The Travel (December 3, 2022) by Aaron Spray While Arizona may appear to be a regular rectangle, its northwestern corner is isolated and tenuously linked to the rest of the state, much like a panhandle. This vast arid region is called the Arizona Strip and is largely split off from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon. The […]

Phoenix Magazine (December 2022) by Mare Czinar EPIC BACKPACK TRIP Over its remote 26-mile course, the Arizona Trail Passage 16: Gila River Canyon passes though some of the most stunning backcountry in the Copper Corridor, near the community of Kelvin. Getting There: For access points and up-to-date conditions, visit the Arizona Trail website. Become a member and gain access to additional data, […]

AZ Family (November 21, 2022) by David Caltabiano A Phoenix pastor has finished the Arizona Trail, a hike that spans across Arizona and from the Utah to Mexico Border two years after a boulder crushed him during the same hike in the Tonto National Forest. His daughter finished the journey in 2020, but he didn’t complete it until Monday morning. […]

VeloNews (November 21, 2022) by Betsy Welch A chance encounter with an old story I wrote about the Spirit World 100 reminds me that gravel is just the medium — the spirit is how we ride it In a tiny corner of the Patagonia Lumber Co. where people congregate over mugs of wine or coffee, a framed copy of a story I […]

AZ Family (November 18, 2022) by David Caltabiano A boulder crushed a Phoenix pastor who was hiking for charity in 2020. The hike ended up raising millions for the victims of Warren Jeffs’ polygamy in Colorado City. His daughter finished the journey in 2020, and now, the pastor is close to finishing it, too. For three weeks, Dream City Church […]

SaltWire (November 15, 2022) by Christopher Connors Colin MacDougall never even went camping until two years ago. However, that didn’t stop the Howie Centre man from setting out on an epic adventure in which he hiked more than 6,300 kilometres in 175 days, crossing five U.S. states and ascending nearly 2,000 kilometres in total elevation. “Honestly, I’m not sure why […]

Backpacker (November 10, 2022) by Jeff Garmire In the spring of 2022, emergency room nurse Katie Brown set the self-supported Fastest Known Time on the Arizona Trail, beating Heather “Anish” Anderson’s 2016 record by nearly two days. On the northbound attempt, Katie drew on her backpacking experience as a Triple Crowner to winnow down her pack weight to the bare minimum. […]

Outside (November 13, 2022) by Grayson Haver Currin In less than 800 miles, the Arizona Trail offers a steady string of stunning landscapes, uncanny animals, and changing circumstances. If your time is limited, it’s the national scenic trail to try. The most commonplace question about long-distance hiking is also the most complicated to answer: How do you find the resources—the […]

Tucson Weekly (November 10, 2022) by David Abbott Caring for our military veterans is an awesome responsibility, particularly toward vets who may be dealing with the after-effects of combat or other stressful service, and while we might think of the Veterans Health Administration as the vehicle for that care, there are other ways to help. That is where the Arizona Trail […]

The Travel (November 6, 2022) by Luana Ferreira Arizona is home to some of the most scenic landscapes in the country, and it’s a great destination year-round. The Grand Canyon alone would be an excellent reason to visit Arizona, but the estate offers many other incredible sites. Travelers can find perfect campsites, vibrant cities, ghost towns, national parks, and ancient tribal […]

To determine the Best of Tucson each year, readers of the Tucson Weekly are asked to vote for their favorites — from taco shops to barbers to outdoor adventures. In the Best of Outdoors 2022 category, readers named the Arizona Trail the Best Backpacking Trail! We are proud that of all the amazing backpacking options near Tucson, the AZT remains the […]

HJ News (October 14, 2022) by Shawn Harrison Michael McKnight is at it again. The Cache Valley ultra runner is taking on the Arizona Trail, beginning this weekend. While he wants to beat the FKT (fastest known time) for the 800-mile trail that runs from the Utah-Arizona border to the Mexico-Arizona border, McKnight is also running for Marianne. He wants […]

Trail Runner (October 14, 2022) by Drew Dawson In possibly the first of its kind, two ultrarunners will go head-to-head for the fastest known time (FKT). Literally.  Starting Saturday, October 15, at 8 a.m. Arizona Time, Mike McKnight will head south and Ben Light will head north on the 800-mile Arizona Trail in pursuit of the FKT. To do that, they’ll […]

Gila Herald (September 27, 2022) This month, staff from the office of Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) joined a volunteer forest conservation effort with Arizona Trail Association’s Veteran Engagement & Trail Stewardship (VETS), a program intended to give veterans the opportunity to practice conservation on Arizona’s public lands while building healthy, service-focused bonds within the veteran community. Derek Duba, a Wounded […]

White Mountain Independent (September 20, 2022) Copperstate Farms, a vertically integrated Arizona cannabis operator, today announced a community partnership with the Arizona Trail Association (ATA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the natural environment. As a Premier Legacy Partner, Copperstate Farms is donating $20,000 to […]

azmarijuana.com (September 18, 2022) by Dan Kingston Copperstate Farms, a vertically integrated Arizona cannabis operator, announced a community partnership with the Arizona Trail Association (ATA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the Arizona Trail as a unique encounter with the natural environment. As a Premier Legacy Partner, Copperstate Farms is donating $20,000 to support new […]

The Trek (September 14, 2022) by J. Taylor Bell Oh, those halcyon days of knowing exactly what was necessary on a thru-hike and what was absolutely frivolous and decadent. Simpler times they were, friends. But they seem to be well behind us these days. And if you don’t believe me, then strap in for this very toasty ride. Many things […]

The Discoverer Blog (Autumn 2022) Autumn is the best time of year in the Southwest. While dropping temperatures mean breaking out the sweaters and heaters everywhere else in the country, in this corner of the U.S. it means the weather is just right for some outdoor exploring. While most minds immediately jump to the Grand Canyon when thinking of Arizona, […]

The Travel (July 21, 2022) by Aaron Spray There are currently eleven national scenic trails in the United States – almost all of them are well over 100 miles long. One of the trails is the Arizona National Scenic Trail which completely traverses the whole north-south length of Arizona. It has been designated a National Scenic Trail since 2009. A […]

Payson Roundup (July 22, 2022) by Myndi Brogdon Adventurer Gary Morris, 75, has completed the 800-mile-long Arizona Trail. A Strawberry resident and retired Pine-Strawberry Fire Department chief, Morris is an outdoorsman to his core and continues to add miles to his pedometer. About 100 people have completed the Arizona Trail every year since 2015, as they only completed it in […]

The Trek (June 28, 2022) by Richard It was a disappointing start to the day. I’d chosen my hotel, in part, because of its free breakfast, but they wouldn’t be serving anything that morning. Oh well. Some days your Pop-Tarts have no frosting. Other days, you find an extra tortilla in the pack. The trail giveth, and the trail taketh […]