Welcome to the Arizona Trail

The Arizona Trail Association does more than just maintain the 800-mile Arizona Trail. We also install gates and interpretive signs, improve water sources, and construct new trail segments to remove the AZT from roads. We also build community, foster stewardship, and provide life-changing opportunities for people of all ages. This season, your donation supports vital programs like AZT VETS, which helps military veterans heal through outdoor experiences, and Seeds of Stewardship, which connects youth to nature through hands-on environmental education. Our Gear Girls program empowers...

Please join us at the Arizona State Capitol on Thursday, March 27 at 1 pm for a non-partisan Rally for Public Lands! This is an opportunity to come together in celebration of the lands, waters, trails, wildlife and outdoor recreation activities that make the Grand Canyon State so special. Currently, there are many threats at the state and federal levels to our cherished public lands, so we will be reminding members of the Arizona State Legislature that the majority of...

Backpacker (March 11, 2025) by Nathan Pipenberg With the busy summer season around the corner, there’s one prevailing sentiment among those who look after the nation’s trails: uncertainty. After news of mass firings and funding cuts at federal agencies like the National Park Service, many hikers and other outdoors recreationists held out hope that nonprofits, conservation corps, and volunteers would be able to pick up the slack. Instead leaders at trail organizations say they are canceling projects, disbanding trail crews,...

The Trek (March 10, 2025) by Caitlin Hardee It’s every international thru-hiker’s worst nightmare: training for a long hike, saving enough money for the trip, and clearing your calendar, only to be stopped at the border and turned back before ever setting foot on US soil — let alone the trail. Seasoned German thru-hiker and Trek blogger Annika “Ravenclaw” Ananias says that nightmare came true for her — and escalated to a horrifying degree when she attempted to enter the US to...

Thank you to everyone who has reached out ask how recent announcements from the White House have impacted the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) and Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT). While there’s still a lot of uncertainty, here’s current information on what’s happening… Federal Funding The ATA currently receives 37% of our operating budget from the US Forest Service (USFS). In 2024, that was $555,000! This money is delivered through a Challenge Cost Share Agreement – the ATA spends money on...

The Arizona Trail Association's Annual Report is now available, complete with highlights from 2024. Please take a moment to celebrate our collective accomplishments within all of our programs and operations, including: Trail Operations Volunteer Program Veterans Program Seeds of Stewardship Financial Report 2025 Priorities Business Partners & Supporters and more! You can read it online here. If you would like a printed copy of the 12-page report, just send an email to ata@aztrail.org and we'll send one your way.

Help preserve the Arizona National Scenic Trail by making a donation to the Arizona Trail Association! To show our appreciation, one-time donations of $150 or more will receive a limited-edition Arizona Trail mug (while supplies last). For 2024, the design features a scene from the Huachuca Mountains (Passage 1). This unique biome is where grasslands meet oak woodland, and eventually transition to pine and aspen forest. The views into Sonora, Mexico are breathtaking, and much of the landscape remains relatively unchanged over...

On September 26-29, 2024, the Arizona Trail Veterans Engagement and Trail Stewardship (VETS) program volunteered to do trail work on Passage 32 of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The event focused on building new connections within the veteran community while giving back to a the cross-state trail. Participants worked together to improve the trail from Little Elden to Weatherford Trailhead over the weekend. The Arizona Trail Association VETS Program aims to create meaningful opportunities for military veterans both on and...

A recent analysis of wildfire impacts to the Arizona National Scenic Trail revealed a total of 93 miles of trail were closed in 2024, and 36 miles of trail were physically scorched. The ATA is in the process of conducting post-burn conditions assessments to determine safety and immediate stabilization needs. The good news is that 2024 was a moderate wildfire year in Arizona without any significant conflagrations. Currently, all of the Arizona Trail is open within the burn scars detailed...

We are delighted to share the most recent Arizona Trail Finisher Report! This comprehensive report displays results from the Arizona Trail Association’s Completion Survey between February 12, 2019 and July 4, 2024. During this time, the survey received 1,271 unique entries. This report covers five full years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, as well as the spring season of 2024. The survey asks over 30 questions including gender, annual income, ratings on trail conditions, favorite Gateway Communities, positive and...

Grand Canyon National Park announced in July that Bright Angel Campground will be closed from November 4, 2024 - May 15, 2025 to support replacement of the TransCanyon Pipeline. This will impact Arizona Trail thru-hikers during the Spring 2025 season. Since dispersed camping is not permitted in this area and inner canyon corridor trails are patrolled daily, thru-hikers should attempt to obtain an overnight camping permit for Cottonwood Campground (halfway between Bright Angel Campground and the North Rim) or hike...

Over the past year, the Arizona Trail Association has worked with 4th through 8th grade students at STAR School (Service to All Relations) -- which serves Native American students from Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation -- through our Seeds of Stewardship program. As a finale for our school year with the 4th and 5th graders at STAR, we organized three days of camping, stewardship, and cultural experiences at Grand Canyon National Park and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints...

Our partners at Coronado National Memorial have observed an increase in immigrant foot traffic activity over the past few weeks. Visitors to Coronado National Memorial have reported seeing people in camouflage near the border and on the Arizona Trail, although no direct contact between the groups has occurred. If you're planning a hike along Passage 1 this season, especially to Border Monument 102 at the southern terminus of the AZT, please review the Safety Alert on the National Park Service...

Please check out our 2023 Annual Report, which includes highlights from all of our programs and operations. Within these 16 pages you'll find stories, photos and accomplishments from: Trail Operations Volunteer Program AZT VETS Youth Outreach Programs Goals for 2024 Business Partners and so much more Read the Annual Report online here, or download it and enjoy it at your leisure. Printed copies are available, too. Just email ata@aztrail.org to request one (include your mailing address).

Show your love for the AZT by wearing these Wooleater® socks from DeFeet, which feature a plum topographic line print of the Colossal Cave Mountain Park area (Arizona Trail Passage 8). These high-top socks are made for hikers, mountain bikers, runners, backpackers, equestrians, and anyone who prefers Merino wool to other materials. Wool stays cool in heat, warm in cold, and is among the most non-odorous textiles on Earth. These socks are comfortable, sport the traditional Arizona Trail logo, and...

The Coconino National Forest has expanded the boundaries of the existing year-round camping and campfire ban located adjacent to the City of Flagstaff in an attempt to lower the hazard from human-caused wildfires. A full map of the expanded camping and campfire ban, which went into effect May 1, 2023, is available on the Coconino National Forest’s website. This information is also on all Arizona Trail navigational resources, including the FarOut app, topo maps, passage maps, website, and other important resources so AZT users know where they can camp outside...

On August 8, members of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition and leaders from conservation, sportsmen, recreation, faith and outdoor organizations joined President Biden as he used his authorities under the Antiquities Act to protect 917,618 acres adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park as Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. This includes nearly 40 miles of the Arizona National Scenic Trail along Passages 36 (Coconino Rim) and 37 (Grand Canyon - South Rim). The...

The 2023 Arizona budget includes a historic $500,000 investment in the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The bipartisan budget shows the dedication of elected officials to support outdoor recreation and conservation efforts.  Senator David Gowan (LD-19) sponsored the original appropriation bill. “The Arizona Trail is a gem within our state and creates an incredible opportunity for people of all shapes, sizes, abilities and walks of life to explore the diverse, natural beauty of our lands. The trail also contributes to the...

Beginning Thursday, June 29th Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictions will be in effect across the entirety of the Coconino National Forest and the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Portions of the Tonto National Forest have been under Stage 1 restrictions since June 6, including the Mazatzal, Four Peaks and Superstition Mountain ranges. For information on all Arizona state and federal fire restrictions, including an interactive map, visit wildlandfire.az.gov/fire-restrictions. Additional information about the stages of fire restrictions, ...

After 18 months of hard work, our partners at the Coronado National Forest have released the first comprehensive trail plan for the Santa Catalina Ranger District, which includes the northern slope of the Rincon Mountains, Mount Lemmon, Summerhaven and Oracle Ridge.  According to Adam Milnor, Recreation, Heritage and Lands Staff Officer for the Forest, the plan includes projects to "diversify trail opportunities, improve sustainability, create new trail connections and boost trailhead access" on the district. A number of the proposed...