On Friday, June 12, the Arizona Legislature and Governor reached a compromise on the state’s budget for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). Within the $18.3 billion budget was a total allocation of $0 for the Arizona Trail. A special Arizona Trail Fund was established in 2006 with an initial investment of $500,000. Since that time, it has only received […]

The Biking on Long Distance Trails (BOLT) Act was signed into law on January 4, 2025, after more than a decade of advocacy from the mountain biking and bikepacking communities. The first core deliverable of the BOLT Act is that federal land management agencies must develop a list of at least 10 existing and 10 potential long-distance bike trails of […]

Between 2017 and 2023, the Arizona Trail Association partnered with Arizona State University to study wildlife and recreational patterns on the Arizona National Scenic Trail. This was accomplished through the placement and monitoring of 59 camera traps throughout the state. The results of this multi-year statewide study are now available through the final report: Wildlife and Recreation on the Arizona […]

Check out the wonderful article from Annette McGivney in Arizona Highways, featuring the Trail Angels of the Arizona Trail! Welcome, Stranger! The article profiles three different Trail Angels in Kearny, Superior and Flagstaff, and is a wonderful testament to the the kindness of strangers. Trail Angels are just one of the volunteer opportunities that help local residents connect with thru-hikers […]

This is the time of year when the Arizona State Legislature hammers out the final details of next year’s budget. We need your help to encourage them to dedicate funding for Arizona Trail maintenance and construction. There is a line item in our state budget for Arizona Trail Fund, and it is used to pay conservation corps and other state-approved […]

In celebration of Arizona Public Lands Day this Saturday, April 4, conservation leaders are urging residents to take a closer look at what’s at stake for the state’s public lands. A newly released report, Fiscal Impact of Transferring Federal Lands to Arizona, raises awareness about the significant economic and fiscal risks associated with state legislative proposals to transfer federally managed lands to state […]

Results from Colorado College’s 16th annual State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll released today show widespread concern among Western voters about rollbacks of protections for land, water, and wildlife and cuts to funding for public land management. The poll, which surveyed voters in eight Mountain West states—Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—found […]

Wildflower are blooming across the Sonoran Desert, signaling an early start to Spring. This is shaping up to be a spectacular season for thru-hiking and biking the Arizona National Scenic Trail! However, 25.5 miles of the AZT within Grand Canyon National Park remain closed due to impacts from the Dragon Bravo Fire. Some exciting news is that 6 miles of […]

As the Arizona Legislature kicked off its session in January, State Senator Wendy Rogers introduced SB1041. If passed, this bill will appropriate $500,000 to the Arizona Trail Fund. Established in 2006 to support Arizona Trail maintenance and construction, the Fund has only received intermittent support, but we are hopeful that after $0 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024 that it […]

We are proud to announce the successful installation of the third remote rainwater collector along a particularly arid segment of the Arizona Trail, at Redington Pass on the Coronado National Forest. This steel structure contains a 1,500-gallon poly tank that fills with rain during the winter and will support hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians during the spring season. It will […]

On Wednesday, September 17, U.S. Representative Paul Gosar introduced a bill that would abolish the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of Grand Canyon National Monument near Grand Canyon National Park. This is a direct attack on America’s public lands and the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Please join us today in opposing this dangerous legislation. Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National […]

The US Department of Agriculture recently announced plans to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a popular policy that has protected nearly 45 million acres of National Forests across 42 states. Rolling back the Roadless Rule would open the door to logging, road construction, and development—threatening the outdoor experiences we treasure, and undermining the shared legacy of our public lands. This […]

Calling all military veterans, their families, and supporters…you are invited to participate in the first Arizona Trail Operation Freedom March. This year-long initiative starts July 4, 2025 and concludes on July 4, 2026, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Operation Freedom March challenges participants to hike, ride, or horseback ride sections of the Arizona National Scenic Trail until ALL 800 […]

Despite widespread outreach from members, donors, volunteers, gateway community representatives, and trail users like you, the Arizona Legislature did not include a single dollar for the Arizona Trail Fund in our state’s fiscal year 2026 budget. This fund was established in 2006 to support trail construction and maintenance, and is matched by private donations, federal grants, and volunteer labor contributions. […]

Thanks to supporters like you who contacted members of Congress, an amendment within the federal budget that would have sold off millions of acres that belongs to all Americans has been removed. By reaching out to your representatives and telling them how important National Forests, BLM lands, and the Arizona Trail are to you and future generations, we were able […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service recently signed the Arizona National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The plan establishes a long-term framework to guide the coordinated management of the 800-mile trail that spans Arizona from Mexico to Utah. Required by the National Trails System Act, the comprehensive plan outlines administrative objectives, policies, and management guidance for the Arizona National Scenic […]

In addition to being a recreational destination that attracts hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians from around the world, the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) is a valuable resource for wildfire prevention, response and recovery. Fire Break Trails act as important fire breaks, often stopping the flames once they reach the trail as they run out of fuel. Some communities […]

From May 4-10, we are celebrating the deserts, mountains, canyons, forests, lakes, streams, and trails that make Arizona such an incredible place to live, work, play and explore. Today, we are encouraging you to stand up for public lands, which are currently being threatened. The time for you to take action is NOW. There are members of Congress pushing for […]

Did you get sick while visiting the Arizona National Scenic Trail in the 2025 spring season? The Arizona Department of Health Services is following up on reports of people with gastrointestinal illness while hiking the Arizona Trail this spring. This online survey will help gather information from individuals that were sick with a gastrointestinal illness after visiting the Arizona National […]

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds the public to protect themselves and their pets by keeping a safe distance from wildlife, especially animals that may be behaving abnormally, such as those that appear aggressive and/or lacking a fear of humans. The reminder comes as an increasing number of rabies-related incidents have been reported  statewide. A recent Arizona Department […]