Tonto National Monument

[photoman]

The National Monument is on the far East edge of the Superstition Mountains across from Roosevelt Lake. The roads are all paved (unless you come via the Apache Trail) and the park offers two ruins to view. The lower can be scene at anytime while the Upper requires a reservation and to be guided by a ranger. I had met a volunteer while shooting Besh Ba Gowah and with his help we were able to organize a photo tour of the Upper Ruin this past Saturday. This ensured we would be the only ones in the ruin starting at 1pm and until the park closed. The hike is a moderate 600 ft elevation gain over 1.5 miles.

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[Overland Hadley]

Tonto NM is a nice little place. When I was there the wildflowers were bordering on unbelievable. I really enjoyed the ruins, I was really interested in the hand marks the builders had left. Not sure why the Tonto ruins touched me this way when other ruins had not. But I think the coolest part of being there was seeing my first Gila Monster, those are great little animals. Oddest part of being there was running into my plumber, small world.

 

[teotwaki]

I liked the ruins as well and over by the dam the cool highway suspension bridge was eyecatching.

 

[Tucson T4R]

I really like shots 3 and 4. Nice job. Looks like a great place to play photog. :victory:

 

[Abel Villesca]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing the great pics!

 

[photoman]

I liked the ruins as well and over by the dam the cool highway suspension bridge was eyecatching.

Yes- the Roosevelt Dam Bridge is quite nice. I was early to this meetup so I drove over to the dam and saw a couple Bald Eagles fishing in the dam spillway. Unfortunately they were too far away to get any shots of them.

 

[photoman]

I really like shots 3 and 4. Nice job. Looks like a great place to play photog. :victory:

It was a good time. You'll have to join us on the next outing.

 

[photoman]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing the great pics!

You are very welcome. Glad you like them.

 

[Tucson T4R]

It was a good time. You'll have to join us on the next outing.

I'll be looking for the next opportunity. :sombrero:

 

[Lichen]

Here's an old scanned slide of the bridge under construction.