Earlier this year we asked active members of the Arizona Trail Association to participate in a survey to help inform our organization’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2026. A total of 763 ATA members took the survey (that’s more than 33%) and shared their thoughts and opinions about the greatest assets and challenges facing the trail and the ATA. Both quantitative and […]
Read moreOn September 20, the Arizona Trail Association released a three-minute video essay featuring a diverse collection of outdoor enthusiasts urging Arizona’s US Senators to protect the Arizona National Scenic Trail by fighting climate change. The video includes inspiring imagery from various passages along the Arizona National Scenic Trail as well as footage of wildfires and extreme weather events that threaten the […]
Read moreRegister today to hike, run or ride a segment of the 800-mile Arizona Trail, and help make history as we attempt to complete the entire trail in one day. Together, we can do it! Choose your segment and register for free today by visiting our AZT in a DAY event page. If you have any questions, please email karrie@aztrail.org.
Read moreWe are excited to announce the release of our Summer 2021 long sleeve tech shirts and cycling jerseys, featuring an original design from Shannon Villegas inspired by the San Francisco Peaks Passage of the AZT. All proceeds from the sale of this product will directly benefit mountain bike projects on the AZT, including rollover gates, singletrack construction to replace roads, […]
Read moreNow that monsoons have returned (with a vengeance), it’s important to avoid wet trails. As tempting as it may be to head for the hills after a storm, the hard work that our trail stewards and volunteers do to maintain the Arizona Trail can be destroyed when people hike and ride on muddy trails. The damage that feet, tires and […]
Read moreHave you ever wanted to learn more about what happens at ATA volunteer events? Whether you’re just curious and want to know more before you come or you’re a regular volunteer who wants to know more about why we’re digging in that particular spot, the videos created for our Video Trail Skills Institute are just what you need! If you watch […]
Read moreRegistration for the AZT Virtual Adventure is now open. This do-it-yourself virtual event encourages you to set a mileage goal and track your progress along the 800-mile Arizona Trail. Pick a distance you feel comfortable with (50, 100, 200 or all 800 miles) and take as long as you need to get there. You can manually enter your mileage on our […]
Read moreThe Slate Fire has forced a closure of the Arizona Trail north of Flagstaff near Babbitt Ranch. In the interest of public safety, the northern half of AZT Passage 34 (San Francisco Peaks) is currently closed between Kelly Tank (mile 603.3) and Cedar Ranch (mile 616.2). Trail users are discouraged from visiting Passage 35 (Babbitt Ranch) as the fire advances […]
Read moreIf you love mountain biking and want to help make mountain biking a more equitable sport, consider joining our team as a Lead Coach! Gear Girls coaches serve as instructors and role models for the next generation of young women riders. Coaching with us is an opportunity to share your skillset, positively influence girls’ lives in your community, and combine […]
Read moreWe are excited to share the latest Arizona Trail Commemorative Mug! Handmade by Deneen Pottery, this fourth mug in the series features a scene of Grand Canyon National Park from the South Kaibab Trail portion of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, complete with a pair of California condors. These robust vessels are finished with a colored glaze inspired by the […]
Read moreWe are delighted to share the news that the Alder Ridge Project is now complete. Thanks to the hard work of conservation corps members from American Conservation Experience, machine operator extraordinaire Rob Bauer, and Arizona Trail Association (ATA) staff and volunteers, there is now 6.7 miles of new trail on the Tonto National Forest. Please join us in celebrating this […]
Read moreThe Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) at the University of Arizona invites you to join them in exploring the Arizona Trail during the month of April while also recognizing the ancestral lands upon which we hike, run, pedal and ride. To participate in this wellness challenge and cultural education initiative, post a photo from your AZT adventure on Instagram, […]
Read moreYour support is needed to help us reach our fundraising goal this Spring to support construction of the Temporal Gulch Reroute Project. Please DONATE securely online today! Our goal is to raise enough money between March 22 – April 3 to sustain the next phase of trail construction. This project will remove the AZT from 17 miles of paved and […]
Read moreAfter the hottest, driest year on record, precipitation has finally returned to Arizona, blanketing much of the state with rain and snow over the past week. As hundreds of individuals make their journey north on the Arizona Trail, this surprise springtime weather will be a blessing — replenishing natural water sources, sustaining wildlife, and giving every plant clinging to life […]
Read moreThe Grand Canyon Protection Act passed the U.S House of Representatives today! This important conservation legislation would protect the Arizona Trail from dangerous uranium mining north and south of Grand Canyon National Park. Thank you, Congressman Raul Grijalva, and all Representatives who voted in favor of the Act (Gallego, Kirkpatrick, O’Halleran, Stanton). Now, it’s on to the Senate. Please encourage your […]
Read moreThe southern mile of the Arizona Trail and the southern terminus remain closed and off limits to the public. The trail and terminus have been closed since border wall construction began in July of 2020. A total of 1,250 feet of cement-filled steel barriers have been installed near Border Monument #102. Although President Biden’s Proclamation on January 20, 2021 terminated […]
Read moreIf you missed the ATA’s Annual Members Meeting on Saturday, February 6, the Zoom Webinar is now on our Facebook page and also on our YouTube channel. If you are a member, donor, volunteer, business partner, agency staff, grantor, gateway community representative, trail angel, or general lover of the Arizona National Scenic Trail — THANK YOU for your support.
Read moreOn Friday, February 5 the Tonto National Forest rescinded the Bush Fire Closure Order that has affected over 32 miles of the Arizona National Scenic Trail’s Passages 20 (Four Peaks) and 21 (Pine Mountain) since the Bush Fire started in June of 2020. Thanks to the hard work of the Arizona Trail Association, Arizona Conservation Corps and Conservation Corps New […]
Read moreAs we embrace a New Year and look forward to a healthier 2021, the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) invites you to experience the Arizona National Scenic Trail on foot, mountain bike or horseback along 800 scenic and diverse miles between Mexico and Utah. This letter is specifically intended for those attempting a thru-hike or thru-ride in the Spring of 2021, […]
Read moreAll of us at the Arizona Trail Association wish you a healthy and happy New Year filled with outdoor adventures, inspiring landscapes, and quality time with friends. Remember, the Arizona Trail is your trail. We invite you to explore and enjoy it, and also to Join, Volunteer and Donate to support our mission to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the […]
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 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 moreWe are pleased to premier our new Trail Skills Institute Video Series on the ATA’s Youtube channel. The videos were produced in partnership with Flagline Trails, American Conservation Experience (ACE) and Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) by Outdoor Evolution Media. They are being filmed in various locations across the state and include tips on trail maintenance in the wide variety of […]
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 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 moreDid you know the Arizona Trail Association relies on you to understand current trail conditions? You’re the eyes, boots, wheels and hooves on the trail, and most of what we know about current trail conditions comes from trail users like you. That’s why we encourage you to communicate things like downed trees, blowouts from erosion, fallen signs, litter, bees, and […]
Read moreOn August 4, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. This is the most important piece of conservation legislation in half a century! The Act provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which protect lands and waters Americans treasure most, and improves access to the outdoors for urban communities. The Act also dedicates […]
Read moreSummertime is when hundreds of hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians are planning the logistics of a long-distance trip on the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT). Especially since many individuals canceled their springtime AZT adventures due to COVID-19, the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) has been anticipating the busiest autumn in history. However, Arizona’s intense wildfire season – with three major wildfires […]
Read moreToday, the United States House of Representatives voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act by an overwhelming majority (310–107). It is now on its way to be signed by the President, and within the next 10 days will become the most significant piece of conservation legislation in a generation. The Act provides full and permanent funding for the […]
Read moreWater is the most important resource along the 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail. Where to find it, how reliable the source may be, and the quality of the water is vital to any long-distance trail adventure on foot, mountain bike or equine. Working with our friends at Atlas Guides, we are proud to introduce the Arizona Trail Water Report. This […]
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