Thanks to Federal Funding Cuts, Hiking Organizations Say Trails Will Suffer This Summer

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 […]

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Embark on an epic adventure: Conquer all 11 National Scenic Trails now

USA Today (March 11, 2025) by Dave Stamboulis Once the snow melts and the spring blooms start, it’s the perfect time to get out on the trails. The U.S. boasts a wealth of spectacular natural beauty and protected national parks and wilderness areas, including the National Scenic Trails. Part of the National Trails System, which comprises almost 25,000 miles, they link […]

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Thanks to Federal Funding Cuts, Hiking Organizations Say Trails Will Suffer This Summer

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 […]

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Arizona Trail Thru-Hiker Has Been Detained, Deported, and Banned From the US Without a Hearing

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 […]

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Arizona national parks & forests already feeling strain from federal worker firings

Tucson Sentinel (Mar 9, 2025) by Alysa Horton Arizona national parks and forests are already feeling a strain on resources after President Donald Trump’s executive order for a federal hiring freeze and extensive firings. Grand Canyon National Park, one of the state’s 22 national park sites, reported wait times being twice as long as usual just a week after the National […]

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Arizona’s national parks already feeling strain from mass firings

Phoenix New Times (March 6, 2025) by Alysa Horton Arizona national parks and forests are already feeling a strain on resources after President Donald Trump’s executive order for a federal hiring freeze and extensive firings. Grand Canyon National Park, one of the state’s 22 national park sites, reported wait times being twice as long as usual just a week after the National […]

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Arizona’s national parks and forests already feeling strain from thousands of federal worker firings nationwide

Cronkite News (March 5, 2025) by Alysa Horton Arizona National parks and forests are already feeling a strain on resources after President Donald Trump’s executive order for a federal hiring freeze and extensive firings. Grand Canyon National Park, one of the state’s 22 national park sites, reported wait times being twice as long as usual just a week after the National […]

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Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Joins 247 Organizations Opposing Republican U.S. Senate and House Bills Which Would Effectively Repeal the Antiquities Act of 1906

Sierra Sun Times (February 24, 2025) Last week, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks signed on to a letter joining 247 organizations opposing bills which would effectively repeal the Antiquities Act of 1906. Dear Senators and Members of Congress, On behalf of the 247 undersigned organizations and our millions of members across the country, we write to strongly urge […]

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Federal workers fear job cuts, service disruptions amid Elon Musk’s DOGE push

WENY News (February 24, 2025) by Hanna Park and Rafael Romo Federal employees are raising alarms over Elon Musk’s push to reshape the US government, an effort now compounded by a weekend directive for workers to justify their jobs in writing. The mounting pressure has left many in the federal workforce feeling vulnerable. Latisha Thompson, a clinical social worker with […]

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How Does the Federal Funding Freeze and Reduction in Federal Workforce Impact the Arizona Trail?

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 […]

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How to Visit Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument

Surrounding the Grand Canyon, the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument encompasses roughly one million acres of breathtaking landscapes and contains unique ecosystems that support a range of wildlife and vegetation. The monument is one of America’s newest so the infrastructure surrounding trails and camping is still developing. National monuments often boast less development than […]

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2024 Annual Report Now Available

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 […]

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New trail connects Flagstaff’s popular Buffalo Park with forested areas

KNAU (Jan 7, 2025) by KNAU Staff The non-profit Flagstaff Biking Organization and the Coconino National Forest say a new recreational trail has connected one the city’s most popular parks with forested areas. The realignment of the Lower Oldham Trail is part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail that extends from Utah to Mexico. The gravel path links Buffalo Park […]

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Trials, tribulations and the 5 stages of grief

MSN (November 18, 2024) by Julia Clarke Ultra runner Georgia Porter has claimed a new speed record on the 800-mile Arizona Trail just four days after Nick Fowler set a new Fastest Known Time on the same trail. Posting on Instagram yesterday, the Flagstaff-based runner writes that she completed an “unofficial FKT” – because her data still needs to be reviewed – when she ran […]

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US Forest Service Video Features Arizona Trail VETS Program

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 […]

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Wildfires Impact 93 Miles of the Arizona Trail in 2024

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 […]

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Veteran Volunteer Work Weekend

Signals (September 17, 2024) The AZT VETS (Veteran Engagement & Trail Stewardship) and Coconino National Forest Service are hosting this Veteran Volunteer Work Weekend on Passage 32B of the Arizona Trail over National Public Lands Day, improving the trail corridor between Little Elden Mountain and Weatherford Trailheads. Most meals will be provided at no extra cost to participants. Pre-registration is […]

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Fall colors 2024: Arizona’s best hikes for aspens, oaks and maples

Arizona Republic (Sept 18, 2024) by Roger Naylor Hope is restored. After yet another scorching summer, the relief of autumn is finally within sight. Cooler temperatures are on the way. Of course, shorter days also signal the start of one of nature’s most beloved seasonal displays — fall colors are coming to Arizona. Unlike spring wildflowers, fall colors do not […]

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Vets on the Arizona Trail

PHOENIX Magazine (Sept/Oct 2024) by Mare Czinar Tucson Native Michael “Chappy” Chappell took the long way around finding his purpose as program director of Veteran Engagement & Trail Stewardship (VETS) with the Arizona Trail Association – a project that promotes outdoor therapy as an adjunct to traditional health interventions. Chappell joined the Navy right out of high school and served […]

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