Treeline Review (June 26, 2025) by Meg Carney A fast-moving proposal in the U.S. Senate threatens to open the door to one of the largest public land sales in modern history. Buried within the Senate’s recent budget bill, a provision would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell off at least public lands they manage in 11 Western […]
Read moreThanks to supporters like you who contacted members of Congress, an amendment within the federal budget that would have sold off millions of acres that belongs to all Americans has been removed. By reaching out to your representatives and telling them how important National Forests, BLM lands, and the Arizona Trail are to you and future generations, we were able […]
Read moreMountain Getaway (June 27, 2025) Dotting America’s mountain towns, wilderness, and shores are incredible trails for trail runners. They often weave through state and national forests, over sweeping landscapes, and along shimmering bodies of water. It makes for a perfect way to enjoy some of the most beautiful parts of America while getting in a workout. It’s a win-win. But […]
Read moreWe are very concerned about the President’s proposed budget cuts to National Trails for federal fiscal year 2026. What’s at risk? The National Park Service will face a $900 million funding cut to National Park Service Operations BLM funding for National Trails reduced from $11 million to $0 – overall 74% cut to National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, Wilderness and […]
Read moreCopper Area News (June 21, 2025) The Tri-Community has had two recent fires centered in or around the town of Oracle. Oracle Fire District personnel were joined by Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, along with CERT and Firewise volunteers, at the Firewise meeting in Oracle on June 11, 2025. Community members were also in attendance. The recent Cedar […]
Read moreArizona Republic (June 21, 2025) Click here for a gallery of images of California condors and where to see them in the wild, including along the Arizona Trail near Vermilion Cliffs National Monument!
Read moreArizona Republic (June 20, 2025) by Raphael Romero Ruiz U.S. Customs and Border Protection awarded more than $309 million to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. to build 27 miles of border wall in Arizona’s Tucson Sector. This is the second contract for border wall construction awarded since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The new project will use […]
Read morePayson Roundup (June 18, 2025) by Alexis Bechman An Eagar man injured while hiking the Arizona Trail was rescued last week by local search and rescue teams. Tonto Rim Search and Rescue (TRSAR) responded June 9 to a call to locate a missing 67-year-old hiker. He had been hiking Passage 25 of the Arizona Trail, a remote 23-mile stretch from […]
Read moreKGUN 9 (June 16, 2025) by Jim Spindle Summer months in the Sonoran Desert might be the most dangerous of the year, keeping search and rescue teams busy. Considering just how extreme our landscape and climate can be, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Posse (CochiseSAR) invited me out to their monthly training and told me it’s a […]
Read moreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service recently signed the Arizona National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The plan establishes a long-term framework to guide the coordinated management of the 800-mile trail that spans Arizona from Mexico to Utah. Required by the National Trails System Act, the comprehensive plan outlines administrative objectives, policies, and management guidance for the Arizona National Scenic […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (June 11, 2025) by Sam McLaughlin Little America Hotel is in the process of rebuilding the fence line around its 530-acre property and will soon be closing off access to unauthorized but long-established social trails that crisscross the forested land. Tony O’Brien, vice president of operations for parent company Grand America Hotels and Resorts, said the change […]
Read moreIn addition to being a recreational destination that attracts hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians from around the world, the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) is a valuable resource for wildfire prevention, response and recovery. Fire Break Trails act as important fire breaks, often stopping the flames once they reach the trail as they run out of fuel. Some communities […]
Read morePayson Roundup (June 10, 2025) by Paul Aleshire A feel-good proclamation. A do-good grant application. Trails have become a hot topic all across Rim Country – from Payson to Pine. So Payson last week declared the second week in June to be “National Recreation Highline Trail Week.” Payson Ranger District Recreational Manager Angie Abel was on hand to dole out […]
Read moreCycling West (June 7, 2025) by Charles Pekow Staff and budget cuts imposed by the Trump regime may mean fewer opportunities to ride on federal lands in the long run, but nobody knows how much, and people don’t even want to talk about it. National Parks Conservation Association representative Kati Schmidt gave Cycling West a statement saying, “Everyone, from cyclists […]
Read moreTucson Sentinel (June 5, 2025) by Paul Ingram As the Trump administration plans to erect 35 miles of new border barriers, environmentalists gathered last weekend in a Southern Arizona hamlet to trade food and songs during a bi-national “border happening.” Under the shade of large, decades-old cottonwood trees, a man from the nearby village of Santa Cruz, Sonora, played a […]
Read moreThis is the time of year when the Arizona State Legislature returns from recess to hammer out the final details of next year’s budget. We need your help to encourage them to dedicate funding for Arizona Trail maintenance and construction. There is a line item in our state budget for Arizona Trail Fund, and it is used to pay conservation […]
Read moreIn response to recent concerns about gastrointestinal illness along the Arizona Trail and potential causes being the Gila River and Remote Rainwater Collector, the ATA took water samples to a local laboratory for analysis. Results can be found here: Gila River – Passage 16 Rainwater Collector – Passage 17 The only alarming result is the presence of E. coli in […]
Read moreStage II Fire Restrictions are now in place on public lands throughout Arizona. The following are prohibited on lands, roads, and trails: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building Welding or operating any acetylene or other torch with an open area Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun […]
Read moreFrom May 4-10, we are celebrating the deserts, mountains, canyons, forests, lakes, streams, and trails that make Arizona such an incredible place to live, work, play and explore. Today, we are encouraging you to stand up for public lands, which are currently being threatened. The time for you to take action is NOW. There are members of Congress pushing for […]
Read moreVisit Arizona (April 21, 2025) As the city where Pluto was discovered, Flagstaff is famous for its dark skies. And as this episode of “Arizona Revealed” shows, it’s also beloved as a four-season destination where the changing seasons set life’s cadence. Featuring the Arizona Trail, Lowell Observatory, Museum of Northern Arizona, and Arizona Nordic Village, click here to watch this […]
Read moreDid you get sick while visiting the Arizona National Scenic Trail in the 2025 spring season? The Arizona Department of Health Services is following up on reports of people with gastrointestinal illness while hiking the Arizona Trail this spring. This online survey will help gather information from individuals that were sick with a gastrointestinal illness after visiting the Arizona National […]
Read moreThe Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds the public to protect themselves and their pets by keeping a safe distance from wildlife, especially animals that may be behaving abnormally, such as those that appear aggressive and/or lacking a fear of humans. The reminder comes as an increasing number of rabies-related incidents have been reported statewide. A recent Arizona Department […]
Read moreKVOA (April 14, 2025) by Zachary Johnson Over the weekend, U.S. Border Patrol agents successfully rescued two U.S. citizens stranded in the remote deserts of Southern Arizona. On Saturday, Tucson Sector BORSTAR agents, alongside the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a hiker near the Superstition Mountains who reported a potentially broken ankle. A rescue team aboard Pinal Air 1 […]
Read moreThe Lumberjack (April 5, 2025) by Darby Walker Protesters gathered at the Arizona Capitol building on March 27 to hold a “Rally for Public Lands,” showing support for national parks, monuments and federally protected public land being threatened by policy changes. Rally attendees advocated for various issues, the most prominent of which included a lawsuit in Utah that could open federal […]
Read moreThe U.S. Senate, by a slim three-vote margin, has approved public lands being sold to reduce the federal deficit as well as the total acreage managed by federal land management agencies. During a late-night session April 4, 51 senators voted against an amendment that would have blocked the sale of public lands. All but two Republicans —Senator Daines and Senator […]
Read moreNewsbreak (April 1, 2025) by John Goodman In the southern stretch of Arizona, where the desert climbs into forested mountains and saguaros give way to sycamores, you’ll find the Sky Islands—an archipelago of peaks rising from the Sonoran lowlands like green ships in a sea of ochre. It’s a strange and wonderful geography: a mix of sky-high wilderness and borderland […]
Read moreThe 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 […]
Read morePlease 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 […]
Read moreBackpacker (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 […]
Read moreGrand Canyon National Park has officially confirmed that walk-up backcountry permits will be available for spring thru-hikers in 2025 with the following date ranges: April 1 – May 14: Sites will only be available at Cottonwood Campground May 15 – June 11: Sites will also be made available at Bright Angel Campground If you are arriving before or after these […]
Read more
