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 spe ...

in the Superstition Mountains, 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 ...

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 Ariz ...

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 dwellings 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. Disting ...

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

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

Tonto National Monument, Upper Ruin Tonto is a fictional character; he is the Native American (either Comanche or Potawatomi) companion of the Lone Ranger, a popular American Western character created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker. Tonto has appeared in radio and tele ...

are archeological sites that were NRHP-listed in 1989.

Natural history

The National Monument is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest, which includes low plains, desert

scrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It ...

, 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 syst ...

is known for its characteristic saguaro 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 whitis ...

, sotol, and agave;

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

and ocotillo; palo verde and mesquite 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 Famil ...

, 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 , photo = FourpeaksDSC 2779.JPG , photo_caption = View of Four Peaks with some snow , elevation_ft = 7,659 , elevation_ref = , prominence_ft = 3297 , prominence_ref= , listing = Arizona county high point , location = Gila /&thi ...

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

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