Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail

by Matthew Nelson, Arizona Trail Association

Overview

Find everything you need to know about the Arizona National Scenic Trail, which beckons hikers, cyclists, and equestrians to its diverse and unforgettable landscapes.

Stretching more than 800 miles from the USA-Mexico border to the Utah state line, the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) passes through a unique blend of desert, forest, and canyon terrain. To hike the best of it—or to backpack the entire route—you want a comprehensive guide assembled by AZT experts. Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail is widely considered a “bible” of the trail’s twists and turns, its flora and fauna, and its geology.

Written by trail-savvy members of the Arizona Trail Association, including executive director Matthew J. Nelson, this guidebook serves up the 800-mile trail, section by section (43 altogether), so day-hikers and thru-hikers can feel confident about the entire route. Inspired by the magnificence of the scenery, the wildlife, and the diversity of terrain, this book is an irreplaceable source for any hiker, mountain biker, or equestrian. Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail will fuel your adventures from start to finish.

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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780899977485
Publisher:	Wilderness Press
Publication date:	11/18/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	65 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

As executive director of the Arizona Trail Association, Matthew J. Nelson led development of this guidebook as the primary editor and wrote many of the passage descriptions. He has more than 500 published articles to his credit, and has explored many parts of the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) on foot, bike, and horseback. As an archaeologist, Mr. Nelson surveyed portions of the now 800-mile trail in its proposal stages. He designed a portion of the trail along Passage 16, and has participated in numerous trail work events. He is the trail steward for Passage 16d, and was hired as the executive director of the Arizona Trail Association in January 2012.

Other key contributors are Terri Gay, Sirena Dufault, Wendy Hodgson, Dr. Liz Slauson, Rick Obermiller, and Aaron Seifert.

Terri Gay started dreaming of hiking the AZT in 1989. She became actively involved with the trail in 2003 and completed section-hiking it in 2009. She assists the Arizona Trail Association with a variety of projects requiring graphic design, event planning, and promotion. Ms. Gay played a key role in compiling photographs and updated descriptions for this comprehensive guidebook.

Sirena Dufault is the gateway community liaison for the Arizona Trail Association, and steward for the trail's Passage 16c. Ms. Dufault provides outreach to the communities near the trail and organizes Arizona Trail Days events across the state. In 2008-09 she section-hiked the AZT. She provided the extensive Gateway Communities section and several passage descriptions to this guidebook.

Wendy Hodgson is the herbarium curator and research botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden, in Phoenix, where she has worked for nearly 40 years. Her research includes floristics--rare and endemic plants of the Southwest, particularly the Grand Canyon; systematics of agaves and yuccas; and Sonoran Desert ethnobotany. An avid hiker and plant collector, Ms. Dufault is committed to connecting science and the public. With that as her incentive, she is helping develop the Plant Atlas Project of Arizona, which trains volunteers to conduct plant inventories of selected areas of the state.

Dr. Elizabeth A. Slauson holds a B.S. in Urban Horticulture and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Botany from Arizona State University. During her 15-year tenure at the Desert Botanical Garden, in Phoenix, her roles included curator of collections, research botanist, and director of research . She has served as a scientific advisor/committee member for the Center for Plant Conservation, the Texas Rare Plant Task force and Recovery Team, the International Organization for Succulent Plant Study Congress, the Arizona Native Plant Society, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and the Malpai Borderlands. Currently Dr. Slauson teaches BIO 108 Plants and Society at Scottsdale Community College and is the director of the college's Herbarium.

Rick Obermiller contributed all of the guidebook's geology chapters, and has served as a trail steward, board member, and trail builder for more than a decade. Mr. Obermiller has lived in Arizona since 1972, graduated from Arizona State University, and has been hiking and backpacking the state ever since. As an amateur geologist and mineral collector, he finds Grand Canyon to be the perfect location for studying and appreciating the forces that have shaped Arizona and the planet.

Aaron Seifert, who is a Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP), owns Flagstaff-based GISeifert (www.GISeifert.com). He provided the extensive and detailed passage maps for this book, in consultation with the Arizona National Scenic Trail Regional Stewards. As these maps are now in a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) format, they will be much easier to revise and reproduce as the trail changes over time. Mr. Seifert has been passionate about trails by hiking, biking, backpacking, and trail maintenance since growing up in Colorado then living in Phoenix, Sedona, and currently Flagstaff. He is a trail steward for Passage 34a.

Read an Excerpt

Passage 24: Red Hills

• Location: The Park to East Verde River
• Distance: 14 miles one-way
• Day-Trip Option: See turnaround note in the trail description.
• Shuttle Recommendation: Not applicable
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Land Manager: Tonto National Forest, Payson Ranger District, 928-474-7936
• Recommended Months: March–November
• Gateway Community: See Payson (page 325).
• Geology Highlights: See “Amazing Mazatzals” (page 342).

Overview

The longest stretch of the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) that is entirely within designated wilderness areas continues as the trail bends even deeper into this pristine, remote landscape. Thru-hikers will lose much of the elevation they gained over the previous few passages as the trail drops into the valley of the East Verde River. The elevation ranges from 6,284 feet on Knob Mountain to 3,277 feet at the passage’s terminus near the river.

This elevation change offers the opportunity to see a variety of Arizona’s biotic communities, from majestic stands of ponderosa pines to a lush riparian zone whose denizens include turtles and rare birds. Because the flora is so thick in places that it obscures the trail, you’ll want to wear protective clothing.

On the Trail

Starting from The Park at the junction with the North Peak Trail (Trail 24), head north on the Mazatzal Divide Trail (Trail 23), the route of the AZT. You soon bend northwest and climb to 6,170 feet, descend to cross two tributary canyons of City Creek, and then turn back to the northeast and climb again. From a high point on indistinct Knob Mountain (6,284 feet), you can look northeast for a clear view of the Mogollon Rim, the geographical dividing line between Arizona’s lower-elevation southern half and the cooler, higher elevations to the north. Thru-hikers will climb onto the rim within a few days.

Soon you will reach an important trail intersection—where the AZT departs from the Mazatzal Divide Trail (Trail 23). The AZT goes left (west) on a combination of trails: Red Hills Trail (Trail 262), Brush Trail (Trail 249), and Bull Spring Trail (Trail 34). And the Mazatzal Divide Trail (Trail 23) makes a hard right turn and heads northeast down to the City Creek Trailhead. Continuing on the AZT and a few quick switchbacks, the trail turns left at a cairn-marked junction, descends to the west along a small drainage, and passes through an idyllic pine forest. In springtime, water is often present here. In a confluence of drainages, follow large cairns as the trail turns left, makes a few steep climbs to the southwest, and then levels just before a trail intersection.

Turnaround Note: Day-hikers should consider this their turnaround spot (5.5 miles from the start of the passage).

To continue, stay right (west) onto the Brush Trail. As the trail descends to the west and northwest, it then turns northeast along a drainage with nice views of the East Verde River Valley. The trail drops sharply on a rocky, red path. Thick vegetation occasionally obscures the trail, but cairns show the way.

The trail reaches a sign for the usually dry Brush Spring, which is about 50 yards to the northwest. There is a slightly overused place to camp here, the last site for 5 miles. From this sign, the trail bends right (east) to go upstream along an adjoining drainage. In 0.1 mile, the AZT climbs northwest out of the drainage and follows switchbacks along a swath cut through thick vegetation to reach the top of a steep hill.

A brief descent leads through heavy brush as it crosses a fence in a saddle and climbs north 0.1 mile to an important but obscure trail junction. Make a sharp left (southwest) and climb a bit more. After wrapping around to the right, you top out in a saddle before beginning a steep descent, from which you can see the East Verde River in the valley bottom. You’re now on the grounds of the historic LF Ranch, an active ranch with hiker-friendly facilities, including a bunkhouse and shower.

To exit the wilderness and AZT for the nearest road access, take the road 3.8 miles to the east to the Doll Baby Trailhead. If you’re a long-distance trail traveler and you plan to continue along the AZT, head northeast on this road, walk 70 yards, and look for a sign on the right indicating the next passage of the AZT. The East Verde River awaits you and your water bottles.

Mountain Bike Notes: Bikes are prohibited on this passage, which lies entirely within the Mazatzal Wilderness. For detailed information about scenic mountain biking routes around wilderness areas, visit aztrail.org.

Southern Access: The Park

Note: The Park is at the junction of Mazatzal Divide Trail (Trail 23) and North Peak Trail (Trail 24) via Mineral Creek Trailhead. From Payson on AZ 87, drive west on Main Street. Stay on the main road past a golf course, where the pavement ends and the road becomes FR 406. About 5.2 miles from AZ 87, turn left on FR 414 and continue another 5.2 miles. Turn right and continue 0.2 mile to a three-way fork in the road. Turn left and go about 100 feet to Mineral Creek Trailhead. Hike along the North Peak Trail for 4 miles to reach the AZT with 2,500 feet of elevation gain to reach The Park.

Northern Access: East Verde River (LF Ranch) via Doll Baby Trailhead

If you want to hit the trail from here, please follow the trail description in reverse order. From the town of Payson, at the intersection of AZ 87 and Main Street, take Main Street west for 2 miles, which turns into Country Club Drive. Near the end of Country Club Drive, the road passes a sanitation plant, crosses a creek, and continues another 6 miles on a newly paved road, referred to as Doll Baby Ranch Road or LF Ranch Road, depending on which map you’re using. At this point the road becomes a dirt doubletrack (FR 406). Continue on FR 406 for approximately 3 miles, passing the City Creek Trailhead and Doll Baby Ranch, eventually arriving at the locked gate that marks the Doll Baby Trailhead, where parking and camping are allowed. From the trailhead, walk around the gate and hike on the doubletrack for 3.9 miles. The road winds around the hills and eventually levels out in the valley near the ranch. The AZT intersects the road from the west as a faint singletrack.

Table of Contents

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