The Arizona Trail Association’s Annual Report is now available, complete with highlights from 2024. Please take a moment to celebrate our collective accomplishments within all of our programs and operations, including: Trail Operations Volunteer Program Veterans Program Seeds of Stewardship Financial Report 2025 Priorities Business Partners & Supporters and more! You can read it online here. If you would like […]
Read moreAdventure on SI (January 22, 2025) by Emma Grace There’s plenty of ways to enjoy the U.S.’s beautiful national parks–on foot, by car, or even by bike. Biking is one of the best ways to take in the views without whizzing by in a car or slogging away on foot. It’s the perfect, Goldilocks zone of travel to see the […]
Read moreAll Phantom Ranch operations are closed from January 2 to March 30, 2025, for the installation of new water and electric lines for the Transcanyon Waterline Project. Hikers can still access the North Kaibab Trail, however, the bypass route around Phantom Ranch may change. Please follow all closure signs and be aware that water will only be available at Boat […]
Read moreKNAU (Jan 7, 2025) by KNAU Staff The non-profit Flagstaff Biking Organization and the Coconino National Forest say a new recreational trail has connected one the city’s most popular parks with forested areas. The realignment of the Lower Oldham Trail is part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail that extends from Utah to Mexico. The gravel path links Buffalo Park […]
Read moreHometown Focus (January 2, 2025) by Lee Iverson My winter home lies near the Arizona Trail, a fact I had paid little attention to until I recognized the trail markers on my hikes in the Tucson area. The Arizona National Scenic Trail, the AZT for short, is an 800 plus mile path from Mexico to Utah and is one of […]
Read moreBy Lee Iverson ~ www.hometownfocus.us My winter home lies near the Arizona Trail, a fact I had paid little attention to until I recognized the trail markers on my hikes in the Tucson area. The Arizona National Scenic Trail, the AZT for short, is an 800 plus mile path from Mexico to Utah and is one of 11 National Scenic […]
Read moreDecember 23, 2024 ~ momentummag.com Written by: Ron Johnson Bikepacking is an amazing fusion of bicycle touring and minimalist camping, which has gained immense popularity in North America. The continent offers diverse landscapes, from rugged mountains and dense forests to expansive deserts and scenic coastlines. For those seeking epic adventures, here are eight of our favourite bikepacking routes, each offering […]
Read moreMatthew Ryan Lara, a devoted father and passionate outdoorsman, passed away tragically on December 13, 2023, at the age of 31. His life was defined by his deep connection to nature, particularly the breathtaking trails of Arizona, where he found peace, inspiration, and joy. Though Matthew was never able to take his 5-year-old son hiking with him, his hope to […]
Read moreBy Andrew Coulson ~ northumberlandgazette.co.uk A teenager and his father from Morpeth recently completed one of the hardest long-distance mountain bike races in the world. The Arizona Trail Race traverses the complete state of Arizona in the USA, from the Mexican Border to the Utah State Line. Read the complete story here.
Read moreRUN/Outside Online (December 10, 2024) by David Gleisner If you want to set a fastest known time on the 817-mile Arizona Trail, you have to start fast. At least, that’s what both Nick Fowler and Georgia Porter proved this fall. On October 28, they independently set out from the Utah-Arizona border and started their trek south with the goal of […]
Read moreMSN (November 18, 2024) by Julia Clarke Ultra runner Georgia Porter has claimed a new speed record on the 800-mile Arizona Trail just four days after Nick Fowler set a new Fastest Known Time on the same trail. Posting on Instagram yesterday, the Flagstaff-based runner writes that she completed an “unofficial FKT” – because her data still needs to be reviewed – when she ran […]
Read moreOn September 26-29, 2024, the Arizona Trail Veterans Engagement and Trail Stewardship (VETS) program volunteered to do trail work on Passage 32 of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The event focused on building new connections within the veteran community while giving back to a the cross-state trail. Participants worked together to improve the trail from Little Elden to Weatherford Trailhead […]
Read moreArizona PBS (November 14, 2024) In this episode of “Trail Mix’d,” we travel the state to learn about the people who are giving their time, energy and sometimes even their lives to care for and protect our wildlands. Explore some of Arizona’s conservation techniques and learn about the vital importance of protecting our water and wildlands. We take a look […]
Read moreSignals (September 17, 2024) The AZT VETS (Veteran Engagement & Trail Stewardship) and Coconino National Forest Service are hosting this Veteran Volunteer Work Weekend on Passage 32B of the Arizona Trail over National Public Lands Day, improving the trail corridor between Little Elden Mountain and Weatherford Trailheads. Most meals will be provided at no extra cost to participants. Pre-registration is […]
Read moreArizona Republic (Sept 18, 2024) by Roger Naylor Hope is restored. After yet another scorching summer, the relief of autumn is finally within sight. Cooler temperatures are on the way. Of course, shorter days also signal the start of one of nature’s most beloved seasonal displays — fall colors are coming to Arizona. Unlike spring wildflowers, fall colors do not […]
Read moreThe long trail legend reflects on her mind-blowing unsupported hike of the 800-mile Arizona Trail in May of 2024. Read more here.
Read morePHOENIX Magazine (Sept/Oct 2024) by Mare Czinar Tucson Native Michael “Chappy” Chappell took the long way around finding his purpose as program director of Veteran Engagement & Trail Stewardship (VETS) with the Arizona Trail Association – a project that promotes outdoor therapy as an adjunct to traditional health interventions. Chappell joined the Navy right out of high school and served […]
Read moreWe are delighted to share the most recent Arizona Trail Finisher Report! This comprehensive report displays results from the Arizona Trail Association’s Completion Survey between February 12, 2019 and July 4, 2024. During this time, the survey received 1,271 unique entries. This report covers five full years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, as well as the spring season of […]
Read moreMason Lussow, a Marine Corps veteran, left our community unexpectedly on August 26, 2024 but his legacy of quiet strength and unwavering dedication to service will always be remembered. He was the beloved son of his mother, Ari Olsen, and father, Alex Lussow, an avid outdoorsman who instilled in Mason a deep love for nature and adventure from a very […]
Read moreTucson Sentinel (Aug 14 2024) by Bianca Morales A program organized by the Arizona Trail Association sets out to provide a safe environment where military veterans have the “opportunity to serve and connect.” The program is aptly called VETS — Veteran Engagement and Trail Stewardship — and has a mission is to “connect those who have served our country with fellow service […]
Read moreKactus Kickers Hiking Club 1969 – 2023 In memory of a long time Arizona hiking club, The Kactus Kickers, which was formed in 1969 by employees of a local Arizona corporation. Initially, membership was limited to employees of the corporation and their families but started welcoming others that were attracted to the club by a public website that was created […]
Read moreNavajo-Hopi Observer (June 25, 2024) The Arizona Trail Association’s Seeds of Stewardship (SOS) program partnered with STAR School of Leupp, Arizona, to provide transformative outdoor experiences for fourth to eighth grade Native American students from Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation. Through five field trips annually, SOS emphasizes culturally relevant outdoor activities, land connection and meaningful stewardship projects. As a culmination, […]
Read moreLake Powell Chronicle (June 12, 2024) by Paul Ostapuk Twenty-four days, one hour and 12 minutes. In less time than the moon takes to complete a lunar cycle, Heather Anderson, 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, survived the ordeal of an unsupported 800-mile traverse of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Anderson finished her record backpacking trip on May 12, […]
Read moreOver the past year, the Arizona Trail Association has worked with 4th through 8th grade students at STAR School (Service to All Relations) — which serves Native American students from Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation — through our Seeds of Stewardship program. As a finale for our school year with the 4th and 5th graders at STAR, we organized three […]
Read moreWorld Atlas (May 9, 2024) by Elizabeth Arnold Located in the beautiful American Southwest, Arizona is part of the “four corners” region. The state of Arizona is diverse in many ways, from expansive deserts to sweeping mountain ranges and quiet hometowns and bustling cities. If you’re traveling to Arizona, consider checking out one of its many charming small towns for a […]
Read moreGrand Canyon National Park has confirmed that hikers are allowed to walk on the paved road to avoid the snowy AZT during the spring season before the road opens, typically on May 15. Mountain bikers are not allowed to ride the road and must follow the trail. The Park reiterated that hikers walking the plowed and paved North Rim Road should be aware […]
Read moreOutside Online (April 23, 2024) by Graham Averill Base camp might be my favorite two words in the English language. Base camp is where you stage the next excursion, or refuel with a bowl of stew, or a beer. You rest and recover there. If you’re lucky, you can slip into a hot tub or cold spring, because base camps don’t […]
Read moreBy JESSICA TUCKER ~ the travel.com ~ April 9, 2024 For those looking for a challenging hike with more natural beauty than almost any other place in Arizona, the Gila River Canyon Trail fits the bill. Arizona one of the top states with the best hiking for those looking to hit the trails. The Arizona National Scenic Trail is 800 […]
Read morePatheos (April 6, 2024) by Ken Chitwood In February 2019, Miguel stared out at the San Pedro Valley in Mexico, stretching for miles below him from his position on Yaqui Ridge in the Coronado National Monument. Standing at Monument 102, which marks the symbolic start of the 800-mile-long Arizona Trail, Miguel remarked on how the border here doesn’t look like […]
Read moreOur partners at Coronado National Memorial have observed an increase in immigrant foot traffic activity over the past few weeks. Visitors to Coronado National Memorial have reported seeing people in camouflage near the border and on the Arizona Trail, although no direct contact between the groups has occurred. If you’re planning a hike along Passage 1 this season, especially to […]
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