Arizona Republic (Oct 15, 2026) by Shi En Kim In August, the National Park Service halted funding for 133 projects across the country, claiming that the projects don’t align with the administration’s priorities. Critics disagree and are scratching their heads. What’s political, they ask, about funding the care of some 30 sled dogs in Denali National Park? “I cannot, for […]

KJZZ (October 14, 2026) by Mark Brodie MARK BRODIE: The Trump administration has blocked at least $25 million worth of projects in national parks across the country, according to the Washington Post. That accounts for more than 130 projects at parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree and Yosemite. With me to talk about what this might mean for […]

Arizona Horizon (October 13, 2026) Arizona National Parks face significant funding cuts after the U.S. Department of the Interior blocked hundreds of National Park partnership agreements worth over $20 million. This includes previously approved congressional funding for certain projects. The Arizona parks affected are Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Matthew Nelson, Executive Director of […]

Verde Independent (Oct 14, 2026) Keep Sedona Beautiful will hold its next Preserving the Wonder™ Speaker Series event on Wednesday, October 21 at 5 pm. This month, Joan Meiners, Journalist and Ecologist will share ‘The Arizona Trail: An 850-mile Mountain Bike Exploration of Climate Change’. As always, this presentation will be free and open to the public, and will be […]

Bikepacking.com (Oct 12, 2026) by Wyatt Spalding On the afternoon of day 10 of the 2026 Arizona Trail Race, I drove south from Flagstaff as the remnants of Hurricane Rachel began arriving in northern Arizona. Strong winds swept across the landscape beneath storm clouds and blankets of falling rain. As I approached Mormon Lake to photograph Liz Ryen, the landscape […]

AZPM (October 8, 2026) by Tony Paniagua Listen to a radio interview with Arizona Trail Association Executive Director about the Arizona National Scenic Trail, flooding in Grand Canyon, closures from border wall construction, administrative attacks on public lands, the Roadless Rule, Travel Management, and more! Listen here: Or check out AZPM’s YouTube channel. The Arizona Trail segment begins at 14:14.

ASU News (Oct 1, 2026) by Ayrel Clark-Proffitt The nearly 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail captures the wildness and remarkable diversity of Arizona, stretching from the Mexican border in the south to the state’s boundary with Utah in the north. Those who travel from end to end experience 100,000 feet of elevation change and traverse more than a dozen biomes, […]

AZPM (Sept 30, 2026) by Katya Mendoza A 55-mile section of land along the U.S.-Mexico border has been closed to the public during border wall construction. The Coronado National Forest issued a public health and safety closure order Monday, signed by Forest Supervisor Kerwin Dewberry, stating that individuals who violate the order could face a fine of up to $5,000 […]

Bikepacking (Sept 30, 2026) The Arizona Trail Race is an unofficial challenge that spans the entire state. Two distance options are available: the Arizona Trail 300, a 300-mile event held yearly since 2006, and the Arizona Trail 800, the complete traverse from Mexico to Utah, first offered in 2010 as the AZTR750. Both routes are run concurrently, and at the […]

Cibola Citizen (Sept 30, 2026) by Diego Lopez The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is raising concerns about the proposed Roca Honda uranium mine northwest of Grants, warning that mining can affect surrounding public lands, recreation and communities connected to national scenic trails. The coalition issued a statement Sept. 24 identifying mining as a growing threat to scenic trails in several […]

KVOA (Sept 25, 2026) More than 130 National Park Service partnership agreements worth at least 25 million dollars in pre-approved funds have been blocked by the Interior Department, impacting several Arizona sites. The Center for Western Priorities says Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Lake Mead National Recreation Area are among the Arizona locations affected. The Arizona Trail Association also […]

Idaho Mountain Express (Sept 11, 2026) In 1982, in a rebellion against convenience, brothers Troy and Powell “Gil” Gillenwater walked across Arizona. They weren’t chasing fame or following a mapped route – because there wasn’t one. What began as a homegrown adventure evolved into a journey that reflected the rugged beauty of the Southwest. Accompanied by two mules, a stray […]

AZ Luminaria (Sept 3, 2026) by Stephanie Casanova Amy Juan questioned why the Trump administration is misrepresenting the border wall as a critical security measure and targeting millions of dollars to build a structure the Tohono O’odham Nation doesn’t want. Juan, a Tohono O’odham citizen, said there are three Customs and Border Patrol Sectors – Ajo, Tucson and Casa Grande – […]

Cronkite News (September 2, 2026) by Ellis Preston The Trump administration’s push to allow more road construction in national forests has alarmed preservationists in Arizona, who warn the change could lead to logging or more uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. On Aug. 18, the Department of Agriculture announced the plan to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, which prohibits road construction and […]

Arizona Daily Sun (Aug 2, 2026) by Brenden Martin The triple crown of bikepacking is a relatively new idea and riders from all over have quickly grown attached. The trio of races — the Arizona Trail Race, the Colorado Trail Race and the Tour Divide — ask riders to complete more than 4,000 miles of all-terrain biking all on their […]

National Forest Foundation (Summer/Fall 2026) by Erin Vivid Riley Stretching from near the Grand Canyon to the Little Colorado River in Northern Arizona is a swath of country that’s nearly the size of Rhode Island. It’s a mix of private, state, and federal land—including the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests—historically part of Babbitt Ranches, a family-owned enterprise that was founded in 1886. When Billy Cordasco, the great-grandson of the ranch’s original […]

Payson Roundup (July 10, 2026) by David C. Bolla Rim Country trail builders are riding high following the release of a new federal report. After more than a decade of advocacy from the mountain biking and bikepacking communities, the Biking on Long Distance Trails (BOLT) Act was signed into law in January of last year. And last month the Highline […]

Pima County (June 30, 2026) Finding a place to park in Summerhaven is a little easier now thanks to a recently completed project undertaken by the Pima County Transportation Department in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and Coronado National Forest. Visitors to Mount Lemmon can now enjoy a new paved parking lot with 75 spaces as well as 21 additional spaces along Sabino […]

Singletracks (June 27, 2026) by Travis Reil The BOLT Coalition’s portfolio of long-distance trails is poised for massive growth, with 13 potential trail additions that would nearly triple the length of its current list. These proposed routes would add approximately 7,778 miles across 10 states to the existing 5,232 miles of currently recognized trails. From the ambitious 5,000-mile Orogenesis stretching […]

Bikepacking (June 18, 2026) by Miles Arbour Rogue Panda Designs has been designing bikepacking bags purpose-built for the rigors of the Arizona Trail and beyond since 2014, maintaining its position in the industry by innovating, embracing new manufacturing methods, and adapting. Miles spent a few days with founder Nick Smolinske in Flagstaff, Arizona, exploring the workspace and the local machine […]

Singletracks (June 15, 2026) by Greg Heil The holy grail of backcountry mountain biking is the point-to-point singletrack trail. Not a loop. Not a convoluted network. Not a dirt road. Uninterrupted singletrack that takes you from A to B via an epic landscape that will leave an impression lasting a lifetime. Unfortunately, many of the iconic — and most-ridden — […]

Arizona Highways (July 2026) Among the things we love most about Arizona are the people. Around the state, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things. Here are just 10 of them — people doing interesting and innovative work that’s making a difference in their communities. Without exception, they resist taking credit, insisting that their accomplishments result from the work of many […]

Arizona Daily Sun (June 14, 2026) by Ian Torrence Cocodona has concluded but have no fear — this year’s local ultrarunning fun isn’t over. This September, Flagstaff’s original 100-mile race guides runners and mountain bikers from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon on the iconic Arizona National Scenic Trail. The racecourse traces the historic stagecoach line tourists took to reach the […]

Arizona Daily Sun (June 8, 2026) The City of Flagstaff was one of 28 cities recognized last month by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) as a “Trail Town,” a new designation intended to honor communities that support access to robust and well-supported trail networks. “IMBA Trail Towns represent communities that understand the powerful role trails play in shaping vibrant […]

KVOA (June 5, 2026) A new bipartisan measure aims to prevent federal public lands from being sold through budget negotiations, according to U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani’s office. U.S. Reps. Ciscomani and Gabe Vasquez introduced the Public Lands Integrity Act on Thursday, according to the release. The legislation would stop public lands like Sabino Canyon Recreation Area from being sold through […]

Islands (May 23, 2026) by Kate Mothes The United States has myriad trails across its vast and varied landscapes. There are 11 official National Scenic Trails, and they offer some of the world’s most beautiful and ambitious walks. Ranging from 65 to 4,600 miles and covering all of the country’s major mountain ranges, the U.S. National Scenic Trails system appeals […]

AZ Family (May 28, 2026) by Mason Carroll An Arizona man is going to great lengths to honor the man who inspired the Arizona Trail. The Trail runs from the border with Mexico to the border with Utah, and completing it is a rite of passage for endurance hikers. The Arizona Trail winds through 800 miles of desert, forest, and even the […]

Forbes (May 21, 2026) by Emese Maczko Following the devastating wildfire in July 2025, the National Park Service announced that the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopened on May 15, 2026. “This year’s reopening carries special significance not just for Arizonans, but for the visitors from everywhere who hold this place close to their hearts,” says Josh Coddington, […]

Arizona Horizon (May 20, 2026) by Ted Simon, Arizona PBS In this episode of “Arizona Horizon,” we will also discuss the Arizona National Scenic Trail’s closure, meant to give way to border wall construction after The Department of Homeland Security and the Arizona Trail Association announced a double-layered border wall through the Coronado National Memorial. Trump administration officials say there is […]