The Arizona Trail (AZT) is a 1290-kilometer trail in the United States. As the name suggests, the trail crosses the length of the state of Arizona from the US-Mexico border to the Arizona-Utah border. This desert trail is fairly new, it was only completed in 2011 by a dedicated school teacher who wanted to thru-hike in the US but didn’t have time for the triple-crown thru-hikes.
The trail has roughly 43 segments that vary in their characteristics and can be categorized into three groupings: southern, central, and northern.
Southern Section (Segments 1-13)
About half of the 100 average annual hikers head northbound on the trail and start at the Mexico border. In the southern section, you pass through a diverse landscape, forget those ideas of it being an arid state!
Southern Arizona is pocked with canyons and valleys. There are also seemingly random mountains which are known as “sky islands.” It’s no wonder why people refer to this state as Mars! In this section, you pass through the Rincon Mountains and Saguaro National Park – two very different environments. After these two parks, you pass into the famous Santa Catalina Mountains before heading to the central section of the trail.
While in the southern section for the first few weeks of the trail, you hike 378 kilometers and pass near the major city, Tucson.
Central Section (Segments 14-26)
This is the section that most people think of when they think about the AZT. In the central section of the trail, you trek through the desolate Sonoran Desert. One of the hottest deserts in the world, the Sonora is also one of the most diverse. You see wildlife that you won’t encounter on any other trail in the United States, from unique flora and fauna to alien critters.
This section covers 435 kilometers and pulls many long days. Over half of the segments are 40 kilometers a day, so store up on water and wake up early to avoid the desert heat!
You pass through a variety of canyons and mesas here. Get ready to cross minor mountain ranges to the east of Phoenix and explore the Superstition Wilderness on a 48-kilometer day.
Northern Section (Segments 27-43)
This is the section that makes the trail monumental. In the northern section, you spend multiple days exploring the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
But before the Grand Canyon, you trek through San Francisco plateaus near the city of Flagstaff. You can divert on the trail for resupply in Flagstaff or continue on to the hills surrounding the city. After the San Francisco peaks, you move on to see some active volcanoes in Coconino and Kaibab National Forests.
This is where it’s better to be over prepared than “winging it.” Trekking in the Grand Canyon can be dangerous with its polar temperatures. You may experience snow at night and blazing heat during the day. Also, make sure to secure your permits far in advance of your trek – these spots sell out quickly. This is also where you begin to ascend real altimeters, 2755 meters alone to climb out of the canyon on segment 39.
In the last four segments, you climb out of the Grand Canyon and cross the Kaibab plateaus to finish up this 468-kilometer section. And with the end of the northern section, you also complete the Arizona Trail at the Utah border.
When to hike:
Due to the extreme temperatures on this trail, the trail has a short window for hikers. If you head northbound (Mexico to Utah), start in late February or early March. For southbound hikers, begin in October. This will mean the mildest weather through the harsher environments on the way.
Don’t forget:
You can find our thru-hiking gear list here.
Good to know:
Wild camping along the trail is free in almost all of the segments of the trail. The segments that require permits in advance are Colossal Cave mountain, Saguaro National Park, and the Grand Canyon National Park. These areas are regularly patrolled by park rangers, so make sure you have the correct permits to avoid any trouble.
Helpful links: Arizona Trail Association
