Mogollon Rim and Tonto Natural Bridge

This was my last full day in AZ. We did not stay long at the Mogollon Rim (pronounced "Muggy-own" according to the city of Payson's website and "Moogy-on" by my Dad), which is part of the Colorado Plateau and divides AZ into its cooler northern and scorching southern portions. We saw the small dam and spillway, took in the view at a couple of overlooks, and headed to Tonto Natural Bridge.

The Tonto Natural Bridge is a cave-like structure 183 feet high and creating a 400 foot long tunnel that is 150 feet wide at its widest point according to this pamphlet I'm reading. Pine Creek runs under the bridge. We had to climb many precariously smooth boulders, steep areas, and use narrow footholds to pass through and then traverse the creek's edge past the bridge to a waterfall.

Entering the tunnel

Looking back at some mossy rocks and boulders from the tunnel's edge

Inside the tunnel

Looking through the tunnel from the other side

A trickling waterfall. I was made to climb a very steep dirt covered area to reach it by a certain mountain goat that shall remain nameless.

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The Heian Book Report

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