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 […]
Read morePHOENIX 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 […]
Read moreWe 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 […]
Read moreMason Lussow, a Marine Corps veteran, left our community unexpectedly on August 26, 2024 but his legacy of quiet strength and unwavering dedication to service will always be remembered. He was the beloved son of his mother, Ari Olsen, and father, Alex Lussow, an avid outdoorsman who instilled in Mason a deep love for nature and adventure from a very […]
Read moreTucson Sentinel (Aug 14 2024) by Bianca Morales A program organized by the Arizona Trail Association sets out to provide a safe environment where military veterans have the “opportunity to serve and connect.” The program is aptly called VETS — Veteran Engagement and Trail Stewardship — and has a mission is to “connect those who have served our country with fellow service […]
Read moreKactus Kickers Hiking Club 1969 – 2023 In memory of a long time Arizona hiking club, The Kactus Kickers, which was formed in 1969 by employees of a local Arizona corporation. Initially, membership was limited to employees of the corporation and their families but started welcoming others that were attracted to the club by a public website that was created […]
Read moreGrand 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 […]
Read moreNavajo-Hopi Observer (June 25, 2024) The Arizona Trail Association’s Seeds of Stewardship (SOS) program partnered with STAR School of Leupp, Arizona, to provide transformative outdoor experiences for fourth to eighth grade Native American students from Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation. Through five field trips annually, SOS emphasizes culturally relevant outdoor activities, land connection and meaningful stewardship projects. As a culmination, […]
Read moreLake Powell Chronicle (June 12, 2024) by Paul Ostapuk Twenty-four days, one hour and 12 minutes. In less time than the moon takes to complete a lunar cycle, Heather Anderson, 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, survived the ordeal of an unsupported 800-mile traverse of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Anderson finished her record backpacking trip on May 12, […]
Read moreOver 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 […]
Read moreWorld Atlas (May 9, 2024) by Elizabeth Arnold Located in the beautiful American Southwest, Arizona is part of the “four corners” region. The state of Arizona is diverse in many ways, from expansive deserts to sweeping mountain ranges and quiet hometowns and bustling cities. If you’re traveling to Arizona, consider checking out one of its many charming small towns for a […]
Read moreGrand Canyon National Park has confirmed that hikers are allowed to walk on the paved road to avoid the snowy AZT during the spring season before the road opens, typically on May 15. Mountain bikers are not allowed to ride the road and must follow the trail. The Park reiterated that hikers walking the plowed and paved North Rim Road should be aware […]
Read moreOutside Online (April 23, 2024) by Graham Averill Base camp might be my favorite two words in the English language. Base camp is where you stage the next excursion, or refuel with a bowl of stew, or a beer. You rest and recover there. If you’re lucky, you can slip into a hot tub or cold spring, because base camps don’t […]
Read morePatheos (April 6, 2024) by Ken Chitwood In February 2019, Miguel stared out at the San Pedro Valley in Mexico, stretching for miles below him from his position on Yaqui Ridge in the Coronado National Monument. Standing at Monument 102, which marks the symbolic start of the 800-mile-long Arizona Trail, Miguel remarked on how the border here doesn’t look like […]
Read moreOur 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 […]
Read moreKGUN 9 News (April 5, 2024) by Austin Janos Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue crews embarked on a dangerous mission to save an injured hiker who was stuck on the Arizona Trail for multiple days. According to the group’s Facebook page, crews were notified by border patrol on April 3, about a 60-year-old man on the trail suffering […]
Read moreArizona Public Media Podcast (March 14, 2024) by Zac Ziegler, Danyelle Khmara, Tony Perkins Listen to the podcast produced about the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo mountain bike event, which was dedicated to the Arizona Trail Association in 2024!
Read morePhoenix Magazine (March 17, 2024) by Mare Czinar Officially the closest Arizona Trail entry point to the Valley, the dirt pullout at Bushnell Tanks on State Route 87 half way between Fountain Hills and Payson, provides access to Arizona’s geological transition zone—a swath of mountain ranges and long valleys created over eons of volcanic activity, seismic uplifts and intermittent sea […]
Read morePlease 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 […]
Read moreShow 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, […]
Read moreOn the AZT’s Passage 19, between Highway 188 and Cemetery Trail Junction, trail users will encounter cattle trails at approximately mile 448.9 southbound (1.2 miles south of Highway 188) due to heavy livestock traffic to and from a metal water tank. Southbound users should remain on the north side of the wash here, proceeding gently uphill on the right bank […]
Read moreThe 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 […]
Read moreOn 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 […]
Read moreKGUN 9 News (May 17, 2023) by Hannah Winter Click here to watch a video about the Powell Family and their trek along the Arizona Trail — NOBO in Spring 2023. Eva Powell is the youngest known AZT thru-hiker. She completed the 800-mile trek with her family in three months, 1 day.
Read moreAs you gaze in awe at the wildflowers and enjoy a memorable hike, run or ride along the Arizona Trail, please help us celebrate by donating today in support of our important Spring Fundraiser! During the month of May, a $25 donation will get you a one-year Arizona Trail Association membership and this special edition retro sticker. This classic Southwestern design was […]
Read moreThe Trek (May 12023) by Rachel Shoemaker The Arizona Trail Association recently installed a 1,500-gallon Remote Rainwater Collector along an arid segment of trail in Passage 15 in Pinal County. The installation of this collector, which was completed on April 6, is a welcome addition that will bring much-needed relief to hikers on this 28.1-mile dry stretch of trail. The unit, which is the […]
Read morePayson Roundup (April 25, 2023) by Michele Nelson Mountain biking has been a male dominated sport, but the Forest Service hopes to encourage more girls to take up the sport. Arizona Trail Association program directors noticed that when boys and girls from this age group did a mountain biking clinic together, the girls let the boys take over the questions […]
Read moreOn April 6, Arizona Trail Association staff and volunteers completed installation of a Remote Rainwater Collector along a particularly arid segment of trail on Passage 15 in Pinal County. This unit is located north of the Freeman Road Trailhead on the ancestral lands of the O’odham and Western Apache, and holds 1,500 gallons of water. This is the second remote […]
Read moreYesterday, tribal leaders of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, joined by Congressman Raúl Grijalva and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, launched an effort to call on President Biden to use his authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe, and I’tah Kukveni […]
Read moreKNAU (March 21, 2023) by Bree Burkitt Arizona-born writer and journalist Tom Zoellner is out with a new book about his 46-day journey hiking the nearly 800-mile Arizona Trail. Rim to River: Looking into the Heart of Arizona is a collection of essays Zoellner created as a way to better understand his home state after years at odds with Arizona’s sprawling urban […]
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