Backpacking Routes (February 23, 2021) by Hugh Owen Seven months after the southernmost mile of the Arizona Trail (AZT) was closed because of border wall construction, open trenches, unstable soil from blasting, and abandoned construction areas continue to make the trail unsafe for hikers. The AZT (also the Yaqui Ridge Trail) from the Joe’s Canyon Trail junction south to Border Monument 102 […]
Read moreOn February 17, After School on the AZT spent a brisk afternoon hiking at Rocky Ridge, learning proper muddy trail etiquette, and diving into the fascinating topic of public lands. With the recent snowmelt, we were very intentional about where we chose to hold this outing. Because, in Flagstaff, wet trails mean muddy trails, and traveling on muddy trails can […]
Read moreOutside Magazine (February 13, 2021) by Grayson Haver Currin The first night Magpie asked Constantine to make out, he demurred—at least initially. The two long-distance hikers had met ten days or so into a thru-hike of the remote Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT). For three weeks they burned through the miles and, that night, crammed into a double bed in a stranger’s house in Washington, they […]
Read moreFor our fourth outing of winter After School on the AZT, we met for an afternoon of hiking, team building, and some good ol’ forest relaxation. It was a lovely afternoon, which only seemed to get sunnier and more pleasant as we progressed along the trail. The Arizona Trail led us toward a beautiful view of Mount Elden, passing […]
Read moreTucson Electric Power/UniSource Energy Services Newsletter (February 2021) As interest in outdoor activities escalated during the pandemic, the Arizona Trail Association stepped up its efforts to educate youth about our surroundings and encourage them to get outside in a safe manner. Through the Seeds of Stewardship program, the association is giving free, outdoor classes to students; providing online, printable guides for […]
Read moreVail Style Magazine (February 2021) by Kevin Boerup As darkness fell on the high, lonely desert at Cienega Creek one summer night in 1887, a Southern Pacific passenger train suddenly slammed on its brakes. Gunfire pierced the night and the Doc Smart Gang stepped out of the darkness. After robbing the train, a sheriff’s posse was soon formed, and the […]
Read moreIf you missed the ATA’s Annual Members Meeting on Saturday, February 6, the Zoom Webinar is now on our Facebook page and also on our YouTube channel. If you are a member, donor, volunteer, business partner, agency staff, grantor, gateway community representative, trail angel, or general lover of the Arizona National Scenic Trail — THANK YOU for your support.
Read moreThirty inches of snow! Sitting at 8,000 feet, Arizona Nordic Village finally got plenty of snow to open for snowsports. Thirty inches from one storm! The accumulation was exciting, as it meant opportunities for snowshoeing and cross country skiing awaited us—alas! After School on the AZT participants had been looking forward to this for weeks. The storm was backed by […]
Read moreThe day before our second After School on the AZT outing, we were finally graced with some snow. Up until this last snowstorm, it had been a really dry winter in Flagstaff; the precipitation was worth celebrating. On January 20, our small group met up at the Kachina Trailhead for a hike on a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Our goal for […]
Read moreTwenty-twenty-fun here we go! Tis a new year and a new season for Seeds of Stewardship’s extracurricular program! Last fall, in response to some of the challenges our community faced throughout the pandemic—a lack of opportunities for youth socialization, increased human impacts on trails, elevated strains on families, more hours spent on screens, the list goes on—we launched After School […]
Read moreAll of us at the Arizona Trail Association wish you a healthy and happy New Year filled with outdoor adventures, inspiring landscapes, and quality time with friends. Remember, the Arizona Trail is your trail. We invite you to explore and enjoy it, and also to Join, Volunteer and Donate to support our mission to protect, maintain, enhance, promote and sustain the […]
Read moreArizona Republic (December 25, 202) by Karina Bland Pastor Luke Barnett stood at the pulpit at Dream City Church in Phoenix, dressed in blue jeans and a black sweater, his smile big. You’d never know anything was wrong. “I’ve missed you so much,” he said into the microphone. The 3,600-seat church was more than half full, his parishioners on their feet, their […]
Read moreThe Trek (December 22, 2020) by Abigail Kessler Though it’s listed as the South Rim section of the trail, this passage mostly takes you through Kaibab National Forest and the back ways of Grand Canyon National Park, only occasionally hinting at the chasm to come. There’s plenty to enjoy about the trip, however– as well as a number of options […]
Read moreThe Trek (December 21, 2020) by Abigail Kessler Who is this and what are you doing? Hi friends! My name’s Abigail, and I’m hoping to tell you about my experience section hiking the Arizona Trail (AZT). I’m trying to make it as a local journalist, but I’m pretty outdoorsy too. I moved to Arizona from the midwest last summer and […]
Read moreThe Bureau of Land Management’s Arizona Strip Field Office recently rescinded the fire closure order that has kept the Buckskin Mountain Passage off-limits since the Pine Hollow Fire started in July 2020. The northernmost 10.6 miles of trail between Winter Road and Stateline Campground are open again, but all Arizona Trail adventurers should use caution within the burn zone. Falling […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (December 6, 2020) by Sam McManis Something of an alchemic transformation, both magical and very much real, took place one recent morning behind the bright red door of a Flagstaff studio with a rich history of artistic imagining. Scooted forward in her big red chair, back ergonomically straight but neck craned over her workbench, Ryanne Sebern slipped […]
Read moreState Bicycle Company (October 21, 2020) To put their latest creation to the test, State Bicycle Company sent a team of professional cyclists to saddle up and push the new 6061 All-Road bikes to the limit, riding trails and dirt roads from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon via the Arizona Trail. The rocky-route, most appropriate for hikers and mountain bikes, […]
Read moreSince March, more people have been heading into the great outdoors than ever before. We are proud that the Arizona Trail has received record visitation, and provides a safe outdoor space at a time when we need it most. If you’re among the many who have visited the AZT and Arizona’s public lands during the pandemic, we want to hear […]
Read moreAZ Family (November 10, 2020) by Max Gordon A hike for a good cause nearly turned deadly for a Phoenix pastor and his daughter while the two were trekking on the Arizona Trail. Dream City Church Senior Pastor Luke Barnett and his daughter, 20-year-old Annalee, were hiking the 800 miles to raise money for the Colorado City Dream Center, which helps […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (November 8, 2020) by Julie Hammonds Larry Phoenix is on a quest to run the 800-mile Arizona Trail. Now the regional supervisor at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Kingman office, Larry spent 22 years as a field supervisor here in Flagstaff. I met him through work, but we bonded at Tuesday night Team Run Flagstaff workouts. […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (November 3, 2020) by Sam McManis Leave it to the Germans, known for their precision with language and most everything else, to come up with just the right word to describe the ineffable feeling of being alone in the woods, both the pleasures and the loneliness experienced therein: waldeinsamkeit. Come to think, the Japanese have a phrase that […]
Read moreWe are pleased to premier our new Trail Skills Institute Video Series on the ATA’s Youtube channel. The videos were produced in partnership with Flagline Trails, American Conservation Experience (ACE) and Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) by Outdoor Evolution Media. They are being filmed in various locations across the state and include tips on trail maintenance in the wide variety of […]
Read moreThe New York Times (November 1, 2020) by Laiken Jordahl Saguaro cactuses, some nearly a century old, in shards on the desert floor. Jaguars, lost, because a metal wall has blocked their migratory path. Endangered species homeless because their critical habitats have been destroyed. Living and working along the U.S.-Mexico border means watching the surreal, slow-motion leveling of the wild […]
Read moreSt. George News (October 26, 2020) by Aspen Stoddard On Sept. 27, Luke Barnett, head pastor of Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and his daughter Annalee Barnett set out on the Arizona Trail to hike approximately 800 miles to the Mexico border in an effort to raise $1 million for the Short Creek Dream Center. Luke Merideth, director of […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (October 25, 2020) by Julie Hammonds The other night, I was sitting at my computer searching for real races to enter: the kind with a finish line and aid stations and post-race parties. I appreciate the flexibility of virtual races, but I miss the thrill of measuring myself against others on the same course on the same […]
Read moreTucson Weekly (October 22, 2020) Best Backpacking Trail – Arizona Trail How lucky are we to live in a place where it’s hard to decide what the best local backpacking trail is? The 800-mile Arizona trail links biomes ranging from deserts to forests to mountains across Mexico, Arizona and Utah. It’s divided into 43 individual passages, each with its own […]
Read moreAfter a year of research and gathering input from Arizona Trail users like you, the ATA is proud to release its final report on Perceptions of Conflict Surrounding Future E-Bike Use on the Arizona Trail. This research was motivated by changes in how federal agencies are managing electric-motorized bicycles (e-bikes) and Secretarial Order 3376, which may allow e-bikes on non-motorized […]
Read moreTucson Weekly (October 5, 2020) by Joe Giddens Senate candidates Martha McSally and Mark Kelly laid out their visions of public land management for Arizona on Friday in two separate online forums hosted by the Arizona Trail Association. The online forums took place ahead of their only scheduled debate on Tuesday and today’s voter registration deadline. Climate change starkly contrasted […]
Read moreDisplay your love for the Arizona Trail with original jewelry handcrafted in Flagstaff. Backcountry guide and jewelry artist Ryanne Sebern has created a stunning line of silver earrings and necklaces with copper accents inspired by the AZT. She has also added stamped designs to appeal to hikers (boot print), equestrians (horseshoe), and mountain bikers (bike). Six different designs are available to choose from at […]
Read moreThe Wickenburg Sun (September 28, 2020) The Arizona Trail Association (ATA) has arranged a special online “Trailhead Talk” with United States Senate candidates Martha McSally (R) and Mark Kelly (D) on Friday, October 2. These one-on-one conversations will provide each candidate an opportunity to share their personal connection to the Arizona Trail and speak about the importance of public lands, […]
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