September 20th, 2019
Families can enjoy fee free day at Tonto National Forest sites
PHOENIX — The Tonto National Forest invites the public to connect with nature and learn more about public lands on Saturday, September 28, in honor of National Public Lands Day.
Tonto staff are partnering with multiple groups to show people how to enjoy their public lands. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phon D Sutton Recreation Area on the Lower Salt River, about 16 miles northeast of Mesa.
In conjunction with National Public Lands Day, the Tonto National Forest will waive fees at several day-use recreation sites on Saturday, September 28.
Attendees can participate in several activities:
· REI Co-op will provide its mountain bike demo fleet and let you ride the trail at no charge
· Kayak a portion of the Salt River with REI’s Outdoor Programs team
· Join No Snow Paddleboard Shop staff and try out a stand-up paddleboard
· Help plant a new butterfly way station with Friends of Tonto and the Southwest Monarch Study organizations
· Check out off highway vehicle trails and opportunities with Tonto Recreation Alliance
In addition, people can:
· Enjoy games and take pictures with Smokey Bear
· Meet Forest Service personnel and Wildland Fire crews
· Meet and talk to volunteer and special interest groups and see the work they do on the Tonto National Forest
· Visit the Natural Restorations tent and meet the dedicated team of veterans and volunteers. If interested, people can sign up for the September 29 clean up
· Interact with representatives from Salt River Power Projects (SRP) to learn about conservation
· Get involved with Arizona Game and Fish invasive species removal or wildlife studies
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort in support of public lands. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers come together on the fourth Saturday in September to assist with various projects designed to restore and enhance public parks, forests, waterways and more. From trail maintenance to tree planting—volunteers of all ages and abilities roll up their sleeves and work side-by-side to care for public lands. The day also features a variety of hikes, bike rides, community festivals, paddling excursions, and other fun outdoor activities—all set on the backdrop of the country’s public lands and waterways. For more information, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/.
The Tonto’s fee-free program is held in conjunction with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Act. It involves waiving fees at day-use sites, including picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto National Forest. Note that fees charged by concessionaires at facilities they operate, as well as fees for overnight camping at Forest Service-developed campgrounds, will not be waived.
Forest officials hope this fee-free day allows people to enjoy the nearly 3 million acres of Tonto National Forest’s land held in trust for their enjoyment and use. A Tonto Pass is usually required at the above sites, and can be purchased at over 200 vendor locations or local Forest Service offices. Tonto Daily Pass vendor locations are available at the Tonto National Forest website, and can also be purchased at fee machines located across the Forest. For information regarding passes, call the Tonto National Forest at 602-225-5200 during business hours.
Tonto National Forest Recreation Sites participating in fee-free days:
Apache Lake - Burnt Corral Picnic Site & Boating
Apache Lake - Lower Burnt Corral Shoreline
Apache Lake - Three Mile Wash Shoreline
Apache Lake – Upper Burnt Corral Shoreline
Bartlett Lake - Rattlesnake
Bartlett Lake - Jojoba
Bartlett Lake - Yellow Cliffs
Bartlett Lake - Bartlett Flat Shoreline
Bartlett Lake - SB Cove Shoreline
Canyon Lake - Acacia
Canyon Lake - Boulder
Canyon Lake - Palo Verde
Canyon Lake - Laguna Picnic Site & Boating
Canyon Lake - Palo Verde Picnic Site & Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Grapevine Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Schoolhouse Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Windy Hill Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Bermuda Flat Shoreline
Roosevelt Lake – Bachelors Cove Shoreline
Roosevelt Lake – Cholla Bay Shoreline
Saguaro Lake - Saguaro Del Norte Boating
Saguaro Lake - Butcher Jones
Saguaro Lake - Saguaro Del Norte
Salt River - Blue Point
Salt River - Coon Bluff
Salt River – Goldfield
Salt River - Granite Reef
Salt River – Pebble Beach
Salt River - Phon D. Sutton
Salt River - Water Users
Verde River - Box Bar Shoreline
Verde River – Needle Rock back...
PHOENIX — The Tonto National Forest invites the public to connect with nature and learn more about public lands on Saturday, September 28, in honor of National Public Lands Day.
Tonto staff are partnering with multiple groups to show people how to enjoy their public lands. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phon D Sutton Recreation Area on the Lower Salt River, about 16 miles northeast of Mesa.
In conjunction with National Public Lands Day, the Tonto National Forest will waive fees at several day-use recreation sites on Saturday, September 28.
Attendees can participate in several activities:
· REI Co-op will provide its mountain bike demo fleet and let you ride the trail at no charge
· Kayak a portion of the Salt River with REI’s Outdoor Programs team
· Join No Snow Paddleboard Shop staff and try out a stand-up paddleboard
· Help plant a new butterfly way station with Friends of Tonto and the Southwest Monarch Study organizations
· Check out off highway vehicle trails and opportunities with Tonto Recreation Alliance
In addition, people can:
· Enjoy games and take pictures with Smokey Bear
· Meet Forest Service personnel and Wildland Fire crews
· Meet and talk to volunteer and special interest groups and see the work they do on the Tonto National Forest
· Visit the Natural Restorations tent and meet the dedicated team of veterans and volunteers. If interested, people can sign up for the September 29 clean up
· Interact with representatives from Salt River Power Projects (SRP) to learn about conservation
· Get involved with Arizona Game and Fish invasive species removal or wildlife studies
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort in support of public lands. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers come together on the fourth Saturday in September to assist with various projects designed to restore and enhance public parks, forests, waterways and more. From trail maintenance to tree planting—volunteers of all ages and abilities roll up their sleeves and work side-by-side to care for public lands. The day also features a variety of hikes, bike rides, community festivals, paddling excursions, and other fun outdoor activities—all set on the backdrop of the country’s public lands and waterways. For more information, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/.
The Tonto’s fee-free program is held in conjunction with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Act. It involves waiving fees at day-use sites, including picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto National Forest. Note that fees charged by concessionaires at facilities they operate, as well as fees for overnight camping at Forest Service-developed campgrounds, will not be waived.
Forest officials hope this fee-free day allows people to enjoy the nearly 3 million acres of Tonto National Forest’s land held in trust for their enjoyment and use. A Tonto Pass is usually required at the above sites, and can be purchased at over 200 vendor locations or local Forest Service offices. Tonto Daily Pass vendor locations are available at the Tonto National Forest website, and can also be purchased at fee machines located across the Forest. For information regarding passes, call the Tonto National Forest at 602-225-5200 during business hours.
Tonto National Forest Recreation Sites participating in fee-free days:
Apache Lake - Burnt Corral Picnic Site & Boating
Apache Lake - Lower Burnt Corral Shoreline
Apache Lake - Three Mile Wash Shoreline
Apache Lake – Upper Burnt Corral Shoreline
Bartlett Lake - Rattlesnake
Bartlett Lake - Jojoba
Bartlett Lake - Yellow Cliffs
Bartlett Lake - Bartlett Flat Shoreline
Bartlett Lake - SB Cove Shoreline
Canyon Lake - Acacia
Canyon Lake - Boulder
Canyon Lake - Palo Verde
Canyon Lake - Laguna Picnic Site & Boating
Canyon Lake - Palo Verde Picnic Site & Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Grapevine Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Schoolhouse Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Windy Hill Boating
Roosevelt Lake - Bermuda Flat Shoreline
Roosevelt Lake – Bachelors Cove Shoreline
Roosevelt Lake – Cholla Bay Shoreline
Saguaro Lake - Saguaro Del Norte Boating
Saguaro Lake - Butcher Jones
Saguaro Lake - Saguaro Del Norte
Salt River - Blue Point
Salt River - Coon Bluff
Salt River – Goldfield
Salt River - Granite Reef
Salt River – Pebble Beach
Salt River - Phon D. Sutton
Salt River - Water Users
Verde River - Box Bar Shoreline
Verde River – Needle Rock back...
