Tonto National Forest, Arizona

At 2,969,602 acres, Tonto is by far the largest of the six national forests in Arizona, and has the most interesting, diverse scenery. The forest terrain and elevation ranges from the Sonoran Desert (1,400 feet) to the Mogollon Rim (7,400 feet). Besides desert and mountains it contains lakes - mostly artificially created, fertile river valleys, rocky canyons and flat plains.

The lower elevations are not a forest in the normal sense, being covered by cacti. The well known giant saguaro is the most obvious, but there are also dozens of smaller species. In addition to cactus there are also bushes, chaparral and grasslands above 4,000 feet. The the higher hills and cooler mountains support woodland habitats with juniper, mixed fir and ponderosa pine. Tonto contains eight separate wilderness areas, all of which have quite limited access as the land is generally steep and rough, without many trails Weather in the area is harsh for most of the year. However, Tonto is still one of the most visited National Forests in America. Taking a drive along one the highways that disect the forest offers many scenic and awe inspiring vistas.