Arizona Republic (August 20, 2020) by Mare Czinar It feels like everyone is heading to Arizona’s high country this summer, and no wonder. With record-breaking heat in Phoenix and people curtailing their activities because of the new coronavirus pandemic, a change of scenery is more refreshing than ever. Here are three Flagstaff hikes that are at their best in summer. The masses […]
Read moreThe Fountain Hills Times (August 12, 2020) by Congressman David Schweikert Arizonans know the importance of maintaining our national parks’ beauty and accessibility. Recently, congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation to improve infrastructure and access to our national parks and public lands, while also promoting new job growth. I am pleased to report this legislation has been signed […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (August 11, 2020) by Sam McManis Mornings after monsoons, it’s best to choose your trails carefully lest you fall prey to the mistake I made last month and get stuck in the very definition of the word quagmire. Now, let me preface this by saying there are many trails in greater Flagstaff that can handle a little […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (August 4, 2020) by Sam McManis Out on the open range, so far north of Flagstaff that the San Francisco Peaks can barely be peeked at in the distance, a newly cut swath of singletrack trail 20 years in the making was unveiled over the weekend. A 15-mile stretch of the Arizona Trail, the state’ outdoor recreational […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (August 4, 2020) by Sam McManis here are no boring trails, only boring people. John Muir said that, I think. Or, if he didn’t, he should have. I entertained that thought — so, so deep and incisive — as I was traveling on the 5.7-mile Deer Hill Trail east of the Peaks, from Little Elden Springs Horse […]
Read moreOn August 4, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. This is the most important piece of conservation legislation in half a century! The Act provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which protect lands and waters Americans treasure most, and improves access to the outdoors for urban communities. The Act also dedicates […]
Read moreThe Trek (July 31, 2020) by Katie Kommer Any piece of gear deemed worthy of Anish on her 2013 FKT of the PCT deserves serious consideration. Eight ounces of weight is a fair price to pay for a reprieve from the desert sun. Though I wasn’t using my umbrella to shade me from that extreme of heat, I’m still completely […]
Read moreThe Trek (July 30, 2020) by Zach Citing multiple trail closures with “no safe or reasonable detours,” in addition to Arizona being a COVID-19 hotspot, the Arizona Trail Association is discouraging both thru-hikes and thru-rides on the Arizona Trail for the remainder of 2020. Trail closures include: AZT Passages 10-12 through the Santa Catalina Mountains and Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (July 28, 2020) by Sam McManis Going on fire roads sure would be more enjoyable, and certainly less monotonous, if they were all as spectacular as Hart Prairie Road, aka FR 151, running west of the San Francisco Peaks. Hart Prairie, especially the two-mile stretch between FR 418 and FR 627 (the turnoff for the Bismarck Lake […]
Read moreToday, the United States House of Representatives voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act by an overwhelming majority (310–107). It is now on its way to be signed by the President, and within the next 10 days will become the most significant piece of conservation legislation in a generation. The Act provides full and permanent funding for the […]
Read moreArizona Republic (July 21, 2020) by Rafael Carranza U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the federal agency overseeing the planning and construction of physical barriers along the Arizona-Mexico border, said work has begun to raze and widen a large swath of protected land within a national park to prepare for border wall construction. CBP released more details about the project and its […]
Read moreArizona Public Media (July 17, 2020) by Tony Paniagua Tony Paniagua visited Sasabe and the Coronado National Memorial, where projects are underway. Click here to watch the 5-minute video coverage.
Read moreThe Trek (July 17, 2020) by Jean Taggart It’s July 2020 and COVID is still upon us. Summer has arrived, the weather is warm, and some folks have even resumed thru-hikes. The Arizona Trail (AZT) beckons. But the official word on the Arizona Trail website is as follows: “The CDC currently recommends all Americans avoid discretionary travel. If access to the Arizona […]
Read moreWater is the most important resource along the 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail. Where to find it, how reliable the source may be, and the quality of the water is vital to any long-distance trail adventure on foot, mountain bike or equine. Working with our friends at Atlas Guides, we are proud to introduce the Arizona Trail Water Report. This […]
Read moreArizona Daily Sun (July 14, 2020) by Sam McManis Let’s face it, not all of the 800-mile Arizona Trail is Instagram-worthy. No, not even the Flagstaff segments. Jewel that it is in these parts, the AZT is not all stately Ponderosa pines and quaking aspens and brisk alpine ascents. By necessity and design, some of the trail that runs through […]
Read moreTemporary Trail Closure Due to a large Homeland Security based construction project along the US-Mexico border, the National Park Service is implementing public use closure at Coronado National Memorial, effective at 0001 hours on December 1, 2019. Pursuant to the authority contained in the 16 United States Code 3, and Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, sections 1.5 […]
Read moreArizona Republic (July 10, 2020) by Rafael Carranza Preparations to begin installing 30-foot steel bollards through pristine mountain wilderness along the Arizona-Mexico border south of Sierra Vista will begin as early as Monday, according to conservationists critical of border wall construction in protected federal lands. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Thursday they would close access starting on July 13 to a popular […]
Read moreKJZZ (July 10, 2020) by Michel Marizco The Arizona Trail’s start along the U.S.-Mexico border will be closed for months beginning Monday so the Trump administration can finish building a border wall in the area. The U.S. government has several ongoing border wall projects throughout Arizona. Some along tribal lands, others across rivers and now it’s about to begin a two-mile […]
Read morePayson Roundup (July 9, 2020) by Alexis Bechman After winds initially pushed the Polles Fire northeast for a few tense days, crews on Thursday reported marked containment on the 572-acre fire west of Payson. As of Thursday morning, the fire was 61% contained. There has been no reported growth on the fire since Sunday evening. After a helicopter pilot was […]
Read moreCustoms and Border Protection (CBP) announced their plans today to construct two miles of border barriers through the Huachuca Mountains within Coronado National Memorial and across the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Beginning Monday, July 13 the southernmost two miles of the Trail will be closed in the interest of public safety during construction activities. Click here to send a pre-formatted […]
Read moreJuly 3, 2020 (City Sun Times) Residents looking for a big goal to keep them healthy and motivated during a time of social distancing are invited to sign up for the Arizona Trail Virtual Adventure. This do-it-yourself event encourages participants to hike, run or ride anywhere and accumulate miles toward completing all or a portion of the 800-mile Arizona Trail. […]
Read moreJune 8, 2020 (Wisconsin Gazette) The Trump administration wants to build a border wall across the terminus of the 800-mile long, federally protected Arizona Trail. A 30-ft steel barrier could soon rip through the rugged Huachuca Mountains, stopping migrating jaguars and ocelots in their tracks and changing the experience of thousands of hikers forever. Watch Matthew Nelson of the Arizona […]
Read moreArizona Republic (June 24, 2020) by Mare Czinar Since prehistoric times, the fertile forests around Mormon Lake have served Native peoples, wildlife, commerce and recreationists. The geologically complex area of volcanic landforms and natural lakes is situated among historic travel corridors that have been used for centuries by early inhabitants, loggers and ranchers. Gooseberry Springs, which sits at the base […]
Read moreOn December 11th, 2019, 12 students from Edge High School left for an amazing adventure into the Rincon Mountain Foothills. Our goal was to hike to Bridal Wreath Falls, and gain a better understanding of high desert grasslands in our Sonoran Desert. Outdoor learning is a variable as the weather, and goals and plans are often flexible to meet the […]
Read morePlease use caution while enjoying the Arizona Trail near Hart Prairie between Aspen Corner and Forest Road 418 during the summer of 2020. The U.S. Forest Service will be cutting and masticating ponderosa pine trees throughout the area to restore the meadow environment. This project allows regrowth of Bebb willow and other alpine meadow species that have been pushed out […]
Read moreby John Nelson, May 2020 The other day was Dale’s birthday. I can’t believe he’d be seventy now. He’ll always be about thirty for us. This morning we listened to Irish music and had sourdough pancakes in his honor. Lisa and I met Dale in about 1978 when we lived next to each other in the two second-story apartments above an […]
Read moreThe Trail Show (May 26, 2020) by Lawton “Disco” Grinder The Trail Show, America’s greatest hiking podcast, features a conversation with Arizona Trail Association Executive Director Matthew Nelson about how a border wall and infrastructure would impact the southern terminus of the AZT. You can listen to Episode #94 here. The Arizona Trail segment begins at 1:25:42 into the podcast.
Read moreArizona Republic (May 18, 2020) by Rafael Carranza Kimberly Lea and Kimberly Knebel hiked around Phoenix for months, carrying weights and monitoring their water use, in preparation to start hiking the first section of the Arizona Trail. The scenic 800-mile-long route stretches from the Arizona-Utah state line south to the Coronado National Memorial, 4,750 acres of protected mountain landscapes and grassy plains on the […]
Read moreBikepacking.com (May 15, 2020) by Lucas Winzenburg A new 74-mile segment of the border wall between the United States and Mexico is threatening the southern terminus of the 750-mile Arizona Trail, and the Arizona Trail Association is seeking public comments through the end of today. Read more here, with details on what’s at stake and how you can help… Customs […]
Read moreKNAU (May 15, 2020) by Ryan Heinsius The Hopi Tribe says the Trump administration’s plan to build 74 miles of barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border would disrupt a ceremonial migration route. According to Hopi Vice Chairman Clark Tenakhongva it would cut off the Palatkwapi Trail, which the tribe uses to maintain cultural and ceremonial connections to Indigenous groups in Mexico […]
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