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 […]

Arizona Republic (June 21, 2022) by Mare Czinar At the tail end of the twin reservoirs of Upper and Lower Lake Mary, an airy draw closes in on the murky meanders of Walnut Creek. Cutting through dry stubble and emergent grasses, the entrenched creek course snakes south through coniferous woodlands in Coconino National Forest. Earthen dams on the creek contain […]

The Trek (June 21, 2022) by Richard According to the weather report, temperatures in the Phoenix metro area were 10 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, about 30 miles to the northeast, I was walking a dirt road through the Four Peaks Wilderness. The road’s elevation is about 4000 feet above that of Phoenix, so the temperature was actually pretty comfortable. The […]

The Trek (June 14, 2022) by Richard The town of Kearny has a reputation for being one of the friendliest “Gateway Communities” on the Arizona Trail. In my opinion, its reputation is well deserved. I didn’t have to wait for long beside Highway 177 before a local resident (thanks, Frank!) stopped to give me a ride. He dropped me off […]

VeloNews (june 10, 2022) by Betsy Welch Pivot Cycles, the Arizona-based bike brand, has announced a multi-year partnership with The Cyclist’s Menu (TCM) in Patagonia, Arizona. The relationship between Pivot and TCM will focus on gravel and sustainable recreation development in the borderlands region of southern Arizona. The Cyclist’s Menu was founded in 2014 by Heidi and Zander Ault. For nearly […]

The Trek (June 7, 2022) by Richard Even at lower elevations, views from the Arizona Trail were impressive – there were no pesky trees to get in the way. There was also nowhere to hide from the sun, so I’d get up at least half an hour before sunrise, and take less than an hour to break camp. By the […]

The Radavist (May 24, 2022) by Lael Wilcox & Rugile Kaladyte April 20, 2022 around 11pm at mile 745 I’m flat on my back, tucked behind the two-story pit toilets at the Manzanita Rest Area on the North Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon on the ninth night of my Arizona Trail time trial. My bike is disassembled and strapped […]

When one of bikepacking’s best athletes set a fastest known time on a legendary route, ultradistance cycling’s corner of the internet exploded in controversy around the meaning of the term “self-supported” On April 21, 34-year-old bikepacker Lael Wilcox pedaled into the Stateline Campground on the border between Arizona and Utah. She had just finished the Arizona Trail, an 827-mile route, […]

Fatherly Magazine (May 24, 2022) by Jennifer Holmes & Tyghe Trimble Sometimes you just want to go to the beach. Swim, lounge, nap, enjoy a cocktail at 4:59 p.m. It’s a relaxing vacation but, let’s be honest, not very memorable. It’s not the kind of time you’ll look back on later in life and say, that trip sure was something, […]

The Discoverer (May 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, there […]

Adventure Journal (May 17, 2022) by Brendan Leonard Memorial Day is just a couple weeks away, which kicks off long-distance hiking season for many. With that in mind, we present some of our favorite big hikes that are well-known. The lesser-known ones? We’ll keep those to ourselves. – Ed. You can probably name The Big Three long-distance trails in the […]

The Mountain Mamas call themselves ‘four menopausal women with grown kids,’ and they all have one thing in common. FOX 10’s Anita Roman reports. Go here to watch the video. The Arizona Trail (AZT) is a scenic but rugged path stretching border to border from Mexico to Utah. Extreme heat, freezing temperatures, strenuous elevation changes and poisonous critters are just a few of […]

Field Mag (May 13, 2022) by Kersten Vasey I began to overheat under the weight of seven liters of water, plus food, shelter, and supplies for eight days of backpacking under the intense Arizona sun. Blisters were already forming, and I had 97 miles left to hike until the South Rim of the Grand Canyon alongside someone I had barely […]

Doncaster Free Press (May 12, 2022) by Alex Wilkinson Alan Tracey, who was born and bred in Doncaster, flew out to USA to complete the 800 mile Arizona trail. An avid hiker, this was a challenge Alan had always wanted to complete, and after a gruelling but fascinating 53 days, Alan completed his mission. From the Mexican border, to the Grand […]

KJZZ News (May 12, 2022) by Ron Dungan A recent report shows that Arizona ranked near the bottom of the list of Western states in public lands protection during the last decade. Arizona’s neglect of public lands could have major implications for the Arizona Trail. The Arizona Trail runs about 800 miles, from Mexico to Utah. Most of it is on […]

Williams-Grand Canyon News (May 3, 2022) by Joe Giddens The historic wooden sign, which marks the first officially recognized section of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, is getting a new permanent home. “It’s weathered badly and been renovated a couple of times,” said Arizona Trail Director Shawn Redfield. “But that’s a losing battle. It’s going to be taken down and […]

Payson Roundup (April 29, 2022) by Michele Nelson Cheers and applause greeted the cutting of the ribbon to launch Phase 1 of the Highline Restoration Project on April 23. Partners that helped raise $350,000 to fund the completion of Phase 1 of the Highline celebrated at the Pine Trailhead with awards, locally made empanadas from Strawberry’s Pie Bar and hugs […]

Cleantechnica (April 26, 2022) by Jennifer Sensiba In Part 1, I introduced the problem of inequity in accessing non-motorized trails and wilderness areas. People with disabilities not only can’t effectively use mountain biking trails in many areas, but just can’t reasonably get into wilderness areas at all. Now, I want to finish that discussion, provide a real-world example, and then provide […]

Velo News (April 22, 2022) by Betsy Welch On Thursday, ultra endurance cyclist and bikepacker Lael Wilcox got off her Specialized Epic Evo at the Arizona-Utah border after a very long ride. The 35-year-old celebrated a Fastest Known Time (FKT) of the Arizona Trail (AZT) with a ride of nine days, eight hours, and 23 minutes, besting the previous record by 2:20. Wilcox set […]

Pinkbike (March 23, 2022) by Alicia Leggett Elizabeth Sampey set a time record on the Arizona Trail for 9 days, 11 hours, and 44 minutes in 2019. Now, she’s returned to the rugged, 800-mile trail spanning Arizona from the border of Mexico up to Utah to re-ride her favorite parts and reflect on what that race meant to her. Watch […]

American West (March 14, 2022) by Dave Stamboulis Arizona gets most of its media attention for a couple of things. For one, a big giant hole up at its northern end, better known as the Grand Canyon, and also for being a sunny winter escape for snowbirds. However, to truly understand the extremes of terrain, weather and geology, nothing beats […]

The Travel (March 14, 2022) by Cynthia Levy Lots of people take a backpack, put on a stove, food, and camping gear, and head out to the canyons, plains, valleys, and hills once in a while. If one is searching for the perfect trail to hike, the infamous Appalachian trail will do. It was founded by Benton MacKaye, who founded The […]

KJZZ (February 24, 2022) by Ron Dungan The Arizona Trail runs about 800 miles from Mexico to the Utah border, and the Legislature may make the process of hiking it a little more pleasant. The trail has an abundance of scenery, but it can be short on water and hard to reach in places. The Legislature has helped with funding […]

Greenfield Recorder (February 22, 2022) by Mary Byrne A local man plans to hike close to 800 miles next month with the goal of raising as much money as he can for a cause close to his heart. This week, Shelburne resident Jonathan “Jon” Riordan will begin his drive west to Sierra Vista, Arizona for the start of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, the […]

Travel & Leisure (February 4, 2022) by Stacey Leasca Looking to get your steps in? Arizona is hiding the perfect trail for you. Arizona is home to arguably one of the most beautiful National Scenic Trails in the United States. Stretching from the U.S.-Mexico border all the way to Utah, its 800-mile trail — aptly named The Arizona Trail — crosses through […]

The Trek (January 20, 2022) by Sam Getchell Back to the Trail Some time has passed since my presence in this community. When I last wore the title as “thru hiker” I lay in a bunk bed in Mammoth California, June 2017. That was to be the last day of my PCT thru hike, lack of funds pulled me off […]