The Arizona Trail spans 800 miles across the entire state, connecting deserts, mountains, forests, canyons, nature, history, communities, and people.
The Arizona National Scenic Trail stretches from Mexico to Utah, traversing the entire north-south length of the state. This non-motorized path showcases the diverse vegetation, wildlife, and regional landscapes, as well as unique historical and cultural sites. The route offers unparalleled opportunities for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and other trail users.
Starting at the U.S.-Mexico border, the trail climbs and descends from one “sky island” mountain range to another, gaining and losing thousands of feet in elevation and passing through biomes ranging from desert to boreal forest.
It then continues through the Sonoran Desert, crosses the Gila River, winds through the Superstition Mountains and Mazatzal Wilderness on its way to the Mogollon Rim and the majestic San Francisco Peaks.
Heading north, the trail takes travelers through the Grand Canyon, offering a journey through billions of years of geology.
Along the rim, conifer forests dominate the Kaibab Plateau, eventually giving way to red cliffs dotted with sagebrush as the trail nears the Utah border at the edge of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
History of the Arizona Trail
The idea for the trail was originally developed and promoted in 1985 by Dale Shewalter, a teacher from Flagstaff, Arizona.
The Arizona Trail was designated a National Scenic Trail on March 30, 2009, by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. It forms part of the abbreviated version of the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, which includes the Grand Canyon National Park.
The Arizona Trail was created by interconnecting pre-existing trails. In 1994, the Arizona Trail Association was established as a non-profit organization to bring together volunteers and resources needed to create maps, identify water sources, build and maintain the trail, and help raise funds for the trail.
How long does it take to hike the entire trail?
On average, it takes about fifty days to hike the entire trail. The speed record for completing the trail is held by Jeff Garmire, who finished the Arizona Trail in fifteen days and thirteen hours.
In 2015, fewer than twenty people had completed the entire trail. Some did it all at once, while others did it in segments, taking up to six years.
Would you dare to hike the entire trail?
