Arizona Republic (Dec 8, 2025) by Joan Meiners Rest of Day 35, Mile 800 (Passage 4: Casa Blanca Canyon) Traversing the Santa Rita Mountains toward the final passages of the trail manifested ups and downs in new dimensions. My conversation with Arizona Trail Association Director Matt Nelson at Kentucky Camp had been energizing after so much solitude on trail. But it also […]

Queen Creek Tribune (Dec 3, 2025) by Mary-Elizabeth Meagher When some people encounter a vending machine, they briefly scan its contents and continue on their way. But artist Anjelica Guzman’s keen eyes imagine creative possibilities.  They led Guzman on a mission to combine her talent for graphic design, her passion for nature, and her connection with Downtown Mesa into an unconventional […]

Arizona Republic (Dec 1, 2025) by Joan Meiners Republic reporter Joan Meiners talks with Matt Nelson about how climate change and other factors might affect the future of the Arizona Trail. Watch the video here.

Arizona Republic (Dec 1, 2025) by Joan Meiners Day 30, Mile 683 (Passage 11e: Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass) At the top of the climb up Mount Lemmon to Summerhaven, I hit a limit of low temperatures I was equipped to survive with the layers I had carried with me nearly 700 miles across the state. So I booked a night […]

Cronkite News (November 26, 2025) by Tufan Neupane Environmental groups in Arizona are raising alarms over President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management, former New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce. Pearce’s long record of supporting the sale of public land, opposing protection of national monuments and pushing to expand oil and gas extraction, they say, makes him unfit […]

Phoenix New Times (Nov 25, 2025) by Sara Palmer With summer temperatures firmly in the rearview mirror, it’s now hiking season in the Valley. From mysteries of lost gold and trails leading to bits of history left behind, to summit views that will take your breath away, metro Phoenix is brimming with places to explore. You’ll find streams, beautiful canyons, […]

Arizona Daily Sun (Nov 25, 2025) by Sam McLaughlin Arizona Snowbowl opened a day earlier than planned this year, welcoming skiers and snowboarders to a limited section of the resort’s terrain on Thursday, Nov. 20. And on Friday morning, Nov. 21, a group of roughly three dozen demonstrators lined both sides of the bottom of Snowbowl Road calling for an […]

Arizona Republic (Nov 24, 2025) by Joan Meiners Day 25, Mile 595 (Passage 15: Tortilla Mountains) With Kearney’s Ray copper mine as my backdrop, I set off on my bike into the remote and wild Tortilla Mountains from Kelvin Trailhead. Loaded with seven liters of water and six days of food to get me through the next stretch, my bike […]

Payson Roundup (Nov 18, 2025) by David C. Bolla About 500 man-hours of labor. Thousands of dollars in materials. An Arizona Trail Association crew has completed a new pipe rail fence in Pine. Over the course of eight Thursday morning sessions, between eight and 10 volunteers worked to replace a fence around the parking lot at the Pine Trailhead. The […]

Arizona Republic (Nov 17, 2025) by Joan Meiners Day 21, Mile 512 (Bike detour passage 19/18: around Superstition Wilderness) In the 1870s, a European prospector found a solution to all his problems in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains. He struck gold, literally, or so the legend goes, and left several caches hidden in the hills. On his deathbed in Phoenix, the “Dutchman,” […]

Backpacker (Nov 15, 2025) by Adam Roy For more than 30 years, Arizona Trail hikers have celebrated their achievements at Monument 102, a stone obelisk that marks the U.S.-Mexico border and the southern end of the path. Whether kicking off an 800-mile adventure or celebrating the end of the journey of a lifetime, they could slip through the two-strand barbed […]

Backpacker (Nov 7, 2025) by Adam Roy Hikers can no longer access the monument at the Arizona Trail’s (AZT) southern terminus after the Department of Homeland Security blocked it off with razor wire, the nonprofit that helps manage the famed long trail said. In an Instagram post on November 6, the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) wrote that contractors for the DHS had […]

The Trek (Nov 7, 2025) by Kelly Floro Contractors for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have reportedly installed concertina wire blocking access to the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail, according to the Arizona Trail Association (ATA). The 800-mile national scenic trail begins at Border Monument 102 just north of the Mexican border, within Coronado National Memorial, and terminates […]

Arizona Republic (Nov 3, 2025) by Joan Meiners Day 12, Mile 309 (Passage 31: Walnut Canyon) Riding my trail rig through Flagstaff on busy streets felt strange after a week in the wilderness. But the car traffic was reasonably courteous about sharing the road, and the miles on a paved surface to reconnect with the singletrack felt easy. That didn’t […]

Arizona Republic (October 27, 2025) by Joan Meiners Day 7, Mile 196 (Passage 37: Grand Canyon South Rim) From the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, I cruised south on a paved, downhill path out of the park toward Tusayan, riding with Ryan Choi, an ecologist in from Alaska and an old friend. It was a cool, sunny morning and we were […]

Arizona Republic (October 20, 2025) by Joan Meiners Editor’s note: Over seven weeks this fall, Arizona Republic climate reporter Joan Meiners is biking the length of the 850-mile Arizona Trail from Utah to Mexico to report on how climate change is affecting the state’s landscapes and communities. You can follow her journey in a series of weekly dispatches, beginning with this one, which […]

Arizona Republic (August 15, 2025) by Scott Garlid, Matthew Nelson, Dan Stellar and Don McDowell As representatives from diverse organizations that depend on public lands, we don’t always agree on every policy or management practice. But there is one issue we are unequivocally united on: Congress should not be in the business of selling off public lands to the highest […]

Arizona Daily Sun (August 15, 2025) by Sam McLaughlin A month after two major fires roared into life in northern Coconino County, the end of active firefighting operations seems to be finally approaching. The White Sage Fire has been contained after burning almost 60,000 acres, and the Dragon Bravo Fire, though still active in some areas, is slowly coming under […]

The National Park Service (NPS) Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Awards are the agency’s annual recognition of outstanding contributions to wilderness stewardship by an individual, team, and external partner, including those involving interpretation and education; management of natural, cultural, and social resources; planning; protection; and maintenance operations. Award recipients are nominated by fellow NPS staff and selected by an interdisciplinary panel. […]

azfamily.com ~ By Steven Sarabia Jul. 23, 2025 PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Devastating wildfires in northern Arizona continue to threaten popular trails that draw people from around the world. “Seeing how much damage was done at the north rim with the buildings being destroyed, it is really disappointing, said Hiker Samantha Pinkley. “I mean it’s just, it’s unfortunate,” said hiker Stan […]

Backpacker (July 15, 2025) by Alexandra Gillespie Reports of thru-hikers facing rejection and even detention at the U.S. border have left some backpackers questioning whether to cancel their long-planned trips. For hikers flying to the U.S., the most unpredictable stretch of the trip might arrive before the first mile. In recent months, hiking hopefuls with valid visas and detailed itineraries […]

Outside Magazine (July 2025) by Graham Averill Load up your bike and disappear into America’s wildest places on these incredible multi-day rides… Coconino Loop, Coconino National Forest, Arizona  Distance: 240 miles Duration: Seven days Highlights: Slick rock, canyons galore The Coconino Loop is 240 miles of singletrack and dirt roads through the canyons and peaks of Northern Arizona, combining some of the best trails and […]

KVOA-TV (July 9, 2025) by Marissa Orr A 67-year-old hiker from Alvarado, Texas, tragically passed away after hiking at Grand Canyon National Park. Officials said the incident happened on July 8, 2025, on the South Kaibab Trail. The hiker was returning from Skeleton Point and was attempting to reach Phantom Ranch for an overnight stay, according to officials. The hiker was […]

KVOA (July 4, 2025) Arizona’s military community begins 800-mile trail adventure. Watch the Operation Freedom March promo, featured on KVOA-TV here.

Treeline Review (June 26, 2025) by Meg Carney A fast-moving proposal in the U.S. Senate threatens to open the door to one of the largest public land sales in modern history. Buried within the Senate’s recent budget bill, a provision would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell off at least public lands they manage in 11 Western […]

Mountain Getaway (June 27, 2025) Dotting America’s mountain towns, wilderness, and shores are incredible trails for trail runners. They often weave through state and national forests, over sweeping landscapes, and along shimmering bodies of water. It makes for a perfect way to enjoy some of the most beautiful parts of America while getting in a workout. It’s a win-win. But […]

Copper Area News (June 21, 2025) The Tri-Community has had two recent fires centered in or around the town of Oracle. Oracle Fire District personnel were joined by Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, along with CERT and Firewise volunteers, at the Firewise meeting in Oracle on June 11, 2025. Community members were also in attendance. The recent Cedar […]