One Of America's Prettiest 'Urban Forests' Is An Arizona Gem Of Canyons, Beaches, And Mountains

Crowds of long-armed saguaro cactus. Rock-strewn hillsides the color of parchment. Mountains rising boldly into a flawless blue sky. Tonto National Forest isn't what most people imagine when they hear the word "forest," yet this 2.9 million-acre public park is one of the largest forests in the United States. In place of leafy oak and maple trees, this vast slice of Arizona is dominated by desert flora, such as the jojoba, the ocotillo, and the velvet mesquite, among hundreds of other species. For sheer beauty, this Southwestern landscape conjures a powerful spell.

Tonto can also feel infinitely huge and devoid of humanity, with silent canyons, roiling rivers, and even herds of wild horses. Yet, so much of the park is within easy driving distance of Phoenix, the sprawling capital of Arizona that is home to 1.6 million people. A suburb like Apache Junction is packed with stores, restaurants, and motels, including the well-trafficked Cowboy town of Goldfield, which attracts thousands of visitors every week; yet all of this is within view of the Superstition Wilderness Area, an imposing wall of jagged mountains. Indeed, exploring outdoor spaces is one of the best things locals want you to do while visiting Phoenix.

Once you drive away from Maricopa County, all those shopping malls and tract homes quickly vanish behind you, and explorers may feel shy in the face of Tonto's arid backcountry. This forest contains scores of trails, from quick day hikes along level paths to Siphon Draw, a steep, demanding trek that is definitely not for amateurs.

How do you navigate such a large, primal space? Book one of the many tours offered through Viator. Local guides know this rugged region well, and they can cater to a wide range of interests, from birding to hiking to motorsports. Many Arizonans dream of rafting the Lower Salt River, a calm waterway whose banks are busy with wildlife, so why not live those dreams? Alternatively, visit the hard-to-reach town of Chrysotile, a historic mining community near Ash Creek Canyon. Or, you can arrange a Jeep or UTV tour along Tonto's backroads, and roll effortlessly over rutted terrain and dusty slopes in an open-air sand buggy with full suspension.

Most of these excursions are day trips; tour operators will pick you up in the Greater Phoenix area and return you to your hotel (and at least the original meeting point) by evening. This way, you can sample the untamed hinterlands of Tonto National Forest, but also shower off all that dust, and sleep soundly in a regular bed. There's a lot to see and do in Phoenix and its many conurbations — Tempe, Scottsdale, and Mesa, plus many more — and you could spend whole days hiking urban trails or visiting its many cultural institutions. Even better, reasonable prices for accommodations and services have made Phoenix a popular spot for budget travelers.