We have so many adventures planned for 2012! To kick off the new year, we drove up near Payson, Arizona to cross off another place on our To Do list, Tonto Natural Bridge (which is situated in a state park).

Who would have known that the largest natural limestone bridge in the world is right here in our "playground"! It was founded in about 1877 by a Scotsman who was hiding from an Apache tribe. The uh, hostile environment apparently didn't stop him from emigrating his family to live there. They lived there until about 1948.

Here is their lodge, which is now a gift store / ranger station.

There are several out-of-use farming equipment on the property.

View of the bridge from above (at view point 4).

Off the trail leading to the bridge (we had to climb a couple large rocks to get to this view).

There is a trail that allows you to go all the way through...  but when I (and the rangers) say "trail"....  let's just say you have to be pretty agile to get through!  Little children, those with old and creaky joints, klutzy people or those of you who just happen to be wearing improper shoes (I know some of you wear high heels hiking...) --be wary of going through!

You will get a little wet!  We had consistent drops of water falling on us as we went through the bridge.

The water and slippery rocks make for slow going.

This pool has a deep drop off that can be seen when looking down into the pool from above.

See what I meant by "trail"?  Slipping off this slippery rock would leave you splashing in the deep pool (after you hit your head on the way down).

Out on the other side of the bridge.

Short "caves".

The rest of the trail wasn't really a trail either.  It's more like... 1 mile of hopping, climbing over rocks and guessing which path leads to the least resistance / isn't a dead end.

Tadpoles! (Or fishies?)