.4 mi 23.2 km 2,962' Up 902.8 m Up 2,962' Down 902.74 m Down

Star Va…, AZ
Favorite From the peak looking South.
Difficult

Picket Post Mountain Trail

4.3 mi 7.0 km 1,957' Up 596.36 m Up 1,957' Down 596.36 m Down

Superior, AZ
Favorite This was our campsite 0.3 miles past Barnhardt Falls. I noticed that a previous user also camped here, and I can see why! It is one of the best sites on the loop.
Difficult

Mazatzal Peak Loop

15.1 mi 24.4 km 2,868' Up 874.13 m Up 2,841' Down 865.98 m Down

Payson, AZ
Favorite Along the Peralta Canyon Trail, you'll have a spectacular view of the mountains behind you as you're on your way to Weaver's Needle.
Intermediate/Difficult

Peralta Out and Back

4.5 mi 7.2 km 1,338' Up 407.81 m Up 1,337' Down 407.66 m Down

Gold Camp, AZ
Favorite Cliff jumpers take advantage of the scenery for excellent action shots (we saw one person jump from the top of the waterfall)
Difficult

Fossil Springs Trail

8.7 mi 14.0 km 1,426' Up 434.7 m Up 1,426' Down 434.76 m Down

Pine, AZ
Favorite Peralta Canyon Trail.
Intermediate/Difficult

Miners Needle Loop

8.5 mi 13.6 km 1,190' Up 362.85 m Up 1,220' Down 371.9 m Down

Gold Camp, AZ
Favorite Along the Peralta Canyon Trail, you'll have a spectacular view of the mountains behind you as you're on your way to Weaver's Needle.
Difficult

Weavers Needle Loop

12.7 mi 20.4 km 2,643' Up 805.52 m Up 2,637' Down 803.87 m Down

Gold Camp, AZ
Favorite The Four Peaks segment of the AZT offers great views of Theodore Roosevelt Lake.
Difficult

Four Peaks

12.4 mi 19.9 km 2,074' Up 632.12 m Up 2,074' Down 632.16 m Down

Tonto B…, AZ
Favorite Looking West
Difficult

Brown's Peak

5.0 mi 8.1 km 1,702' Up 518.75 m Up 1,702' Down 518.65 m Down

Tonto B…, AZ

Tonto National Forest Hiking

  • 783 Miles 1,260 Kilometers of Trail
  • 14 Recommended Routes
  • 2 Gems Gems
  • 2 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 46 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 22 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
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Areas Within Tonto National Forest

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Trails in Tonto National Forest - 56

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6.2 mi 9.9 km #1Barnhardt Trail #43
Intermediate/Difficult
Payson, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Payson, AZ
1.7 mi 2.7 km #2Picketpost Mountain Trail
Difficult
Superior, AZ
Difficult
Superior, AZ 10 
3.3 mi 5.3 km #3See Canyon Trail #184
Intermediate/Difficult
Star Valley, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Star Valley, AZ
50.6 mi 81.4 km #4Highline Trail #31 (NRT)
Intermediate/Difficult
Star Valley, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Star Valley, AZ
1.0 mi 1.7 km #5Horton Springs Trail #292
Difficult
Star Valley, AZ
Difficult
Star Valley, AZ
18.7 mi 30.1 km #6AZT - Passage 18 - Reavis Canyon
Intermediate/Difficult
Superior, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Superior, AZ
11.8 mi 19.0 km #7AZT - Passage 17 - Alamo Canyon
Intermediate
Superior, AZ
Intermediate
Superior, AZ
19.7 mi 31.7 km #8AZT - Passage 21 - Pine Mountain
Intermediate/Difficult
Tonto Basin, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Tonto Basin, AZ
19.1 mi 30.8 km #9AZT - Passage 20 - Four Peaks
Very Difficult
Tonto Basin, AZ
Very Difficult
Tonto Basin, AZ
12.0 mi 19.3 km #10AZT - Passage 26 - Hardscrabble Mesa
Intermediate
Pine, AZ
Intermediate
Pine, AZ

Photos of Tonto National Forest - 221

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Peralta Canyon Trail.
Oct 12, 2016 near Gold Camp, AZ
The Four Peaks segment of the AZT offers great views of Theodore Roosevelt Lake.
Mar 27, 2017 near Tonto B…, AZ
Along the Peralta Canyon Trail, you'll have a spectacular view of the mountains behind you as you're on your way to Weaver's Needle.
Apr 19, 2017 near Gold Camp, AZ
Moonbow halfway up the initial Carney Spring climb.
Jan 25, 2020 near Apache…, AZ
Moonbow on way up Carney slope.
Jan 25, 2020 near Apache…, AZ
The saddle above Flatiron Trail, lit by the city, about 2:30AM. For me, the moment the camera earned its pack weight.
Jan 25, 2020 near Apache…, AZ
Dawn from the top of Flatiron Trail
Jan 25, 2020 near Apache…, AZ
Looking West
Nov 5, 2021 near Tonto B…, AZ