Our 29th Annual Meeting is happening on Sunday, March 5 at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, and you are invited to attend. ATA Board and Staff will highlight some of greatest accomplishments from 2022, honor outstanding volunteers and agency partners, hear from guest speakers, and much more. The event is scheduled from 10 am – 1 pm and will include […]
Read moreAuthor: Matthew Nelson
AZT Word Magnet as New Membership Perk
We encourage you to tell your Arizona Trail story with the help of this new membership perk – an Arizona Trail word magnet. Put it on your refrigerator or other metallic surface at home and let the creativity flow! Haiku, limericks, prose, inspirations and memories are all encouraged. Mix it up daily or weekly, and get stoked to get back […]
Read moreRed Rock Canyon Road Closed to Public Access
Due to private property issues, there is no public access along Red Rock Canyon Road between Harshaw Road and the Arizona Trail. Please do not use Red Rock Canyon Road to connect the AZT back toward the town of Patagonia.
Read moreBeyond annual walk honors those impacted in Tucson shooting
KVOA (Jan 7, 2023) by Gabrielle Parish Tomorrow marks the twelve-year anniversary of the January 8th, mass shooting that killed six people, and injured more along with former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Beyond kicked off its 12th annual walk to honor those impacted by the mass shooting that took place in Tucson on January 8th, 2011. “Gabe’s not gonna come back,” […]
Read moreThe Top 5 Women’s FKTs of 2022
Trail Runner Magazine (January 3, 2023) by Brian Metzler The FKT of the Year voting panel was asked to select the top five women’s FKTs of 2022 (from a pool of 22 finalists culled by the Fastest Known Time staff) and rank them in order from first to fifth. Katie Brown’s Arizona Trail FKT was second with 60 points. Brown […]
Read moreOak Tree Canyon Trailhead Now Open!
On Friday, December 16 the Arizona Trail Association celebrated the grand opening of the Oak Tree Canyon Trailhead on the Coronado National Forest near the town of Sonoita. After having been closed for nearly 20 years due to natural and cultural resource impacts from off-highway vehicles, we were delighted to have been granted permission to construct a trailhead at this […]
Read moreWall of shipping containers at border is a $95 million political stunt
Las Vegas Sun (December 15, 2022) by Tim Stellar As you walk or drive along Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s new container wall on the border, it looks out of place in the wilds of Cochise County, but naggingly familiar. Is it a new amusement park — Containerland? No, something else … Then it hits: The wall looks like a long […]
Read moreControversial Grand Canyon uranium mine preparing for production as early as 2023
Arizona Daily Sun (December 9, 2022) by Sean Golightly The Pinyon Plain (formerly Canyon) uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park has been issued a new permit by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, opening the door for future mining. Robert Tohe, courtesy file photo. A long-dormant uranium mine located 10 miles south of the Grand Canyon could soon begin […]
Read moreUranium Mine Gears Up Near Arizona Trail and Grand Canyon
The Pinyon Plain Mine (formerly Canyon Mine) appears to be gearing up for uranium mining operations fewer than 10 miles from the south rim of the Grand Canyon, and less than four miles from the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Hundreds more uranium mines could eventually be developed on public lands near Grand Canyon National Park if the Senate fails to […]
Read moreVisit The Arizona Strip: Remote, Wild, & Sparsely Populated Beyond The Grand Canyon
The Travel (December 3, 2022) by Aaron Spray While Arizona may appear to be a regular rectangle, its northwestern corner is isolated and tenuously linked to the rest of the state, much like a panhandle. This vast arid region is called the Arizona Strip and is largely split off from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon. The […]
Read moreHiking the Arizona Trail Passage Gila River Canyons
Phoenix Magazine (December 2022) by Mare Czinar EPIC BACKPACK TRIP Over its remote 26-mile course, the Arizona Trail Passage 16: Gila River Canyon passes though some of the most stunning backcountry in the Copper Corridor, near the community of Kelvin. Getting There: For access points and up-to-date conditions, visit the Arizona Trail website. Become a member and gain access to additional data, […]
Read moreThe Highline: A world class accessible hike beneath the Rim after re-route
Payson Roundup (December 2, 2022) by Michele Nelson For too long, the Highline Trail has intimidated hikers. Remote. Rugged. Rough. But it’s time for that reputation to change. The Phase I re-route of the Highline Trail from the Pine to the Washington Park trailheads has completely transformed the hike from an out-of-breath scramble to a stroll through glades and meadows […]
Read morePhoenix pastor finishes hiking excursion two years after being crushed by boulder
AZ Family (November 21, 2022) by David Caltabiano A Phoenix pastor has finished the Arizona Trail, a hike that spans across Arizona and from the Utah to Mexico Border two years after a boulder crushed him during the same hike in the Tonto National Forest. His daughter finished the journey in 2020, but he didn’t complete it until Monday morning. […]
Read moreEnvironmentalists await more news from Hobbs about shipping container border wall
Fronteras News Desk (November 23, 2022) by Alisa Reznick Environmental groups are watching closely to see how Arizona’s next governor, Katie Hobbs, will handle a makeshift wall of shipping containers the state is putting up along the border. The Ducey administration’s shipping container wall first appeared on federal land near Yuma earlier this year. Contractors began a similar project in […]
Read moreGallery: The spirit of gravel, revisited
VeloNews (November 21, 2022) by Betsy Welch A chance encounter with an old story I wrote about the Spirit World 100 reminds me that gravel is just the medium — the spirit is how we ride it In a tiny corner of the Patagonia Lumber Co. where people congregate over mugs of wine or coffee, a framed copy of a story I […]
Read morePhoenix pastor crushed by boulder on charity hike set to finish what he started
AZ Family (November 18, 2022) by David Caltabiano A boulder crushed a Phoenix pastor who was hiking for charity in 2020. The hike ended up raising millions for the victims of Warren Jeffs’ polygamy in Colorado City. His daughter finished the journey in 2020, and now, the pastor is close to finishing it, too. For three weeks, Dream City Church […]
Read moreHandmade AZT Mugs for Supporters
Celebrate Giving Tuesday with a donation to the Arizona Trail Association. Through your ongoing generosity we are able to maintain the treasure that is the Arizona National Scenic Trail and protect it for future generations. Since 1994, the Arizona Trail Association has accomplished incredible things – all with support from members, donors, business partners and others who believe in our mission. People like you! At the ATA, […]
Read moreCape Breton man’s epic American hike sees him travel 6,300 kilometres in 175 days
SaltWire (November 15, 2022) by Christopher Connors Colin MacDougall never even went camping until two years ago. However, that didn’t stop the Howie Centre man from setting out on an epic adventure in which he hiked more than 6,300 kilometres in 175 days, crossing five U.S. states and ascending nearly 2,000 kilometres in total elevation. “Honestly, I’m not sure why […]
Read moreThis is the Gear Hiker Katie Brown Used to Set a New Arizona Trail FKT
Backpacker (November 10, 2022) by Jeff Garmire In the spring of 2022, emergency room nurse Katie Brown set the self-supported Fastest Known Time on the Arizona Trail, beating Heather “Anish” Anderson’s 2016 record by nearly two days. On the northbound attempt, Katie drew on her backpacking experience as a Triple Crowner to winnow down her pack weight to the bare minimum. […]
Read moreIf You Don’t Have Time for a Long Thru-Hike, the Arizona Trail Is a Perfect—and Spectacular—Shorter Trek
Outside (November 13, 2022) by Grayson Haver Currin In less than 800 miles, the Arizona Trail offers a steady string of stunning landscapes, uncanny animals, and changing circumstances. If your time is limited, it’s the national scenic trail to try. The most commonplace question about long-distance hiking is also the most complicated to answer: How do you find the resources—the […]
Read moreAZT VETS Program Featured in Tucson Weekly
Caring for our military veterans is an awesome responsibility, particularly toward vets who may be dealing with the after-effects of combat or other stressful service, and while we might think of the Veterans Health Administration as the vehicle for that care, there are other ways to help. That is where the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) enters the picture. For nearly two […]
Read moreArizona Trail Association VETS program offers camaraderie in the desert
Tucson Weekly (November 10, 2022) by David Abbott Caring for our military veterans is an awesome responsibility, particularly toward vets who may be dealing with the after-effects of combat or other stressful service, and while we might think of the Veterans Health Administration as the vehicle for that care, there are other ways to help. That is where the Arizona Trail […]
Read moreBeyond The Grand Canyon: 10 Incredible Places To Visit In Arizona
The Travel (November 6, 2022) by Luana Ferreira Arizona is home to some of the most scenic landscapes in the country, and it’s a great destination year-round. The Grand Canyon alone would be an excellent reason to visit Arizona, but the estate offers many other incredible sites. Travelers can find perfect campsites, vibrant cities, ghost towns, national parks, and ancient tribal […]
Read morePin Drop Travel Trailers Partners with Arizona Trail Association to Support Stewardship of Trails and Public Lands
The Arizona Trail Association recently announced a partnership with Pin Drop Travel Trailers that will support stewardship of trails, public lands, and the people who enjoy them. “We are so excited to be able to partner with a local business that’s created the ultimate travel trailer for adventures in Arizona’s wild outdoor spaces,” said Matt Nelson, Executive Director of the […]
Read moreTucson Weekly Names Arizona Trail Best Backpacking Trail!
To determine the Best of Tucson each year, readers of the Tucson Weekly are asked to vote for their favorites — from taco shops to barbers to outdoor adventures. In the Best of Outdoors 2022 category, readers named the Arizona Trail the Best Backpacking Trail! We are proud that of all the amazing backpacking options near Tucson, the AZT remains the […]
Read moreRunning for a record and a cause: Michael McKnight takes on the Arizona Trail
HJ News (October 14, 2022) by Shawn Harrison Michael McKnight is at it again. The Cache Valley ultra runner is taking on the Arizona Trail, beginning this weekend. While he wants to beat the FKT (fastest known time) for the 800-mile trail that runs from the Utah-Arizona border to the Mexico-Arizona border, McKnight is also running for Marianne. He wants […]
Read moreBen Light and Mike McKnight Will Go Head-to-Head for AZT FKT
Trail Runner (October 14, 2022) by Drew Dawson In possibly the first of its kind, two ultrarunners will go head-to-head for the fastest known time (FKT). Literally. Starting Saturday, October 15, at 8 a.m. Arizona Time, Mike McKnight will head south and Ben Light will head north on the 800-mile Arizona Trail in pursuit of the FKT. To do that, they’ll […]
Read moreWalnut Canyon Reroute Complete
The recently completed Walnut Canyon Reroute is officially open! This important initiative to take a few miles of the AZT off old forest roads south of Flagstaff, was a successful collaboration between the Arizona Trail Association, Coconino National Forest, Arizona Conservation Corps, Arizona State Parks & Trails, Flagline Trails, and awesome volunteers. If you haven’t experienced this new ribbon of […]
Read moreRosemont Expands Scope
Patagonia Regional Times (October 6, 2022) by Stu Williams and John Murphy Trouble continues to brew in the Santa Rita Mountains. Rosemont Copper, operating there since 2014, has shifted its plan of operation from the east side of the mountains to the west to dodge federal court rulings, hoping to take advantage of rubber-stamping state agencies and local apathy. Rosemont Copper continues […]
Read moreTeam O’Halleran lends a hand in AZ forest maintenance
Gila Herald (September 27, 2022) This month, staff from the office of Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) joined a volunteer forest conservation effort with Arizona Trail Association’s Veteran Engagement & Trail Stewardship (VETS), a program intended to give veterans the opportunity to practice conservation on Arizona’s public lands while building healthy, service-focused bonds within the veteran community. Derek Duba, a Wounded […]
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