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 […]
Read moreDue to extreme fire danger, the Coconino National Forest has issued a closure order for camping and campfires near Flagstaff. There is no overnight camping permitted along the following passages and mileages (using the FarOut app): Passage 31 (Walnut Canyon) from Sandys Canyon Trail (mile 554.8) to Walnut Canyon Road (mile 565.2) Passage 32 (Elden Mountain) from Railroad Tracks (mile […]
Read moreJust in time for Spring, we are proud to offer these new Arizona Trail bandanas! These are 100% cotton and feature the Arizona Trail’s path as it crosses the state. Perhaps the most functional item to bring with you on the Arizona Trail, a bandana can be used to shade your neck and face; pre-filter water; cool your skin; wrap around a […]
Read moreToday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced that internal guidance on how future e-bike use is managed on national forests and grasslands has been finalized. The updated guidance clarifies existing policy and provides guidelines to local Forest Service employees that may be considering expanding e-bike access at site-specific locations. The Forest Service currently allows e-bikes on all Forest […]
Read morePinkbike (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 […]
Read moreNature and the resources and benefits it provides are key inputs to production processes that stimulate economic growth. They enhance quality-of-life and contribute to the health of regional economies through ‘nature-based’ industries that depend on them, supporting jobs, income, and economic development. At the same time, how these natural resources are managed can either build or degrade the natural resource […]
Read moreMarybeth M. Gardner 03/06/67 to 03/09/22. Marybeth was a devoted mother, wife and hiking partner. Hiking was a very large part of her life, and she loved to be out on the trails with her family. Arizona was always her favorite spot. Marybeth could be found wherever there was a trail or destination requiring a lot of challenging bushwacking! Marybeth […]
Read moreAmerican 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 […]
Read moreThe 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 […]
Read morePatagonia Regional Times (March 2022) by Robert Gay The first mile of the Arizona Trail (AZT), the much loved and well-trodden 800-mile path from Mexico to Utah, was closed in July 2020 when Border Wall construction began within the Coronado National Memorial at the Eastern edge of the San Rafael Valley. In that first mile of the Trail, starting at […]
Read moreKJZZ (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 […]
Read moreGreenfield 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 […]
Read moreHouse Bill 2789 (Arizona Trail Fund) is being voted on by the State Legislature, and we are asking you to contact your representatives and ask them to support this bill in the House this week! It will be heard by the Senate shortly thereafter. This bill would expand use of the Arizona Trail State Fund beyond trail construction and maintenance […]
Read moreTravel & 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 […]
Read moreOn February 3, Arizona Senator TJ Shope’s outdoor recreation resolution passed on the Senate floor with unanimous, bipartisan support (28-0). The resolution was then transmitted to the House where it was unanimously approved. We are so proud of the Arizona State Legislature recognizing the importance of outdoor recreation for community wellness and our state’s economy! Please take a moment to […]
Read moreJoin us for the 28th Annual Meeting of the Arizona Trail Association at 10 am on Saturday, February 5th on Zoom and Facebook Live as we present accomplishments from 2021 and our big goals for 2022. You’ll learn how your contributions helped protect and maintain the 800-mile Arizona Trail, in addition to reports on Trail Operations, Volunteer Program, Youth Outreach […]
Read moreIf your thru-hike or thru-ride is scheduled for Spring of ‘22, you picked a prime time! With decent winter precipitation and mild temperatures, chances are this Spring could be an epic wildflower year with fresh flowing streams and pleasant weather. But no promises. The one thing you can be sure of is the adventure of a lifetime. The Arizona Trail […]
Read moreThe 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 […]
Read moreBackpacker Magazine (January 14, 2022) by Kelly Bastone From climate change to drilling and mining, various threats promise to wipe out what’s best about America’s 12 most endangered trails. Hike them now to admire ancient glacial ice, hear howling wolves, splash at pristine beaches, and admire ancient art galleries. Arizona Trail, Tonto National Forest, Arizona The views from 4,377-foot Picketpost […]
Read moreEvery five years, the Arizona Trail Association develops a Strategic Plan to help guide staff and board strive as they fulfill the mission and vision of the organization. As annual work plans are developed and as issues arise, the Strategic Plan provides the framework for sound decision-making. Thanks to input from ATA members and the hard work of the Board […]
Read moreWhether you’re hiking, running, biking, riding, or rolling along the Arizona Trail, wrap yourself in one of these versatile and stylish neck gaiters, featuring the official critter of the Arizona National Scenic Trail: the Gila Monster. It’s the ultimate trail accessory — providing skin protection and a cloth face covering when you need it. Use it as a sun guard/wind […]
Read moreKOLD TV (January 9, 2022) The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue crews confirmed they rescued an injured hiker on Sunday, Jan. 9. Officials said a 35-year-old man lost the Arizona Trail between Miller and Lutz Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains. While he was trying to relocate the trail, he slipped and fell approximately 20 feet, injuring his head, […]
Read moreKJZZ (January 3, 2022) by Alisa Reznick The Arizona Trail runs from the U.S.-Mexico border into Utah. But its southernmost point has been closed thanks to the Trump administration’s border wall construction. After more than a year of closures, it’s opened to hikers again on Dec. 31, 2021. Nestled in the Huachuca Mountains, the Yaqui Ridge trail overlooks Mexico. Matthew Nelson […]
Read moreEast Greenwich News (January 31, 2021) by Jonathan Malone It was hot, it was dry, and I was afraid that I was running out of water. I had been hiking through the high plateau desert in Arizona for three days and I had seen only a handful of people, lots of cows, and a few horses. I had heard elk and coyotes, […]
Read moreThe National Park Service announced on December 30 that the southernmost mile of the Arizona Trail will reopen again on December 31 after a nearly 18-month closure. “We look forward to reopening the first passage of the Arizona Trail (AZT) this week,” said Southeast Arizona Parks Superintendent Matthew Carroll. “During the spring hiking season, many begin their northward journey at Monument 102 on the US/Mexico border within Coronado National Memorial. […]
Read moreWilliams-Grand Canton News (January 4, 2022) The National Park Service (NPS) announced Dec. 31 the temporary reopening of the Yaqui Ridge Trail, which is the southernmost part of the 800-mile Arizona Trail. The Yaqui Ridge Trail starts on the international border with Mexico in Coronado National Memorial. The trail was closed in July 2020 because of construction activities on the Border […]
Read moreThe Trek (December 2021) by Lyla Harrod Here’s a recap of my fall 2021 SOBO thru-hike of the AZT with Oliver aka “Bowie”. This post will cover from the Northern Terminus to Roosevelt Lake. I’ll put up another post covering the rest of the trail soon! I hope you find this useful if you’re considering a hike on the AZT, or just […]
Read moreArizona Daily Star (December 26, 2021) by Danyelle Khmara Trail runner Lydia Jennings decided to celebrate completing her doctorate with a 50-mile run on the Arizona Trail. A member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and an environmental microbiologist, she also did the run to honor 50 Indigenous scientists. She planned to start at the U.S.-Mexico border and run north — […]
Read moreArizona Daily Star (December 22, 2021) by Cindy Coffer Chojnacky About 20 miles of trails — closed for more than a year due to damage from the 2020 Bighorn Fire — have reopened in the Santa Catalina mountains north of Tucson. After Bighorn burned almost 120,000 acres between June 5 and July 23, 2020, the Forest Service closed the burn […]
Read moreRoute Fifty (December 21, 2021) by Andre Claudio From hiking to a lodge in California to riding a gravel bike in Arizona, Outside magazine composed a list of some of the best places to take a winter trip. Here are some of the places the magazine recommended: Hiking to a Scenic California Lodge If you want to backpack to a remote […]
Read more