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 morePhoenix 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 morePayson 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 moreAZ 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 moreFronteras 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 moreVeloNews (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 moreAZ 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 moreCelebrate 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 moreSaltWire (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 moreBackpacker (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 moreOutside (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 moreCaring 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 moreTucson 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 moreThe 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 moreThe 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 moreTo 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 moreHJ 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 moreTrail 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 moreThe 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 morePatagonia 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 moreGila 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 […]
Read moreWhite Mountain Independent (September 20, 2022) Copperstate Farms, a vertically integrated Arizona cannabis operator, today announced a community partnership with the Arizona Trail Association (ATA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the natural environment. As a Premier Legacy Partner, Copperstate Farms is donating $20,000 to […]
Read moreazmarijuana.com (September 18, 2022) by Dan Kingston Copperstate Farms, a vertically integrated Arizona cannabis operator, announced a community partnership with the Arizona Trail Association (ATA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the natural environment. As a Premier Legacy Partner, Copperstate Farms is donating $20,000 to support new […]
Read moreThe Trek (September 14, 2022) by J. Taylor Bell Oh, those halcyon days of knowing exactly what was necessary on a thru-hike and what was absolutely frivolous and decadent. Simpler times they were, friends. But they seem to be well behind us these days. And if you don’t believe me, then strap in for this very toasty ride. Many things […]
Read moreThe ATA is proud to announce a partnership with Copperstate Farms, a vertically integrated Arizona cannabis operator. As a Premier Legacy Partner, Copperstate Farms is donating $20,000 to support new trail construction and maintenance. “Copperstate Farms is proud to be a locally owned company, and we love this state,” said Fife Symington IV, CEO and co-founder at Copperstate Farms. “Arizona […]
Read moreDuring the summer of 2020, the Mangum Fire scorched 71,450 acres on the Kaibab National Forest and significantly impacted three miles of the Arizona Trail within Orderville Canyon along Passage 42 (Kaibab Plateau North). Since the trail was located within the canyon bottom and the fire burned at high intensity, this segment of AZT has been closed for two years […]
Read moreThe Discoverer Blog (Autumn 2022) Autumn is the best time of year in the Southwest. While dropping temperatures mean breaking out the sweaters and heaters everywhere else in the country, in this corner of the U.S. it means the weather is just right for some outdoor exploring. While most minds immediately jump to the Grand Canyon when thinking of Arizona, […]
Read morePayson Roundup (August 11, 2022) by Michele Nelson Arizona Trail Association volunteers recently have prepped 4,000 feet of steep sections of the Highline Trail for realignment as part of the restoration initiative. The removal of dense manzanita not only allows for upgrading and improving the Highline Trail but also Passage 26 of the Arizona Trail. “There were lots of small […]
Read moreWilliams-Grand Canyon News (August 3, 2022) The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered and offered amendments on the Grand Canyon Protection Act, a bill that will protect about 1 million acres of public lands near Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining. The Act would make permanent a ban on mining that was enacted administratively in 2012. This is […]
Read moreWilliams-Grand Canyon News (August 3, 2022) Over the weekend of July 16-17, Arizona Trail Association (ATA) volunteers and staff partnered with NPS Trails and Backcountry Information Center staff to remove fallen trees and clear the Arizona Trail corridor between the Widforss Trailhead and the North Rim Entrance Station. Each of the four saw teams were captained by an experienced and […]
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