Tonto National Monument

Tonto National Monument is in the Superstition Mountains, on the northeastern edge of the Sonoran Desert. Well-preserved cliff dwellings are the main attraction, created by the Salado culture during the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries. The people farmed in the Salt River Valley, and supplemented their diet by hunting and gathering native plants. The Salado were fine craftspeople, producing some of the most beautiful pottery and baskets ever found in the Southwest. They also created intricate sandstone carvings, which can still be seen today at Tonto National Monument.