Tonto National Forest - Welcome!

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.

Updates from the Tonto National Forest

• Horton Fire

  

  For the most up-to-date information on the Horton Fire near Payson, please visit InciWeb.

  InciWebClosure Order

• Confronting the Wildfire Crisis

  

  The Tonto National Forest is working to implement the USDA Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy, a 10-year plan to address the places where wildfire poses the most immediate threats to communities.

  Wildfire Crisis on the Tonto

• Preserving an Indigenous food source

  

  Restoration work on the Tonto National Forest protects Arizona’s Emory Oak groves through the Emory Oak Collaborative Tribal Restoration Initiative.

  Emory Oak Restoration

• Our Forest Bill is Due

  

  Fire isn’t always the enemy – sometimes it’s the answer. With the right preparation and conditions, wildfires sparked by lightning can be managed the way nature intended making communities safer.

  Feature Story

Upcoming Hiring Event

• Applications Open February 3 for Temporary Fire & Fire-Support Jobs

  

  Temporary position applications will open on February 3. Assignments can last six months to a year, and start dates range from June to October 2025. Duty stations are located across Arizona and New Mexico.

  View Temporary Positions

Plan Your Trip

• 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.

  Find Adventure

• 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.

  Find your Spot

• Find Your Way

  

  Interactive, downloadable and print maps of National Forests and National Grasslands in Arizona and New Mexico.

  Maps and Guides

• 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!

  Passes & Permits

Discover More about the Tonto National Forest

The Tonto National Forest manages important habitats for a variety of wildlife, fish and rare plants.

• 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.

  Land Management