Arizona Trail (AZT) - Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication

Hike, horseback ride, mountain bike or even snowshoe on the Arizona Trail from Mexico to the Arizona-Utah border. Established in 2009, this 800-mile trail is open to plenty of adventure.

Distance: 800 miles

States: Arizona

Year Established: 2009

Best Times of Year to Visit: Year-round

Photo courtesy of the Arizona Trail Association.

Notable Spots Along Trail:

Hike from the oak-studded grasslands along the U.S.–Mexico border to aspen groves at nearly 9,000 feet in just 20 miles in the Huachuca Mountains.
Gila River Canyons in central Arizona follows the river it is named for through some of the most spectacular geology and Sonoran Desert vegetation in central Arizona.
Walk from rim to rim in Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona and experience 2 billion years of geology during this 24-mile epic section.

Fun Facts, According to the Arizona Trail Association:

Everyone who finishes the AZT (either all at once or after many years of hiking, biking or riding segments) receives a copper belt buckle from the Arizona Trail Association as a completion award.
The AZT passes through Grand Canyon, with an average depth of 1 mile.
The highest point of the trail is the Kaibab Plateau, at 9,148 feet.
The AZT passes through the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in North America.
Eighty-five percent of the AZT is on federally owned land and the trail could not exist without public lands.

Photo courtesy of the Arizona Trail Association.

Trail Uses: Hiking, backpacking, trail running, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Administering Agency: U.S. Forest Service

Nonprofit Partner: The Arizona Trail Association

Permitting Information: Permits are required for overnight camping in a few areas, including the national park the trail passes through.

REI’s Involvement: The co-op has invested more than $202,000 in the AZT since 2003.

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Learn more about all of our national scenic trails.