Tonto National Monument is a

National Monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a spec ...

in the

Superstition Mountains The Superstition Mountains ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for ...

, in

Gila County Gila County ( ) is in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,272. The county seat is Globe. Gila County comprises the Payson, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area. Gila County contains p ...

of central

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

. The area lies on the northeastern edge of the

Sonoran Desert The Sonoran Desert ( es, Desierto de Sonora) is a desert in North America and ecoregion that covers the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, as well as part of the southwestern United States (in Arizona ...

ecoregion, an arid

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

with annual rainfall of about 16 inches (400 mm).Roosevelt 1 WNW, Arizona – Climate Summary
Western Regional Climate Center. The Salt River runs through this area, providing a rare, year-round source of water.

Cliff dwellings

Well-preserved

cliff dwelling In archaeology, cliff dwellings are dwellings formed by using niches or caves in high cliffs, and sometimes with excavation or additions in the way of masonry. Two special types of cliff dwelling are distinguished by archaeologists: the cliff ...

s were occupied by the

Salado culture Salado culture, or Salado Horizon, Todd Bostwick of Pueblo Grande Museum, "Salado Summary". was a human culture in the upper Salt River () of the Tonto Basin in southeastern Arizona from approximately 1150 CE through the 15th century. Distingu ...

during the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries. The people farmed in the

Salt River Valley The Salt River Valley is an extensive valley on the Salt River in central Arizona, which contains the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Although this geographic term still identifies the area, the name "Valley of the Sun" popularly replaced the usage ...

, and supplemented their diet by hunting and gathering native plants. The Salado were fine craftspeople, producing some of the most flamboyant polychrome pottery and intricately woven textiles to be found in the Southwest. Some of the artifacts excavated nearby are on display in the

visitor center A visitor center or centre (see American and British English spelling differences), visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to visitors. Types of visitor center A visit ...

museum. The Tonto National Monument Archeological District was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on October 15, 1966. Tonto National Monument, Lower Ruin and Tonto National Monument, Upper Ruin are

archeological sites An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and ...

that were NRHP-listed in 1989.

Natural history

The National Monument is surrounded by the

Tonto National Forest The Tonto National Forest, encompassing , is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the ninth largest national forest in the United States. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet (427 m) in ...

, which includes low plains, desert

scrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominance (ecology), dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, Herbaceous plant, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or ...

, and alpine pine forests. The Upper Sonoran

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...

is known for its characteristic

saguaro The saguaro (, ) (''Carnegiea gigantea'') is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus ''Carnegiea'' that can grow to be over tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains a ...

cacti. Other common plants include: cholla, prickly pear, hedgehog, and barrel cactus (flowering from April to June);

yucca ''Yucca'' is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flo ...

, sotol, and

agave ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known for ...

;

creosote bush ''Larrea tridentata'', called creosote bush and greasewood as a plant, chaparral as a medicinal herb, and ''gobernadora'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "governess") in Mexico, due to its ability to secure more water by inhibiting the growth of n ...

and

ocotillo ''Fouquieria splendens'' (commonly known as ocotillo (), but also referred to as buggywhip, coachwhip, candlewood, slimwood, desert coral, Jacob's staff, Jacob cactus, and vine cactus) is a plant indigenous to the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan ...

; palo verde and

mesquite Mesquite is a common name for several plants in the genus ''Prosopis'', which contains over 40 species of small leguminous trees. They are native to dry areas in the Americas. They have extremely long roots to seek water from very far under grou ...

trees; an amazing variety of colorful wild flowers in good years (February to March); and a lush riparian area which supports large Arizona Walnut,

Arizona Sycamore ''Platanus wrightii'', the Arizona sycamore, is a sycamore tree native to Arizona and New Mexico with its range extending south into the Mexican states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa.Laferriere, J.E. Platanaceae, "Sycamore or Plane Tree Fam ...

, and hackberry trees. It also serves as a home for native animals such as whitetail and mule deer, mountain lion, bobcat, three rattlesnake species and many more.

Wilderness areas

The area around Tonto National Monument also includes several designated

National Wilderness Area The National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) of the United States protects federally managed wilderness areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. Activity on formally designated wilderness areas is coordinated by the Na ...

s, including

Four Peaks Four Peaks ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:khoba) is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix. Part of the Mazatzal Mountains, it is located in the Four Peaks Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest, east-northeast of Phoenix. In ...

Superstition A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs and ...

, and

Salome Wilderness The Salome Wilderness of Tonto National Forest is a protected area in the rim country of the southwestern US. The Salome Wilderness lies within the Sierra Ancha mountain range in Gila County, Arizona. Ecology Prominent perennial streams within t ...

Areas.

Photo gallery

File:TontoNatlMnmt L7 15jun00.jpg, Landsat 7 image of Tonto National Monument (right center), and the surrounding area File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail2.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, Room detail File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail4.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, room detail File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail3.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, room detail File:Tonto-National-Monument-room-detail.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, Room detail File:Tonto-National-Monument,-hand-prints.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, hand prints on wall File:Tonto-National-Monument-looking-west2.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, looking west File:Tonto-National-Monument-looking-west.jpg, Tonto National Monument, AZ, looking along west face File:Tonto-National-Monument,-facing-east.jpg, Tonto National Monument, looking east

Notes

References

External links

Apache Trail website: Ancient Cliff Dwellings Info

NPS: official Tonto National Monument website

''Tonto National Monument: Saving a National Treasure''

American Southwest, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary

Tonto National Monument: a traveller's diary
{{authority control Archaeological sites in Arizona National Park Service National Monuments in Arizona Cliff dwellings Museums in Gila County, Arizona Native American museums in Arizona Protected areas of Gila County, Arizona Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona Former populated places in Gila County, Arizona Protected areas established in 1907 1907 establishments in Arizona Territory Superstition Mountains Tonto National Forest National Register of Historic Places in Gila County, Arizona Populated places on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona Ancient Puebloan archaeological sites in Arizona