The Trek (December 21, 2020) by Abigail Kessler Who is this and what are you doing? Hi friends! My name’s Abigail, and I’m hoping to tell you about my experience section hiking the Arizona Trail (AZT). I’m trying to make it as a local journalist, but I’m pretty outdoorsy too. I moved to Arizona from the midwest last summer and […]
Read moreThe Bureau of Land Management’s Arizona Strip Field Office recently rescinded the fire closure order that has kept the Buckskin Mountain Passage off-limits since the Pine Hollow Fire started in July 2020. The northernmost 10.6 miles of trail between Winter Road and Stateline Campground are open again, but all Arizona Trail adventurers should use caution within the burn zone. Falling […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (December 6, 2020) by Sam McManis Something of an alchemic transformation, both magical and very much real, took place one recent morning behind the bright red door of a Flagstaff studio with a rich history of artistic imagining. Scooted forward in her big red chair, back ergonomically straight but neck craned over her workbench, Ryanne Sebern slipped […]
Read moreState Bicycle Company (October 21, 2020) To put their latest creation to the test, State Bicycle Company sent a team of professional cyclists to saddle up and push the new 6061 All-Road bikes to the limit, riding trails and dirt roads from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon via the Arizona Trail. The rocky-route, most appropriate for hikers and mountain bikes, […]
Read moreSince March, more people have been heading into the great outdoors than ever before. We are proud that the Arizona Trail has received record visitation, and provides a safe outdoor space at a time when we need it most. If you’re among the many who have visited the AZT and Arizona’s public lands during the pandemic, we want to hear […]
Read moreAZ Family (November 10, 2020) by Max Gordon A hike for a good cause nearly turned deadly for a Phoenix pastor and his daughter while the two were trekking on the Arizona Trail. Dream City Church Senior Pastor Luke Barnett and his daughter, 20-year-old Annalee, were hiking the 800 miles to raise money for the Colorado City Dream Center, which helps […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (November 8, 2020) by Julie Hammonds Larry Phoenix is on a quest to run the 800-mile Arizona Trail. Now the regional supervisor at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Kingman office, Larry spent 22 years as a field supervisor here in Flagstaff. I met him through work, but we bonded at Tuesday night Team Run Flagstaff workouts. […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (November 3, 2020) by Sam McManis Leave it to the Germans, known for their precision with language and most everything else, to come up with just the right word to describe the ineffable feeling of being alone in the woods, both the pleasures and the loneliness experienced therein: waldeinsamkeit. Come to think, the Japanese have a phrase that […]
Read moreThe New York Times (November 1, 2020) by Laiken Jordahl Saguaro cactuses, some nearly a century old, in shards on the desert floor. Jaguars, lost, because a metal wall has blocked their migratory path. Endangered species homeless because their critical habitats have been destroyed. Living and working along the U.S.-Mexico border means watching the surreal, slow-motion leveling of the wild […]
Read moreSt. George News (October 26, 2020) by Aspen Stoddard On Sept. 27, Luke Barnett, head pastor of Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and his daughter Annalee Barnett set out on the Arizona Trail to hike approximately 800 miles to the Mexico border in an effort to raise $1 million for the Short Creek Dream Center. Luke Merideth, director of […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (October 25, 2020) by Julie Hammonds The other night, I was sitting at my computer searching for real races to enter: the kind with a finish line and aid stations and post-race parties. I appreciate the flexibility of virtual races, but I miss the thrill of measuring myself against others on the same course on the same […]
Read moreTucson Weekly (October 22, 2020) Best Backpacking Trail – Arizona Trail How lucky are we to live in a place where it’s hard to decide what the best local backpacking trail is? The 800-mile Arizona trail links biomes ranging from deserts to forests to mountains across Mexico, Arizona and Utah. It’s divided into 43 individual passages, each with its own […]
Read moreAfter a year of research and gathering input from Arizona Trail users like you, the ATA is proud to release its final report on Perceptions of Conflict Surrounding Future E-Bike Use on the Arizona Trail. This research was motivated by changes in how federal agencies are managing electric-motorized bicycles (e-bikes) and Secretarial Order 3376, which may allow e-bikes on non-motorized […]
Read moreTucson Weekly (October 5, 2020) by Joe Giddens Senate candidates Martha McSally and Mark Kelly laid out their visions of public land management for Arizona on Friday in two separate online forums hosted by the Arizona Trail Association. The online forums took place ahead of their only scheduled debate on Tuesday and today’s voter registration deadline. Climate change starkly contrasted […]
Read moreDisplay your love for the Arizona Trail with original jewelry handcrafted in Flagstaff. Backcountry guide and jewelry artist Ryanne Sebern has created a stunning line of silver earrings and necklaces with copper accents inspired by the AZT. She has also added stamped designs to appeal to hikers (boot print), equestrians (horseshoe), and mountain bikers (bike). Six different designs are available to choose from at […]
Read moreThe Wickenburg Sun (September 28, 2020) The Arizona Trail Association (ATA) has arranged a special online “Trailhead Talk” with United States Senate candidates Martha McSally (R) and Mark Kelly (D) on Friday, October 2. These one-on-one conversations will provide each candidate an opportunity to share their personal connection to the Arizona Trail and speak about the importance of public lands, […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (August 11, 2020) by Sam McManis Mornings after monsoons, it’s best to choose your trails carefully lest you fall prey to the mistake I made last month and get stuck in the very definition of the word quagmire. Now, let me preface this by saying there are many trails in greater Flagstaff that can handle a little […]
Read moreYesterday I spent a few hours exploring the Arizona Trail in southern Arizona. Ocotillo flowers created a bright red canopy while yellow brittlebush and pink penstemon decorated the desert floor. Everyone I encountered along the trail was smiling and enjoying a beautiful spring day outdoors. The trail was in great condition, and I noticed recent signs of tread repair and […]
Read moreAZT Thru-Hiker/Thru-Rider IMPORTANT Updates (March 18, 2020) If you are currently thru-hiking or thru-riding the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) then you’re probably in one of the safest places imaginable. The AZT is an ideal place to practice social distancing to help fight the spread of COVID-19. However, recent events locally and nationally mean your long-distance adventure is about to […]
Read moreThe Trek (March 16, 2020) by Katie Kommer You’re doing the socially responsible thing, but you’re going crazy. Hopping between the couch and bed might be nice for an afternoon or one lazy weekend, but after a few days the stir-crazy creeps in. If you’re longing for adventure while doing your civic duty and socially distancing, these documentaries bring all […]
Read moreClick here to listen to a podcast with Dr. Eric Marcotte, National Champion road cyclist and integrative health practitioner, and Matthew Nelson, Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association. Dr. Marcotte talks with Mr. Nelson about public lands advocacy, volunteerism, and what it takes to protect and maintain an 800-mile multi-use trail across some of the most rugged terrain in […]
Read morePhoenix Magazine (October 2019) by Mare Czinar Following his May 2017 threat cancer diagnosis, Mesa resident Wyatt Roer resolved he wasn’t going to let the disease squash his plans to hike the entire 800-mile Arizona Trail. “My family and friends knew that this was a rehab goal,” the retired earth-moving operations supervisor says. “Even though the radiation treatment lasted for […]
Read moreAZ Central (August 29, 2019) by Mare Czinar You can’t get there from here,” my hiking partner told a confused pair of trekkers who asked us for directions to an Arizona Trail junction. He gently kicked my shin to signal he was joking as the couple fumbled with a map. Waiting a beat to satisfy his warped sense of humor, […]
Read morePayson Roundup (April 9, 2019) by Keith Morris Margaret de Hesse knows a thing or two about distance running. We’re not talking marathons either. No, longer than that. “I’m an ultrarunner,” said de Hesse. “These are typically all trail races in the U.S. and internationally of at least 50 miles. There are many 50-kilometer (31.24 miles) and 100-K (62.5 miles) […]
Read moreExploring the Arizona Trail with Matt Nelson (May 1, 2019) by Lori the Explorer Today’s guest is Matt Nelson, Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association. Matt has a passion for the mountains, being outdoors and providing opportunities for the next generation to become adventurers and stewards of the land. The Arizona Trail stretches 800 miles across Arizona from Mexico […]
Read moreVisit Tucson Magazine (2019) Hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners, and equestrians — an adventure of a lifetime awaits you on the Arizona National Scenic Trail. This non-motorized path, part of the National Trails System, stretches 800 miles from Mexico to Utah. It has numerous access points, allowing you to choose your own adventure — whether it’s a day trip, an […]
Read moreKVOA-Tucson (January 11, 2019) by Jeff Beamish It’s a gateway to the Arizona Trail and honors one of the lives lost in the January 8th tragedy. The Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead resides at Davidson Canyon on Tucson’s southeast side. Part trail, part memorial, complete with namesake, mural and one of Gabe’s poems etched in stone. Within the trailhead: a 32 mile […]
Read moreThe Arizona Trail Association, with Bureau of Land Management funding, just relocated 0.8 miles of the trail south of Florence. The trail passed very close to a key water source which raised concerns from the grazing permittee, and BLM had committed to eventually moving the trail. Environmental clearances were finished just days before the funding expired, so this week was […]
Read moreThe Tonto National Forest recently ordered two AZT gates and the usual gang installed them today. These are number 70 and 71! It was a multi-day effort though, given the logistics of getting the materials to the remote locations. One gate went a mile west of Cross F trailhead, and the other was south of Sunflower, neither of which were […]
Read moreFor many years a group of dedicated volunteers, based primarily in Tucson, has kept the Arizona Trail, and others, free of deadfall, a major maintenance chore on the Arizona Trail. To do this safely, the Forest Service requires that everyone is trained and certified every three years; 2018 was the year. Zac Ribbing, an enthusiastic crosscut saw aficionado now with the […]
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