Arizona Trail Conditions

Updated:  April 2008

Users of the Arizona Trail are advised of the following Arizona Trail conditions. Please contact the Arizona Trail Association’s passage stewards listed on the ATA website and National Forest offices for more recent information.
 
Huachuca Mountains and Canelo Hills East and West Passages
The AZT along the AZ/Mexico border continues to be impacted by illegal border crossers. Many new side trails are being created by the border crossers. And trail users should watch for illegal trails, intersecting the Arizona Trail, as the illegal trails are often more distinct and heavily traveled. Trail users may meet illegal border crossers and are advised to not hike alone in these areas. Also, overnight users are advised to camp away from the trail as far as possible.

Temporal Gulch Passage
Please use extreme caution when hiking this section. Due to heavy summer rains, the four wheel drive road northwest of Temporal Gulch trailhead is impassable for most four wheel drive vehicles for about 5 miles.

Santa Rita Mountains Passage
The trail access point at FR 785 / Flume / Gardener Creek has been realigned to support a resource protection closure of the existing vehicle capable access point. Fencing has been installed across the top of this entry point and there is no room for exit or entry without inflicting resource damage. When crossing the creek the trail will break to your right and is signed. The rough construction ends in a drainage which will be used temporarily to access an existing parking area. The tread should be completed by end of May. When accessing the trail from the South / West, enter through the parking area on FR 785 that is just west of the old entry point. The temporary entry point is signed. The "Link Trail" is also now open for use.

Las Colinas Passage (7.5 miles)
The route is flagged with red and while flagging and construction has started north from Oak Tree Canyon Road (Mile 43.2 on State Route 83) approximately 3/4 mile west of State Route 83. The first 1.5 miles is completed to FR 4064. There is also 2.3 miles of new trail north and west of Hidden Valley Ranch (FR 4062 - Mile 47.5 on State Route 83). North of this completed section there is flagging but the trail is very rugged. It is passable to hikers but not mountain bikers or horse riders.

Rincon Valley Passage (0.3 miles)
Construction of this passage is now complete except for the final 1/3 mile up to Hope Camp as of Spring 2008. Some bushwacking will be required for trail users.

Rincon Mountains Passage (4 miles)
There is no trail from the northern end of the Rincon Valley Passage into Saguaro National Park as of Winter 2008. The goal is to get Saguaro National Park officials approval for a 4 mile connector trail from Hope Camp to the Manning Camp Trail just north of the old Madrona Ranger station. Users are advised to enter the park at the Visitor Center.

Santa Catalina Mountain and Oracle Ridge Passages
The section of these passages near the junction of the Mt. Lemmon Trail and the Sutherland Trail has been impacted by a fire in the Romero Canyon area and is closed. Contact the Coronado National Forest Tucson office to see when it will be re-opened.
The after effects of a 2003 forest fire have severely impacted these passages. It is very overgrown in several areas especially the Canada del Oro trail in the Oracle Ridge Passage. Users are advised to not take the Canada del Oro route. Instead, users are advised to follow the Mt. Lemmon Trail into the Summerhaven community and then follow the Oracle Ridge Trail and reconnect with the AZT at Dan's Saddle.

White Canyon Passage (16 miles)
This 10.6 mile track will take you from the fence corner near the RR Trestle Bridge to the confluence of White and Walnut Canyons where the artesian well is located.
At the fence corner north of the railroad trestle bridge (33.10583N 111.00167W) follow orange flagging, which generally follows construction stakes, for 2.77 miles to a newly constructed trail (33.11639N 111.02278W). After 0.5 miles on new trail, cross a major wash following orange flagging to a newly constructed trail for 3.56 miles which goes to another major wash (N33.11520 W111.02984). Do not take the wash with the Large Cairn, but continue west for about another 0.25 miles; then turn right/north heading up the wash for 1.02 miles (N33.13313 W111.06751). Turn left/west onto a two-track rocky road for about 1.85 miles which drops into Walnut Canyon. Head north up Walnut Canyon (N33.14843 W111.07909) for about 1.0 miles until reaching the artesian well (N33.15732 W111.08051).
Alternative route to the Walnut Canyon artesian well.
Continue on paved road from bridge for 1.4 miles to Highway 177 then north for 6.1 miles to Battle Axe Road 0.2 miles beyond mile post 158. Take Battle Axe Road southwest for 1.7 miles, turning right/north 0.1 miles beyond the steel corral. Follow road for 1.9 miles to artesian well.

Superstition Wilderness Passage
At the northern end of this passage, some parts of the Cottonwood Canyon area suffer from the effects of a flash flood. It is passable by hikers using care. It is still restricted from use by horse and bicycle riders unless they are very experienced and exercise extreme care.

Pine Mountain Passage
The section of this passage near Boulder Creek is filled with dense chaparral and erosion caused by a 2005 fire. It is passable by hikers using care but not by horse or bicycle riders.

Mazatzal Divide Passage
This passage is "passable", but just barely. Horseback travel is not recommended. The deadfall and erosion from the 2004 Willow Fire continues to create major problems. Much of the signage burned. The section was hiked, flagged, and signed (limited) in December 2007. Please do not hike this section alone. You should have good map and route-finding skills and be comfortable in true wilderness situations. Plan on traveling at about 1/2 your normal speed.
March 2008 Update - Approximately 80% of the trail is now hikeable/passable. The worst deadfall and brushy spots have been fixed. A 3 mile section south of Bear Springs has not been touched due to snow depth and remains in bad shape. The remainder of the passage will remain challenging, but you can hike at almost normal speed. The Mazatzal Wilderness area trail signs have not been replaced after the fire, but an AZT wooden sign now exists at each major trail junction. In sketchy areas, follow the orange flagging.

Red Hills Passage
Due to continuing damage from the 2004 Willow fire, trail users should bypass this section. Instead, follow Trail #23 (the Divide Trail) north to the City Creek trailhead at East Verde River. At the river follow the road west for 4 miles to the LF Ranch area and continue north on the Arizona Trail from there.

San Francisco Peaks Passage (6 miles)
Approximately 15 miles of trail need to be constructed in this passage. Until the AZT is constructed, hikers are advised to use the Weatherford and Kachina Wilderness trails from Shultz Pass to the Snow Bowl parking area. At that point, it is necessary to bushwack approximately 6 miles to Kelly Tank which is on FR #514. The constructed and signed AZT begins again at that point.

Grand Canyon South Rim Passage
This passage is missing a small section just south of the Grand Canyon National Park boundary. The Tusayan Bike trail (which the AZT follows) ends 3/10 mile north of Tusayan. From that point, it is necessary to bushwack on the west side of AZ 64/US 180 for 1/2 mile to a gate in the boundary fence. The route is signed from here to the South Kaibab Trailhead.

Kaibab Plateau South and Kaibab Plateau Central Passages
Some parts of these passages were impacted by the Warm Fire. Kaibab National Forest has closed the section from Crane Lake to the FR 205 TH. Contact the Kaibab National Forest for more information.