Districts

The Tonto National Forest is managed regionally at the Tonto Supervisor's Office and six ranger district offices. The people at these offices can assist you with information on the areas which they serve, or refer you to the appropriate sources elsewhere.

Click on any one of numbers or logos to read about the corresponding district.

The Purpose of Districts

The role of the ranger districts is to provide quality on-the-ground management of resources by carrying out the Tonto National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan, serving customers and forest visitors by providing information/assistance; promoting land management education/interpretation; and participating in local activities and events.

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Supervisor's Office

The Tonto National Forest Supervisor provides leadership, strategic direction and forest policy guidance. This leadership includes long-range forest planning, ecosystems analyses and facilities planning. The Supervisor’s Office also works with congressional, regional, tribal, local, and state governments, businesses, interest groups and individuals.

Located in the Metro-Phoenix area, the Supervisor’s Office provides an urban contact point for information relating to all aspects of management of the Tonto National Forest .

Address: 2324 E. McDowell Road Phoenix, Arizona 85006
Phone: (602) 225-5200
Fax: (602) 225-5295
TTY: (602) 225-5395
Hours: Temporarily closed due to an emergency as of 7/11/2023.

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Cave Creek Ranger District

Cave Creek Ranger District consists of over 570,000 acres (approximately 230,000 hectares) of Desert, Semi-Desert Grassland, Chaparral, and Pinyon-Juniper types of vegetation. The Verde River flows through this entire district; Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs are located here.

From the junction of Pima Road and Cave Creek Road, drive northeast up Cave Creek Road for approximately 4 miles to Bartlett Road (Forest Road 19). Drive down Bartlett Road for approximately 0.3 miles to the entrance of the Cave Creek Ranger Station which is on the left.

Address: 40202 North Cave Creek Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Phone: (480) 595-3300
Fax: (480) 595-3346
Hours: Mon.-Fri. (8:00-4:30) closed 12-12:30 p.m. daily

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Globe Ranger District

The Globe Ranger District is located north, south, and west of the city of Globe , and borders both the Fort Apache and San Carlos Indian Reservations. The district consists of approximately 450,000 acres (approximately 182,000 hectares) of Desert, Chaparral, and Pinyon-Juniper types of vegetation, as well as a small area of Ponderosa Pine. The Upper Salt River flows through much of this district.

The Globe Ranger Station is located approximately two miles southeast from downtown Globe. 

Address: 7680 S. Six Shooter, Canyon Rd., Globe, Arizona 85501
Phone: (928) 425-7189
Fax: (928) 402-6292
Hours: Friday Only 7:45-4:30 closed 11:45-12:30 p.m. Passes and permits not sold after 4:00 p.m.

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Mesa Ranger District

The Mesa Ranger District is located north and east of the town of Apache Junction, and consists of approximately 430,000 acres (approximately 170,000 hectares) of Desert, Semi-desert Grassland, Chaparral, Pinyon-Juniper types of vegetation as well as a small area of Ponderosa Pine. The very popular Lower Salt River, Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake are located on this district.

The Mesa Ranger Station is in northeast Mesa . Drive east on US Highway 60 (Superstition Freeway) to the Higley Road Exit. Drive north for approximately 4 miles to Ingram Street on the left. The Mesa Ranger Station is approximately 0.1 mile on the north side of Ingram Street.

OR

From Country Club Drive (Highway 87), drive east on McKellips Road for approximately 6 miles. Turn south on Higley Road for approximately 0.3 miles to Ingram Street on the right. The Mesa Ranger Station is approximately 0.1 miles on the north side of Ingram Street.

Address: 5140 E. Ingram St., Mesa, Arizona 85205
Phone: (480) 610-3300
Fax: (480) 610-3346
Hours: Mon.-Fri. (8:00-4:30) closed 12-12:30 p.m. daily

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Payson Ranger District

The Payson Ranger District is located on all four side of the town of Payson , and continues north to the Mogollon Rim. It consists of approximately 450,000 acres (approximately 182,000 hectares) of Chaparral, Pinyon-Juniper, and Ponderosa Pine types of vegetation. The Verde River and several trout streams pass through this district.

The Payson Ranger Station is located on Highway 260 on the eastern fringe of the town of Payson.

Address: 1009 E. Highway 260, Payson, Arizona 85541
Phone: (928) 474-7900
Fax: (928) 474-7966
Hours: Mon.-Fri. (8:00-4:30) closed 12:30-1:30 p.m. daily
Passes and Permits are not sold after 4:00 pm.

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Tonto Basin Ranger District

The Tonto Basin Ranger District is located northwest of Globe and south of Payson. The district consists of approximately 530,000 acres (approximately 210,000 hectares) of Desert, Semi-Desert Grassland, Chaparral types of vegetation, as well as a few scattered areas of Ponderosa Pine. Roosevelt Lake (the largest lake totally within Arizona) and Apache Lake are within this district.

The Tonto Basin Ranger Station is at the visitor center just north of Highway 188, about 36 miles northwest of the town of Globe.

Address: 28079 N. Az Highway 188, Roosevelt, Arizona 85545
Phone: (602) 225-5395
Fax: (928) 467-3239
Hours: Mon.-Fri. (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) closed 12:00-12:45 Daily

*Due to SRP maintenance, TBRD will be closed on November 08th, 2022.