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Plan an unforgettable journey along the Arizona National Scenic Trail, with diverse landscapes that beckon hikers, cyclists, and equestrians.
Stretching more than 800 miles from the USA-Mexico border to the Utah state line, the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) passes through a breathtaking blend of desert, forest, and canyon terrain. To hike the best of it—or to backpack the entire route—get the comprehensive guide assembled by AZT experts. Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail lives up to its name: It is your complete guide to the trail’s twists and turns, flora and fauna, geology, and more.
Written by trail-savvy members of the Arizona Trail Association, including executive director Matthew J. Nelson, this guidebook serves up the AZT, section by section, so day-hikers and thru-hikers can feel confident about the entire route. An irreplaceable source of information for anyone—including mountain bikers and equestrians—Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail fuels your adventures from start to finish, presenting the trail’s magnificent scenery, wildlife, and diversity of terrain.
Inside you’ll find:
- The entire trail divided into 43 sections
- Unique trail features, route details, day-trip options, and difficulty levels for every section
- Guide to resources in 22 welcoming Gateway Communities
- Chart of water sources along the AZT
- Nearly 50 detailed maps that highlight every AZT passage
- Full-color photography that portrays the majesty of this national treasure
Matthew J. Nelson orchestrated Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail and wrote many of its passages. He has worked as an outdoor educator, Grand Canyon backpacking guide, archaeologist, editor, and freelance photojournalist. In 2012, Matt became executive director of the Arizona Trail Association. He lives off the grid in the Sierrita Mountains west of Tucson and spends summers in his hometown of Big Pine, California, volunteering for Inyo County Search and Rescue.
Overview Map
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Introduction to the Arizona National Scenic Trail
Backcountry Safety
Leave No Trace
The Botany of Diversity
Welcome to the Geology of Arizona
AZT South Section
- Huachuca Mountains
- Canelo Hills: East
- Canelo Hills: West
- Temporal Gulch
- Santa Rita Mountains
- Las Colinas
- Las Cienegas
- Rincon Valley
- Rincon Mountains
- Redington Pass
- Santa Catalina Mountains
- Oracle Ridge
- Oracle
- Black Hills
- Tortilla Mountains
AZT Central Section
- Gila River Canyons
- Alamo Canyon
- Reavis Canyon
- Superstition Wilderness
- Four Peaks
- Pine Mountain
- Saddle Mountain
- Mazatzal Divide
- Red Hills
- Whiterock Mesa
- Hardscrabble Mesa
- Highline
AZT North Section
- Blue Ridge
- Happy Jack
- Mormon Lake
- Walnut Canyon
- Elden Mountain
- Flagstaff (Resupply Route)
- San Francisco Peaks
- Babbitt Ranch
- Coconino Rim
- Grand Canyon: South Rim
- Grand Canyon: Inner Gorge
- Grand Canyon: North Rim
- Kaibab Plateau: South
- Kaibab Plateau: Central
- Kaibab Plateau: North
- Buckskin Mountain
Gateway Communities (South to North)
- Sierra Vista
- Patagonia
- Sonoita
- Vail
- Tucson
- Summerhaven
- Oracle
- Mammoth
- San Manuel
- Central Copper Corridor: Dudleyville, Winkelman, Hayden, Kearny, and Kelvin and Riverside
- Globe
- Florence
- Superior
- Roosevelt and Tonto Basin
- Payson
- Pine and Strawberry
- Mormon Lake
- Flagstaff
- Tusayan and Grand Canyon Village
- North Rim to Jacob Lake
- Page
- Fredonia, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah
Geology Features of the AZT
- The Karst of Colossal Cave
- The Mighty Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains
- Supervolcanoes of the Superstition Mountains
- Amazing Mazatzals
- Elden Mountain: A Volcano Unlike the Others
- The San Francisco Peaks' Violent Past
- Grand Canyon: A Geological Masterpiece
Appendix 1: Water Sources Along the AZT
Appendix 2: Land-Management Agencies
Appendix 3: Trail Resources
Index
Profile: Executive Director, Arizona Trail Association