Pine Creek Trailhead (Tonto Natural Bridge)
Pine, Gila County, Arizona. Hiking trail.
Details
- Where
- Pine, Gila County, AZ. No street address stated. Directions
- When
- Park open 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last entry at 4:00 p.m.). Trails close one hour before the park closes.
- Getting there
- 10 miles north of Payson on Hwy 87.
- Fees
- Adult (14+) $10.00; Youth (7-13) $5.00; Child (0-6) FREE.
- Hours
- 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last entry at 4:00 p.m.).
- Access
- All trails are steep and strenuous. No pets or glass containers on any trails. Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails at the park. Anna Mae, Gowan, Pine Creek, and Waterfall Trails close at 4:00 p.m. The paved path and all viewpoints remain open until 5:00 p.m.
- Phone
- (928) 476-4202
- Managed by
- Arizona State Parks & Trails.
- Established
- 1991.
- Coordinates
- 34.334825, -111.421065.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is located in central Arizona near Payson. It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. There are four hiking trails, a picnic area, and a group use area. The park provides habitat for animals, insects, and birds as well as Interpretive exhibits including artifacts on the history of Tonto Natural Bridge, plus information about travertine, prehistoric inhabitants, and the historic Goodfellow Lodge.
Notable Events
- 1866Company E of the United States Army volunteers from Fort Lincoln (now known as Fort Verde), led by mountain man Pauline Weaver, was the first known white men to see the natural bridge. azstateparks.com
- 1882Gowan homesteaded the 160 surrounding acres, planting a small orchard, constructing a dwelling out of mud & timber, and cultivating a small garden. azstateparks.com
- 1898David and Lilias Goodfellow and their three children embarked on the long journey to Pine Creek Valley to settle the land. azstateparks.com
- 1901The Goodfellows joined the ranks of Arizona guest ranches, building a road at a cost of $4,000 to allow easier access to the site. azstateparks.com
- 1925The Goodfellows built a modern new 10 room lodge with running water and improved access to the caves beneath the bridge. azstateparks.com
- 1927Goodfellow Historic Lodge is a historic lodge built in 1927 with 10 bedrooms and communal restrooms. azstateparks.com
- 1928Andrew Ogilvie, a Goodfellow relative, built the 125 foot long, spring fed swimming pool with a team of horses, a scraper, and hand tools. azstateparks.com
- 1948The Goodfellow sons sold the business to the Glen Randall family. azstateparks.com
- 1985After several changes of hands in a series of complex partnership and lien related transactions, the Wolfswinkle family gained title. azstateparks.com
- 1986Following a six-figure refurbishment by Wolfswinkle, the Tonto Natural Bridge Lodge was nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places as a significant contributor to the development of tourism in Arizona. azstateparks.com
- 1990Tonto Natural Bridge became Arizona's twenty-sixth state park. azstateparks.com
People
- Andrew Ogilvie, Goodfellow relative who built the spring-fed swimming pool (built the pool in 1928).
- David Douglas Gowan, Scottish gold prospector and mountain man who homesteaded the land, planted a small orchard, and built a dwelling out of mud & timber (homesteaded the surrounding acres in 1882).
- David Gowan Goodfellow, Gowan's nephew and godson who accepted the site on the condition that he and his family immigrate to America and permanently settle the land (settled Pine Creek Valley in 1898).
- Glen Randall, purchased the property from the Goodfellows and managed it, improving the entrance road, trails, lodge, pool, and water system (lived at the park for 21 years; died on March 5, 1967).
- Pauline Weaver, famous mountain man who led Company E to the natural bridge (led Company E to the bridge in 1866).
- Wolfswinkle, owner whose Southwest Properties managed the natural bridge and refurbished the lodge.