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Tonto National Forest

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J F M A M J J A S O N D

577 mi 928 km of trail — 22 Recommended Routes

Gems 2 Gems Easy Trails 9 Trails Intermediate Trails 56 Trails Hard Trails 34 Trails

Areas Within Tonto National Forest

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Gems in Tonto National Forest - 2

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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

(15) Pine, AZ
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

(14) Apache…, AZ

Recommended Routes in Tonto National Forest - 19

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RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite The saddle above Flatiron Trail, lit by the city, about 2:30AM. For me, the moment the camera earned its pack weight.
Difficult

Superstition Ridgeline

11.2 mi 18.1 km • 3,431' Up 1045.89 m Up • 3,286' Down 1001.49 m Down

Apache…, AZ
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
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
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
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
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite This view gives you an idea of the creek valley, one of the basins, and the general terrain along the Hieroglyphics Trail.
Intermediate

Hieroglyphic Trail #101

3.0 mi 4.8 km • 571' Up 174.16 m Up • 571' Down 173.96 m Down

Apache…, AZ
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Cliff jumpers take advantage of the scenery for excellent action shots (we saw one person jump from the top of the waterfall)
Intermediate/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
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
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
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite It's a gorgeous view from the top of the Black Mesa Trail.
Intermediate/Difficult

Second Water/Black Mesa/Dutchman Loop

9.3 mi 14.9 km • 994' Up 302.89 m Up • 994' Down 303.06 m Down

Apache…, AZ
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
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

Trails in Tonto National Forest - 77

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2.4 mi 3.9 km #1Siphon Draw Trail #53
Difficult
Apache Junction, AZ
Difficult
Apache Junction, AZ 36 
8.0 mi 12.9 km #2Superstition Ridgeline Trail
Very Difficult
Apache Junction, AZ
Very Difficult
Apache Junction, AZ 7 
3.9 mi 6.4 km #3200 Trail
Difficult
Payson, AZ
Difficult
Payson, AZ 3 
2.7 mi 4.4 km #4Butcher Jones Trail #463
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ 7 
14.0 mi 22.6 km #5AZT - Passage 24 - Red Hills
Difficult
Payson, AZ
Difficult
Payson, AZ 2 
82.6 mi 132.9 km #6General Crook Trail #130
Easy
Camp Verde, AZ
Easy
Camp Verde, AZ 1 
6.2 mi 10.0 km #7Peralta Canyon Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
Gold Camp, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Gold Camp, AZ 10 
21.8 mi 35.0 km #8AZT - Passage 23 - Mazatzal Divide
Intermediate/Difficult
Tonto Basin, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Tonto Basin, AZ 1 
1.5 mi 2.4 km #9Wind Cave Trail
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ 18 
2.7 mi 4.4 km #10Massacre Grounds Trail
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ 5 
0.4 mi 0.7 km #11Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail
Intermediate
Tonto Basin, AZ
Intermediate
Tonto Basin, AZ 3 
3.5 mi 5.7 km #12Horton Creek Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
Star Valley, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Star Valley, AZ 9 
29.9 mi 48.0 km #13AZT - Passage 19 - Superstition Wilderness
Intermediate/Difficult
Superior, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Superior, AZ 2 
18.7 mi 30.1 km #14Dutchman Trail #104
Intermediate/Difficult
Gold Camp, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Gold Camp, AZ 3 
6.2 mi 9.9 km #15Barnhardt Trail #43
Intermediate/Difficult
Payson, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Payson, AZ 7 
10.2 mi 16.4 km #16Cave Creek Trail #4
Intermediate/Difficult
Cave Creek, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Cave Creek, AZ 3 
7.5 mi 12.1 km #17Pass Mountain Trail
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ 9 
7.8 mi 12.6 km #18Boulder Canyon Trail #103
Intermediate/Difficult
Apache Junction, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Apache Junction, AZ 5 
18.7 mi 30.1 km #19AZT - Passage 18 - Reavis Canyon
Intermediate/Difficult
Superior, AZ
Intermediate/Difficult
Superior, AZ 3 
3.3 mi 5.3 km #20Second Water Trail #236
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ
Intermediate
Apache Junction, AZ 4 

Photos of Tonto National Forest - 192

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Dawn from the top of Flatiron Trail
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
Moonbow on way up Carney slope.
Jan 25, 2020 near Apache…, AZ
Moonbow halfway up the initial Carney Spring climb.
Jan 25, 2020 near Apache…, 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
The Four Peaks segment of the AZT offers great views of Theodore Roosevelt Lake.
Mar 27, 2017 near Tonto B…, AZ
Peralta Canyon Trail.
Oct 12, 2016 near Gold Camp, AZ
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.
Mar 14, 2017 near Payson, AZ