Exploring the Tonto National Forest on a Budget

If you're looking to get away on an outdoor adventure in Arizona, Tonto National Forest is a great choice to consider. Roughly 5.8 million visitors a year come to enjoy this natural treasure with a remarkable number of opportunities for recreation.

Established in 1905, Tonto National Forest is made up of nearly 3 million beautiful acres ranging from the mountains to the desert.

Watershed protection is one of the top reasons for the creation of Tonto National Forest, and it's obvious. Opportunities for water recreation seem nearly unlimited with the Bartlett and Horseshoe Reservoirs as well as a series of lakes created by dams in the Salt River – whether it's boating, swimming, tubing, or water skiing, the park's cool waters offer as great relief from the heat.

If hiking, biking, or camping is more to your liking, you're in luck. You can pursue whatever you want and choose whether you do it up in the ponderosa pine covered mountains of the Mongollon Rim or down among the Saguaro cactii of the Sonoran Desert.

It's important to remember that Tonto National Forest is part of the National Forest System, and therefore is subject to use fees – this means you need to purchase a pass if you're going to spend time in the forest and engage in the variety of activities it has to offer. There are both day passes and watercraft use passes, with discounts available for seniors. The money you spend on your passes go to help maintain and improve the services and facilities that make Tonto National Forest such a delightful place to visit. If you plan to visit frequently, you can save money buying an annual pass.

If you're planning a trip, you should consider purchasing your passes in advance. Vacations are busy enough that you'll appreciate the convenience and security of being prepared and fully equipped ahead of time. While passes can be bought online and printed out in advance but the $1.95 convenience fee per pass can add up quickly if you're buying multiple passes. An economical alternative is to buy a few passes through a site like myscenicdrives.com. If you would prefer to wait and buy one in person, you can find a list of retail outlets on the forest's official website. Be forewarned, though, some of the stores are out of the way and do not carry all the passes.

Tonto National Forest has been a source of recreation and inspiration to visitors for over 100 years. If you haven't been yet, you owe it to yourself to check out. If you have been, you know there's plenty left to see and do.