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Tonto National Forest - Welcome!
Visit Tonto National Forest
The Tonto NF features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. With nearly 600,000 acres of wilderness, there's a place for you to escape the rigors of modern society.
The Tonto National Forest offers unique landscapes including Sonoran Desert cacti and flat lands that slowly give way to the highlands of the Mogollon Rim. This variety in vegetation and range in altitude -- from 1,300 to 7,900 feet -- offers outstanding recreational opportunities throughout the year, whether it's lake beaches or cool pine forests.
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Smokey Bear Reading Challenge
Help celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday.
Plan Your Trip
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Recreation
Unforgettable experiences are waiting! Eight lush wilderness areas, scenic flowing rivers, the Mogollon Rim's 200-miles of beauty and some of the best trails in the country.
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Camping
The Tonto has you covered whether you prefer open-air, tent, camper, group, RV, horse, dispersed or campground camping. Stargazing is an added bonus.
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Find Your Way
Interactive, downloadable and print maps of National Forests and National Grasslands in Arizona and New Mexico.
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Passes and Permits
Whether you need a local Tonto Pass, national pass, special use permit to hold a wedding or event on the Forest, or simply need a fuelwood permit, we can assist you!
Discover More about the Tonto National Forest
The Tonto National Forest manages important habitats for a variety of wildlife, fish and rare plants.
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Caring for the Land
The forest also manages mines, roads and trails, riparian and wilderness areas, ranges, rivers and water, like Fossil Creek and Lower Salt River. Learn more about land management projects like the Four Forest Restoration Initiative and the revised Forest Plan.
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Women in Wildfire Camp
The USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, offers Women in Wildfire Camps for career-focused women or other individuals to become temporary, seasonal employees, and on-call wildland firefighters.
Recent News
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State-of-the-art helibase opens on Payson Ranger District
Release Date: Apr 17, 2024
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Use of Valentine Fire to aid forest health restoration highlights importance of relationships, trust between Forest Service, communities
Release Date: Apr 16, 2024
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Payson Ranger District plans to burn over 5,000 acres near Diamond Rim to improve forest health, reduce risk of wildfire
Release Date: Apr 15, 2024
Features
New Helibase on the Payson Ranger District
Forest Service officials say the $4.9 million facility will play a major role in suppressing wildfires in Arizona and supporting the agency’s wildfire crisis strategy for reducing wildfire risk to communities and improving resilience of Arizona’s forests.
Resolution Copper Timeline
Due to an increase in inquiries regarding Resolution Copper and Oak Flat, we have a summary page with links to all the information for easier access. View the up-to-date statement and project links.
Spotlights
Get Involved - Volunteer!
Managing a national forest like the Tonto National Forest requires the efforts of not only dedicated employees, but many partners and volunteers. Find out how you can help!
Black bears may roam higher elevations within the Tonto National Forest
Within Arizona, black bears live in most forest, woodland and chaparral habitats, and desert riparian areas, primarily at elevations from 4,000 to 10,000 feet.
Tonto National Forest Photo Archives
Tonto National Forest historic photographs from the Southwestern Regional Office files in Albuquerque, New Mexico,
Help Protect Bald Eagles by Giving them Space
Help protect the state’s 55 breeding pair of bald eagles, by giving them space as they begin rebuilding nests in preparation for laying eggs.
Alerts & Warnings
- Poco Pino Restoration Area 7 Temporary Closure Order 03-12-04-24-02
- Closure Order Lifted: National Forest System Road NFSR 487 (Workman Creek Road)
- Rattlesnake Cove Recreation Fishing Dock Closure 03-12-01-22-26
- Amended - Apache Lake Closure - Lower Burnt Corral Campground remains closed
- Bald Eagle Seasonal Closures
- Occupancy and Use Restrictions
- Update on State Route 88 (Apache Trail) - August 18, 2021
- Redmond Fire Road Closure
