HUMOR

Our Newest Book Can Be Yours Today

at a special introductory price of $30 a $9.95 savings exclusively for our readers* THE MOUNTAINS KNOW ARIZONA and you will too when you read this fascinating new book from Arizona Highways. Photographer Michael Collier and author Rose Houk traveled more than 30,000 miles in 10 different mountain ranges in Arizona. These two artists followed in the footsteps of pioneers, pathfinders and peacemakers to bring you this glorious book.

Visit arizonahighways.com to learn more about this book and all our hardcover scenic adventure books.

destination See TONTO NATURAL BRIDGE, the Largest of Its Kind in the World, From High Perches or the Canyon Below

A SLENDER WATERFALL PLUNGES NEARLY 200 feet from the massive rock bridge, splashing into the bottom of the canyon. There, sun-kissed droplets splatter onto boulders and decorate maidenhair ferns with liquid jewels. Columbines bloom sunny yellow on the hillsides, and dripping springs nourish velvety moss. If this sounds like a tropical paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, guess again. The lush oasis awaits below the largest travertine bridge in the world-and it's much closer to Phoenix than to Honolulu. In a small valley about 100 miles northeast of Phoenix-and just minutes from the fastfood outlets of Payson-Tonto Natural Bridge arches over seasonal Pine Creek, perennial springs and beautifully rugged terrain accessed by staircase trails. The bridge serves as the centerpiece of the 160-acre Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, which also boasts a museum and a gift shop in a three-story historic lodge that does double duty as a visitors center. Across a grassy picnic area near the lodge, visitors find the first of the hike trailheads. "All four trails below the bridge are steep and strenuous," said John Boeck, the park manager. Nevertheless, he added, he's seen