Free Day On Tonto NF This Sunday

In honor of National Public Lands Day, the Tonto National Forest is offering a free day on Sun., Oct. 1st, to users of its developed recreation sites throughout the forest. (The only sites exempt from this free day offer are concessionaire-operated recreation sites located on the Payson Ranger District).

The day’s celebration is a kick-off event for the implementation of the new Tonto Pass Program which will begin on Oct. 2nd. The new Tonto Pass Program is a daily-use recreation pass program replacing automated fee collection machines on the forest.

The forest is one of the 5 most-heavily visited forests in the National Forest System with approx., 5.5 million visitors annually. The income from the recreation fee program is used for operation & maintenance of developed recreation sites including campgrounds, boat ramps & other day-use facilities.

Passes went on sale Sept. 25th.

The Tonto Pass Program provides opportunities to purchase daily passes & watercraft stickers near visitors’ homes at a time convenient to them - or at a variety of locations on the way to their forest destination. Retail vendors are working in partnership with the forest, providing over 80 outlets where the passes & stickers can be purchased. Many outlets are in the Phoenix metropolitan area & nearby forest locations, with others in Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Casa Grande, Globe & Payson. Passes can be purchased at outlets in the Phoenix metropolitan area & nearby forest locations, with other outlets in Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Casa Grande, Globe & Payson. Current vendors include Arco AM/PM, Bartlett Lake Marina, Big 5 Sporting Goods (21 of 25 AZ locations), Boston’s Lake House Grill, Butcher Hook Store, Canyon Lake Marina, Carefree Service Station (Shell), Circle K Stores (38 of 400+ AZ locations), HWY 188 Tackle & Supply, Killmer's Kountry Store, Orange Food Store #8, Road Weenie Vendor, The Tackle Box, & Tortilla Flat - as well as the Tonto NF Supervisor’s Office & the 6 Tonto NF ranger district offices.