A hike on the Arizona Path (AZT) is a really distinctive expertise. The truth is, the Sonoran Desert is essentially the most biodiverse desert area on the planet – boasting a complete host of plant and animal life that may solely be discovered right here. The AZT will take you on an unforgettable 800-mile trek like no different by way of an ever-changing panorama.
We completely cherished climbing this path, and we expect you’ve made an excellent determination in selecting to stroll this path. We’ll provide you with all of the assets you want for a profitable journey on the AZT on this information.
Fast Information
- Distance: 800 miles
- Time Wanted: 6-8 weeks
- Highest Elevation: 9,141 ft. – Kaibab Plateau
- Lowest Elevation: 1,646 ft. – Gila River
- Elevation Achieve (approx.): 113,000 ft.
- Greatest Time to Hike: Most individuals begin within the south and go north (NOBO) through the springtime – often beginning in early or mid-March and ending in April. Hikers going north to south (SOBO) usually begin in October after monsoons have completed, and so they full the path in November.
- Permits: There’s no allow for the AZT, however Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Saguaro Nationwide Park & Grand Canyon Nationwide Park require tenting permits should you plan to remain. SNP additionally requires an entrance charge.
- Issue: Difficult
Highlights
- Amazingly various vary of landscapes, vegetation, and animals
- Tons of wildflowers within the spring/altering leaves within the fall
- Mountain climbing by way of the Grand Canyon
- Solitude in a rugged wilderness atmosphere
- Pleasant path cities and strong community of path angels (good individuals who assist out thru-hikers alongside the path hall)
- Nicely-marked and maintained
- Feeling amazingly succesful and assured on the finish of the journey
- You get a home made copper belt buckle for ending
Lowlights
- Not as social as many different long-distance trails
- Some sections are very rocky
- Overgrown prickly vegetation in some sections
- Could be laborious on sneakers/gear
- Discovering water is a problem in dry years
- Snakes, spiders & scorpions should you’re bothered by creepy-crawlies
- A number of solar publicity
Greatest Time to Hike
The Arizona Path has two distinct seasons for thru-hikes, however there are alternatives to do many sections year-round. The most important issues for whenever you begin your hike will probably be temperature and water availability. Desert environments are susceptible to wild temperature swings and fast modifications in climate patterns. It’s possible you’ll expertise snow, heavy rain, or 100°+ temperatures on this path.
Northbound (NOBO) is the most typical course for hikers to finish a thru-hike – the NOBO season begins within the spring. Most hikers will set off from the Mexican border in early to mid-March with the aim of ending earlier than Might. This timeline lets you take pleasure in extra water than the autumn climbing season resulting from winter snowmelt, and you may anticipate temperatures to remain above freezing most nights and beneath 90° most days. Climate and water are simpler to plan for within the spring, so that is the season we typically suggest.
SOBO hikers start their journey south from the Utah border in fall – usually in early October – and goal to finish the path earlier than the tip of November. Water availability within the fall relies upon virtually solely on how moist the summer season monsoon season is in Arizona, so it modifications enormously from 12 months to 12 months. However typically, fewer water sources are flowing through the SOBO season. Fall temperatures can fluctuate so much alongside the AZT. You’ll doubtless expertise some nighttime temperatures properly beneath freezing for the primary 250 or so miles on the plateau sections, and you can encounter lingering 100°+ temperatures the additional south you go.
Many individuals select to section-hike the AZT, breaking the 800-mile journey into smaller chunks – and this has massive benefits for selecting essentially the most nice situations to hike in. Part climbing lets you select what’s most essential to you – skipping the tough Arizona warmth, hitting the path when water is most ample, or avoiding freezing temperatures and snow – for every part of the path so you possibly can simply benefit from the stroll.
How Lengthy Does it Take to Hike?
It takes most hikers about 6-8 weeks to finish a hike on the AZT. Some backpackers actually hike this path in much less time, however the terrain, climate, and availability of water could make big-mile days troublesome. Most individuals take the path at an gratifying tempo and calculate in a number of“zero” days (relaxation days) and “nero” days (quick for “almost zero”) to permit the physique to recoup.
Permits
There isn’t a allow for the AZT, however you go by way of two nationwide parks that do require permits.
It’s essential to acquire a backcountry allow for Saguaro Nationwide Park earlier than coming into the park boundary, and there are solely two locations to camp there – Manning Park and Grass Shack – which additionally require permits of their very own. You will get entrance permits and tenting permits.
Grand Canyon Nationwide Park additionally requires permits for tenting within the park. Most hikers will keep in no less than one in all these websites: North Rim, Vibrant Angel, and Mather (South Rim). There are backcountry places of work on each rims of the park, and you must go to one in all these to speak to a ranger about tenting permits. They’re often in a position to get you a web site on the backside of the canyon inside one or two days of your arrival should you’re not planning on doing rim-to-rim in in the future. We stayed at Vibrant Angel Campground within the canyon, and we extremely suggest taking this chance. Outdoors of an AZT thru-hike it’s fairly robust to get permits to camp within the canyon.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park additionally requires a allow (bought on the Cave Store) should you plan to camp at one in all their two campgrounds, however there’s loads of free dispersed tenting alongside the path earlier than and after the park. We suggest skipping the charge space and discovering some flat floor to sleep on on the AZT.
Issue
The AZT is well-maintained, well-marked, and simple to comply with for a lot of the hike, so navigation isn’t a problem. The primary difficulties on this path are the solar publicity, availability of water, terrain/atmosphere, and the size of the path.
SUN EXPOSURE
The AZT cuts a path by way of the Sonoran Desert, and as you may anticipate, it’s a reasonably sunny place. There’s little or no shade on most sections of the path, so we contemplate sunscreen, a solar shirt, sun shades, and a solar umbrella necessities for this hike. Maintaining your pores and skin protected is tremendous essential to your total well being, and having a shaded place to take a break beneath your umbrella can do wonders for morale on particularly sizzling days.
See our 20 Suggestions for Backpacking within the Desert Information for extra recommendation on staying protected and comfy on the AZT.
WATER
It could shock you to study that the majority of Arizona’s water sources are recharged by snow. The state doesn’t see a lot rainfall exterior of its summer season monsoon season, however the high-elevation areas get a good quantity of snow in most years. For this reason most individuals go for a spring NOBO hike on the AZT – water is extra ample. Don’t take that to imply you’ll see it typically, although. Until you hike in a extremely excessive snow 12 months, you’re prone to have a number of massive gaps (20+ miles) between water sources alongside your 800-mile journey.
It’s a good suggestion to have the power to hold no less than 4 liters of water for actually sizzling, dry stretches. We carried two 1-liter Smartwater bottles and a Platy Bottle per particular person, in addition to a Vargo BOT that doubled as a cookset and additional water capability.
TERRAIN/ENVIRONMENT
Many sections of the AZT are extremely rocky, and it might probably actually take a toll in your sneakers and the underside of your toes. Many hikers gained’t make it by way of the entire path with a single pair of sneakers, so it’s essential to issue this in when constructing your price range.
You must select footwear with ample cushion in case your toes aren’t accustomed to climbing on rocks all day as a result of it might probably turn into downright painful after a number of hours straight of stepping on jagged rocks.
In fact, you’ll additionally encounter tons of Arizona’s iconic cacti alongside the journey. These vegetation are lovely, however they will trigger some actual harm should you get too shut. Particularly, it’s a must to watch out round “leaping cholla” (pronounced choy-a). These cacti will go away you coated in prickles from the lightest brush towards its fruits, and what’s worse is that they drop spine-covered balls everywhere in the floor that may be robust to keep away from. Make sure to carry a small pair of tweezers in your first-aid equipment to tug cactus spines off of your clothes, pores and skin, and equipment.
TRIP LENGTH
The AZT is 800 miles lengthy which is a large bodily problem, however it additionally requires a big money and time dedication. We usually price range $2-$3 per mile for a thru-hike, and we suggest letting your loved ones and office find out about your plans as far prematurely as attainable to rearrange for time away. Not everybody has the liberty or monetary assets to step away from society for therefore lengthy, so many hikers select to finish the path in smaller sections.
Northbound vs. Southbound
Northbound (NOBO) is the extra widespread course to journey on the AZT, however each choices have their advantages. We hiked the primary 300 miles NOBO within the spring after which did the remaining 500 miles southbound (SOBO) within the fall, so we acquired a reasonably good concept of the professionals and cons of each instructions.
NOBO
PROS
- Nicer common temperatures for a majority of the path
- Water is often extra ample within the spring NOBO season
- You save the Grand Canyon for (virtually) final
- There are extra individuals on path to work together with should you’re searching for a social expertise
- Resupply cities get farther aside the additional north you go, so that you hit longer meals carries after you’re already warmed up
- Wildflowers bloom within the spring
CONS
- The path begins with some robust climbs from the southern terminus
- Lingering snow may stay at excessive elevation
SOBO
PROS
- In our opinion, the path will increase in magnificence as you journey south
- The primary 250 miles or so are comparatively simple (apart from the Grand Canyon), so that you get a pleasant warm-up
- Aspens within the north change shade within the fall
CONS
- Fewer individuals to work together with should you’re searching for a social expertise
- Cities are extra unfold out within the north, so you have got longer meals carries earlier than you’re warmed up
- It’s possible you’ll cope with early-season snow within the north and lingering excessive temperatures within the decrease desert
Getting There
NOBO
For those who’re climbing NOBO on the AZT, the best option to get to the southern terminus is to fly into Tucson and rent a shuttle from there. We used the Discovering True North shuttle service which was fairly priced and our driver was pleasant and protected. For those who go along with a unique shuttle driver, ensure they’re prepared to take you all the best way to the trailhead at Montezuma Cross. It requires driving virtually 9 miles up a considerably tough grime street.
SOBO
There are a few other ways to get to the northern terminus, however the best possibility is to fly into Web page, AZ through the Phoenix airport after which get a shuttle or a experience from a path angel to the Stateline Campground.
Planning Your Itinerary
Planning a unfastened every day itinerary isn’t crucial, however we’ve realized from previous thru-hikes that it’s very useful. Most individuals take 6-8 weeks to finish the AZT, with a median of round 14-20 miles a day. We suggest overestimating the time it should take you to finish the path as a result of it’s simpler to get off early than it’s to get off late you probably have obligations to return to. Take into consideration your capacity, climbing fashion, zero days, and somewhat leeway for sudden hiccups when creating your mileage plan.
The FarOut app is our most well-liked useful resource for planning and navigation on path as a result of you possibly can see the place water sources and potential campsites are, what companies can be found in path cities, and you may go away and browse feedback different hikers left in regards to the standing of water or locations they loved in cities.
One other invaluable useful resource for this hike is the Arizona Path Affiliation’s (ATA) web site. Right here you could find descriptions of every part of the path (known as passages on the AZT), entry a checklist of shuttles and path angels, and a lot extra.
Water
Water availability on the AZT fluctuates drastically primarily based in your begin date, snowpack, and the climate. Water sources might be far aside and unreliable within the desert, and most of them are off path. We suggest having a water capability of a minimum of 4 liters with you simply in case. Light-weight foldable bladders, like Platy Bottles, turn out to be useful for giant water carries.
Our greatest recommendation is to top off wherever you possibly can, by no means go away a supply thirsty, and carry greater than you suppose you want. The FarOut app is nice for planning your water carries as a result of you possibly can see different hikers’ reviews about which water sources are flowing forward. Nonetheless, there’s no assure you’ll discover water at a supply whenever you get there.
Most of the water sources alongside the AZT are very muddy and contaminated by livestock, so it’s essential to pack a dependable water filter. We used a Platypus Quickdraw and a Katadyn BeFree as a result of they’re light-weight and comparatively simple to scrub within the area. As a result of there’s a lot grime in most of the water sources, you must anticipate to need to backflush your filter recurrently to revive the movement price.
Utilizing electrolyte mixes in your water can even assist masks any bizarre flavors and maintain you higher hydrated.
Meals Storage
There are bears, mice, and different scavengers alongside the AZT, so correct meals storage is a should. We every carried an Ursack Main to maintain our meals protected from animals, however most of this path isn’t conducive to hanging a bear bag. We often simply positioned our Ursacks exterior of the tent the place we may see them in case we wanted to scare away a critter.
Backpacking Gear – What to Pack
It’s essential to maintain your pack weight to a minimal when setting out on a thru-hike. Dialing in your gear might be costly and really feel overwhelming, however we promise that taking the time to plan and enhance your gear setup will make your trek a much more gratifying and profitable expertise.
Since we did the path in two seasons, we had two utterly completely different units of substances. Under we’ll checklist our high suggestions from the gear we carried, seasonal gear ideas, and issues we’d have most well-liked to have.
TENT
We used a Zpacks Duplex Zip for the northern 500 miles of the path, and we had an important expertise with it. It’s ultralight, spacious, and packs down fairly small for a Dyneema shelter. Since you’re unlikely to come across precipitation on this path, the usual Duplex – which omits the zipper on the vestibules – will just do high-quality and prices much less. Pairs of hikers wanting further house will love the bigger Zpacks Triplex, although you might need some bother discovering tent areas to suit it in. Study extra in regards to the Zpacks Plex tents and our different high thru-hiking tent suggestions on our checklist of the Greatest Ultralight Tents.
Many hikers select to cowboy camp (sleep beneath the celebs as a substitute of a shelter) for a lot of the path – and we suggest all hikers do that for no less than one night time. The climate is often nice sufficient for this to be completely doable and comfy, however you must at all times carry some kind of shelter simply in case. For those who plan to do lots of cowboy tenting, you might want to hold a tarp. Our high tarp suggestion is the versatile and ridiculously mild Zpacks 7×9 Flat Tarp.
SLEEPING BAG/QUILT
Temperatures fluctuate dramatically at night time, and also you’ll go from low to excessive elevation fairly recurrently. We packed for the bottom temperatures we anticipated to come across, which meant 20°F sleep sacks for each the spring and fall legs of our hike. We really skilled temperatures within the teenagers for a number of nights on our fall hike within the north, however we managed to maintain heat and comfy with what we had.
A quilt is an effective possibility for this path due to its versatility – you possibly can drape it over you want a blanket on heat nights or cinch it tight to entice warmth when it’s chilly. We used the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 20 (spring) and the Hammock Gear Burrow 20 (fall). The Burrow is hotter than the Unbound so it was excellent for fall, and the Unbound is lighter than the Burrow so it was excellent for spring. We love them each and you can even discover extra information on our checklist of the Greatest Backpacking Quilts.
SLEEPING PAD
We had a heat sleeper who used the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XLite NXT for its mix of sturdiness and low weight and a chilly sleeper who carried the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XTherm NXT for further heat. Relying on the way you sleep, both of those choices could be a good selection for the spring or fall. You may as well take a look at much more choices on our checklist of the Greatest Sleeping Pads.
BACKPACK
We examined 4 completely different backpacks on this path, and our total high decide is the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 55. It has a really handy pocket setup, supportive design, and it completely balances weight and sturdiness.
One other well-liked possibility we noticed a ton of hikers utilizing is the ULA Circuit. It has a bigger capability than the Unbound and a extra supportive body, so it’s excellent for the longer meals and water carries you’ll expertise on the AZT.
You may’t go flawed with both alternative or any possibility on our checklist of the Greatest Backpacking Backpacks for that matter.
WATER
There are some fairly gnarly water sources alongside the AZT, so it’s essential to pack a dependable water filter that’s simple to scrub. We used the Platypus Quickdraw paired with a Smartwater bottle and a Katadyn BeFree. Each of those are microfilters, so that they misplaced movement price shortly resulting from all of the muddy water we filtered. However each are additionally fairly simple to scrub within the area, so we had been proud of our selections.
We additionally carried chlorine dioxide tabs as backup, which is one thing we suggest doing for this path. We met a hiker whose filter had frozen on an unexpectedly chilly night time. They might have been left with no option to deal with their water for some time in the event that they hadn’t additionally carried a chemical backup.
For water storage, we every had 4 liters whole capability. We carried two one-liter water bottles every and one Platy Bottle every and a Vargo BOT for further water capability if we wanted it.
Study extra in regards to the filters and vessels we carried on our lists of the Greatest Water Filters and Greatest Water Bottles. Since that is the desert, we contemplate electrolyte dietary supplements a necessity that can assist you keep hydrated. Examine our Greatest Hydration Mixes Information to see our high suggestions.
FOOTWEAR
Most hikers select to put on path runners for this hike as a result of they’re light-weight, breathable, and comfy. For those who go this route, you must anticipate to want two pairs as a result of the rocks on the AZT eat by way of the comfortable rubber tread and tear up the mesh uppers.
We exhausted a pair of Altra Lone Peaks (males’s / girls’s) on this hike and acquired a brand new pair in Flagstaff (somewhat over 500 miles whole into our journey, plus we’d performed some smaller, pre-AZT hikes in them). We (and lots of different hikers we met) had been proud of these path runners as a result of they’ve glorious grip, low weight, and a large toe field. A well-liked possibility for hikers wanting extra cushion between their toes and the rocks could be HOKA Speedgoats (males’s / girls’s). Each of those sneakers are high picks on our lists of the Greatest Mountain climbing Footwear for Males and Ladies.
We additionally wore Chaco Z/1 Traditional Sandals (males’s / girls’s) (sure, sandals) which we cherished however isn’t one thing we’d suggest to hikers who aren’t accustomed to sporting sandals on rugged trails. However should you’re curious, you possibly can study extra about them on our lists of the Greatest Mountain climbing Sandals for Males and Ladies.
HEADLAMP
We used rechargeable headlamps for this journey – the Black Diamond Spot 400-R and Petzl Actik CORE – and we had been proud of each lights. They’re each vibrant, light-weight, and have a protracted burn time. The Spot and Actik are a few of our favorites and there are much more on our checklist of the Greatest Headlamps.
COOKING SYSTEM
We carried a SOTO Windmaster Range, Vargo BOT, and Toaks Titanium 650 Pot. We cherished the range as a result of it’s typically windy on the AZT, and – because the title would suggest – the Windmaster works very effectively within the wind.
The BOT is one other favourite as a result of it’s massive sufficient to boil water for a number of meals, it has a screw-on lid that got here in useful after we needed to cold-soak lunch, and it doubled as a water bottle for after we wanted further water capability. We additionally carried the Toaks Pot for nights after we needed to boil water individually, and it’s the right possibility for solo hikers trying to maintain pack weight low.
Extra information on the Windmaster might be discovered on our checklist of the Greatest Backpacking Stoves, and the BOT and Toaks 750 (a barely bigger model of what we carried) are each on our checklist of the Greatest Backpacking Cookware.
FOOD & FOOD STORAGE
Take a look at our Greatest Light-weight Backpacking Meals Information, Greatest Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals checklist, Greatest Vitality Bars checklist, and our different Meals Guides for our high hiker-food suggestions.
We every carried an Ursack Main to maintain our meals shielded from animals. Study extra about it on our Greatest Stuff Sacks checklist.
CLOTHING
Under is the checklist of clothes we suggest for this path, and you must use it as a suggestion to construct your superb clothes system. In the end the most effective clothes to take would be the stuff you like and that make you are feeling most comfy. Head over to our Backpacking & Mountain climbing Clothes 101 submit and our Attire Gear Guides for extra recommendation on placing collectively your superb layering system.
NAVIGATION
We used the FarOut Arizona Path Information which was an important instrument for locating water. Most AZT hikers use this app, however the ATA additionally has some nice assets which are particularly useful for part hikers.
FIRST AID KIT
You must at all times carry a small, customized first assist equipment when heading into the backcountry. We used a customized equipment that we pieced collectively utilizing the AMK .3 Ultralight Equipment, a ton of ibuprofen, a number of benadryl tabs, and cut-up strips of RockTape. Take a look at our Greatest First Help Kits checklist for more information.
SUN PROTECTION
You’ll be uncovered to the solar for a lot of the AZT, and UV rays are intense within the open desert. Polarized sun shades, sunscreen, and SPF lip balm are all important, and we had been very happy with our determination to carry solar umbrellas. We additionally extremely suggest sporting a UPF climbing shirt.
POCKET KNIFE
We swap out our pocket knife for a small pair of ultralight scissors on longer hikes, as a result of it’s lighter and extra sensible for our wants. For those who want a knife, we suggest the Benchmade Mini Bugout from our Greatest Pocket Knives checklist as a result of it’s light-weight and compact. The Swiss Military Traditional SD can be an important possibility should you’re searching for a multitool.
OTHER ITEMS
For extra suggestions on our favourite light-weight backpacking gear, take a look at the CleverHiker Gear Information and our Prime Picks web page.
Resupply
Since you’ll be on path for a number of weeks, you gained’t be capable to carry all of your meals directly – you’ll must cease and resupply periodically. Most individuals resupply 8-10 occasions, stopping each 80-100 miles. Resupplying typically is fairly simple for a lot of the AZT if you wish to minimize down on meals weight in your pack, however bear in mind that city stops might be costly and time-consuming.
You may resupply by mailing containers forward of time to a submit workplace or a spot on the town that provides to carry containers for hikers (like a gear store) or getting a experience into a close-by city for the grocery retailer. In case your resupply plan entails mailing packages, you’ll need to ship them properly prematurely to verify they arrive in time so that you can decide them up.
For those who’re mailing your resupply containers to a submit workplace (make sure that the PO in your goal city accepts common supply), that is the way you’ll need to handle your field:
- Your Identify
c/o Normal Supply
City Identify, AZ 01234
Arriving By: ETA
It’s additionally a good suggestion to put in writing your title or put a particular marker (like colourful doodles or stickers) on all sides of the field to make it simpler for postal employees to seek out it amongst the heaps of different containers.
RESUPPLY RECOMMENDATIONS
Patagonia (AZT NOBO mile 52.4)
This was our favourite path city – everybody was so pleasant, the city itself may be very charming, and the grocery retailer is among the greatest we’ve seen in a small city.
Keep right here: Terra Sol is a really comfy and welcoming place to pitch your tent, do laundry, and take a bathe. Hikers have entry to an out of doors kitchen, a fireplace pit, and a screened shelter, and the guts of city is a brief stroll from right here for resupply.
Eat right here: We ended up at Gathering Grounds by probability because it was the one factor open after we got here by way of, however it didn’t disappoint. The sandwiches and drinks listed below are superior, and different hikers appear to agree that this is among the greatest eats on the town.
Resupply right here: Crimson Mountain Meals is an effective possibility for vegans/vegetarians/individuals with dietary restrictions. They’ve numerous good produce and an important number of bars. Patagonia Market’s choice is a little more fundamental than Crimson Mountain however we used it to complement our resupply. They’ve many hiker staples, like ramen, dehydrated refried beans, and electrolyte mixes.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park (AZT NOBO mile 125.7)
This park is a brief jaunt off the path, and so they’ll maintain resupply packages for thru-hikers. We despatched containers right here, and the workers allow us to sit on the patio and cost our electronics whereas we loved some fries and prickly pear margaritas from the snack stand with a gaggle of different hikers.
Summerhaven (AZT NOBO mile 190.2)
This can be a tiny city that you just’ll go proper by way of on path on the high of the Mt. Lemmon climb. We don’t suggest staying right here because it’s a spendy resort city, however we grabbed a number of issues from the surprisingly well-stocked Mt. Lemmon Normal Retailer to get us to Oracle the subsequent day. You’ll in all probability hear buzz in regards to the Cookie Cabin on the best way right here, however we don’t suppose it’s price a cease. The pizza and cookies had been very costly (although they’re additionally fairly massive) and actually simply weren’t that good – even after the strenuous climb up Lemmon. Save your cash and deal with your self to a pleasant, massive meal in your subsequent city cease.
Oracle (AZT NOBO mile 204.3)
Oracle isn’t the world’s best path cease, as a result of it’s not very walkable and there aren’t many lodging for staying in a single day. However should you’re not choosy, the city does have a Greenback Normal and an important espresso store.
Keep right here: We didn’t really keep in Oracle, however everybody recommends the Resting Oak – a home owned by a pair that caters to hikers. Their information might be discovered on the FarOut app within the heart of Oracle. We had been feeling fancy, so we break up an Airbnb with a buddy within the close by city of Catalina for some grilling and bathtub soaks.
Eat right here: The quirky Approach of the Bean Espresso Membership is technically a personal membership, however the proprietor offers hikers free day passes. The drinks right here had been excellent, and the ambiance is tremendous stress-free. In addition they serve breakfast meals and pastries.
Resupply right here: Your solely resupply choices in Oracle are Greenback Normal and Circle Okay (a small comfort retailer). Vegans, vegetarians, and people with dietary restrictions might have a tough time discovering good meals choices. The city of Catalina has a Bashas’ grocery retailer and is 20 minutes south. You could possibly hitch or take an Uber (what we did) there if crucial.
Kearny (AZT NOBO mile 268.4)
We didn’t go to Kearny, however we type of want we had. A number of AZT hikers say that is their favourite city on the path, and we heard nothing however good issues in regards to the sort individuals there.
Keep right here: There are some of us on the town that recurrently host hikers, however they’re by word-of-mouth. You’ll need to get their information from the FarOut app if you wish to keep at their hiker haven on the town.
Eat right here: Outdated Time Pizza is the spot everybody talks about from Kearny, and it’s the final word hiker-friendly cease from what we hear. The proprietor recurrently offers hikers rides to and from path.
Resupply right here: There’s an IGA grocery retailer on the town that has a wide variety and provides thru-hikers a free espresso and donut for stopping in.
Superior (AZT NOBO mile 306.3)
Superior is a detailed second on our checklist of favourite AZT path cities. We put our hike on pause right here within the spring, so this was our official ending spot within the fall. It’s an outdated mining neighborhood that has a ton of Wild West attraction.
Keep right here: We stayed on the Copper Mountain Motel within the spring, and the household that runs it was very pleasant and accommodating. The rooms are fundamental however cute, and there’s a Household Greenback throughout the road in addition to a number of eating places close by.
Once we returned within the fall, we stayed with the legendary path angel MJ whose information might be discovered on the FarOut app. She welcomes hikers into her residence and treats them like household, and she or he’s solely a few blocks from the downtown strip the place the higher grocery retailer is.
Eat right here: We completely cherished Miner’s on Predominant. It’s a Nineteen Fifties-style diner within the coronary heart of downtown that serves breakfast staples, burgers, and milkshakes.
Mountainside espresso can be improbable – we went there a number of occasions, and the workers members had been all so candy.
Resupply right here: There’s a Household Greenback proper on the town on the primary freeway should you’re in a rush, however we want the choice on the Save Cash Market on the historic strip.
Roosevelt Lake Marina (AZT NOBO mile 349.6)
The marina at Roosevelt Lake holds packages for hikers, so we despatched a field right here. There’s a small retailer that wouldn’t be an excellent possibility for a full resupply, however it does have a number of hiker staples should you’re simply searching for a few fundamentals.
Payson (AZT NOBO mile 390.6)
Payson is a couple of 30-minute experience from path, however we had been in determined want of some new socks so we caught a hitch in. This can be a fairly massive city with a number of eating places and three massive grocery shops proper throughout the road from one another.
Keep right here: We loved a stick with some path angels down the street in Tonto Basin, however Payson has a bunch of motels to select from. The Majestic Mountain Inn has cheap charges and is shut sufficient to the grocery shops to stroll.
Eat right here: We ate at The Pinon Café which served massive parts and was completely scrumptious. We after all needed to deal with ourselves to pumpkin drinks at Starbucks too for the reason that grocery retailer we shopped at has one inside.
Resupply right here: Walmart, Bashas’, and Safeway are all on the primary street by way of city, and so they’re proper throughout the road from one another. We selected Bashas’ just because it’s an Arizona chain, however any of those could have all of the choices you can ever need.
If that you must change gear, there’s a Large 5 Sporting Items, Walmart, and a really hiker-friendly footwear store known as Rim Runners.
Pine/Strawberry (AZT NOBO mile 462.2)
Pine is a mile off path, so most hikers (us included) simply stroll into city. The small neighborhood of Strawberry is simply three miles up the street, and we had no drawback getting there and again from Pine.
North of Pine, resupply choices are extra restricted. There are a number of locations close to the path that settle for resupply packages, however they’re solely open seasonally. We opted to do longer meals carries and solely hit the foremost resupply stops as a result of the path turns into a lot simpler north of right here.
Keep right here: We stayed on the Strawberry Chalet N Keep, which was very hiker-friendly. They’d cheap room charges and gave us a voucher to make use of towards a meal on the bar subsequent door.
There aren’t many lodging within the city of Pine, however many hikers select to remain there with a path angel.
Eat right here: Early Chook Cafe in Pine was an enormous spotlight for us – they’ve completely huge parts, cheap costs, pleasant workers, and the meals is nice. Undoubtedly strive one of many specialty sizzling cocoas!
THAT Brewery in Pine is one other very hiker-friendly institution that has a hiker field, accepts mailed resupply packages, and donates a few of the proceeds from one in all their beers to the Arizona Path Affiliation. They’ve additionally acquired customary brewery meals choices like burgers and sandwiches.
For those who keep in Strawberry, you’ll doubtless eat lunch or dinner on the Sportsman’s Chalet for the reason that motel offers you a voucher to make use of there. Throughout the road is Pie Bar which will get a protracted line the second they open, however we braved the gang to get some empanadas to pack out for path.
Resupply right here: The small Ponderosa Market in Pine has an okay number of hiker meals. In case you have dietary restrictions it is likely to be higher to mail your self a field to THAT Brewery or hitchhike 20 minutes down the street to Payson.
Flagstaff (AZT NOBO mile 570.4)
Town of Flagstaff might be accessed a number of other ways – most hikers select to hike in on the city route which begins at NOBO mile 570.4. The “official” path is definitely thought of the equestrian route, and strolling both possibility counts as having accomplished the part. For those who select to hike the equestrian route, bear in mind that there’s a tenting ban from about mile 569 to mile 606, however you may get a simple hitch into city from mile 590.
Keep right here: We arrived in Flagstaff on a Saturday, so accommodations and motels had been fairly costly. There are a ton of room choices on the town although, and most hikers simply select no matter is least expensive on the time and most centrally positioned. Flagstaff has a reasonably good bus system that’ll get you the place that you must go. We selected to stick with a path angel on the town and had an important expertise.
Eat right here: Flagstaff has all of the eateries you can ever need, and there are lots of choices for vegans and vegetarians as properly. We didn’t strive it, however most hikers say MartAnnes Burrito Palace hits the spot.
Resupply right here: This can be a metropolis, so any grocery retailer you need is right here. We break up our resupply between Fry’s and Complete Meals (for the ample vegan proteins). There’s additionally an REI on the town in addition to a number of native outfitters, so that is the most effective time to interchange your sneakers in the event that they’ve been eaten up by all of the rocks on path.
South Rim Grand Canyon (AZT NOBO mile 698.8)
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon has a complete village with a surprisingly well-stocked and fairly priced grocery retailer, laundry, and showers. This can be a good place to relaxation and take within the sights earlier than shifting on.
That is the best choice for resupply between the Grand Canyon and the northern terminus, because the North Rim is simply open a number of months out of the 12 months and has a much less spectacular retailer. Some hikers select to cease within the small neighborhood of Jacob Lake at mile 771.8, however we expect carrying some further meals weight by way of the Grand Canyon from right here is the higher guess.
Keep right here: There’s a delegated thru-hiker web site at Mather Campground close to the village. Examine in with a ranger on the campground kiosk, and so they’ll set you up with a pleasant spot for a small charge.
Eat right here: There’s a small deli within the grocery retailer that has okay meals, however it’s fairly costly. We opted to cook dinner our meals on the campsite.
Resupply right here: There’s a common retailer within the village that shares all of the hiker staples, and we had been in a position to do a full resupply right here for surprisingly low cost.
Go away No Hint
Stopping and minimizing human affect is essential to the well being of our wilderness. Individually, you might suppose your fireplace, shallow cathole, or meals scraps within the river aren’t going to hurt an ecosystem, however there’s a big cumulative affect.
We share this house with hundreds of individuals climbing alongside the AZT yearly, in addition to the various array of plant and animal life, so all of us must do our half to guard it. It solely takes a couple of minutes to brush up on Go away No Hint tips earlier than you head out.
Develop into a Member of the Arizona Path Affiliation
The Arizona Path Affiliation (ATA) protects and maintains the AZT. With out the laborious work of their workers and volunteers, there could be no path. We extremely suggest changing into a donating member of this wonderful group to assist make sure the AZT stays round for future generations to take pleasure in. The ATA additionally commemorates profitable thru-hikers with a home made copper belt buckle – actually the best path completion present we’ve ever seen.
Extra Info
We hope this information helps you propose an unforgettable journey alongside the Arizona Path. For extra well-liked CleverHiker content material, take a look at the next hyperlinks:
