Arizona Trail Association

06/19/2026

🎥 Coming up! Screening of Trailblazers at the Theatrikos Theatre in downtown Flagstaff on Wednesday, July 8 at 7:00 PM.
This tale of two brothers walking across Arizona with a pair of mules will spark your wanderlust! Tickets are $12 for general admission, $9 for Sedona Film Festival members. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Trail Association!

Tickets: https://sedonafilmfestival.com/event/flagstaff-premiere-trailblazers/
"Trailblazers"
In 1982, in a rebellion against convenience, brothers Troy and Powell “Gil” Gillenwater walked across Arizona. They weren’t chasing fame or following a mapped route because there wasn’t one. What began as a homegrown adventure evolved into a journey that reflects deep brotherhood and the rugged beauty of the Southwest. Today the Arizona National Scenic Trail offers a pathway to deep wilderness immersion. Part road movie, part time machine, “Trailblazers” is about how one bold move can spark a lasting legacy for generations to follow.

Produced by Quantum Leap Productions in partnership with the Arizona Trail Association

Companion Arizona Highways article: The Path of Most Resistance: https://www.arizonahighways.com/article/path-most-resistance

06/19/2026

After a full school year of anticipation from students and teachers, the Arizona Trail Association: Seeds of Stewardship Program educators arrived at STAR School with a 15-passenger van and a trailer loaded up with all camping gear, food and kitchen equipment needed for the trip. Students loaded their personal items into the trailer and we set off for our first destination: the Tribal Welcome Center in Grand Canyon National Park.

Lakin Espaloose (Zuni) and Anthony Edaakie (Zuni), Tribal Affairs Education Interns, met students before leading an interpretive program inside the Desert View Watchtower. They shared about the importance of Indigenous art and presence in the park, and led some fun activities with the students. After visiting the tower, we were joined by Kelkiyana Yazzie (Diné), Tribal Program Coordinator, who emphasized the cultural importance of sites like the Grand Canyon

Kelkiyana, Lakin, and Anthony all shared their personal pathways that brought them to the Grand Canyon as cultural interpreters. Lakin told students, “This canyon is important to my Zuni people, and many other tribes. That’s why I’m here.”

Anthony focused on the importance of Indigenous representation in National Parks, and its impacts on Indigenous youth. All three wrapped up our time at the Watchtower by sharing various pathways to careers in cultural stewardship and interpretation, such as Conservation Legacy’s Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps.

After lunch, we visited the Tusayan Pueblo, where Kelkiyana led an interpretive walk exploring what life was like in an Ancestral Pueblo. She discussed traditional farming practices along with native plants and their uses. Many students drew connections between their own cultural knowledge and experiences and those of people living in ancestral pueblos, including the practice of gathering piñon nuts.

Next, we headed to our group campsite at Mather Campground to set up camp and rest and relax before dinner and a sunset outing to Shoshone Point.

To read more about the students’ adventures, complete with photographs and reflections from youth participants, please check out the trip report “Beautiful Like My Culture” on our website: https://aztrailmedia.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trip-Report-Beautiful-Like-My-Culture.pdf?mc_cid=8efb1d2831&mc_eid=ff3ae48088

06/18/2026

Rogue Panda Designs has been designing bikepacking bags purpose-built for the rigors of the Arizona Trail and beyond since 2014, maintaining its position in the industry by innovating, embracing new manufacturing methods, and adapting. Read the article:

Miles spent a few days at Rogue Panda in Flagstaff, Arizona, exploring the shop and the local machine shop they partner with.

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

🔥Rock Canyon Fire Forces Closure of Arizona Trail and Stateline Trailhead

The Rock Canyon Fire began Monday afternoon after a lightning strike near the Arizona-Utah border on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (Arizona Strip Field Office). Extreme heat and drought conditions, combined with high winds, have seen the blaze grow to nearly 3,000 acres overnight. Currently, the fire is only 5% contained.

In the interest of public safety, the BLM has closed Stateline Trailhead and the northern terminus of the Arizona National Scenic Trail and AZT Passage 43 (Buckskin Mountain). Additional closures nearby on the Kaibab National Forest are also expected.

Please avoid this area until the fire is contained and it has been determined to be safe for visitation. For up-to-date information, rely on Watch Duty.

Real-time information about wildfire and firefighting efforts nearby

06/17/2026

🔥Rock Canyon fire on the U.S. Forest Service - Kaibab National Forest: the AZT between the Navajo Trail and the northern NKRD boundary is affected.

06/17/2026

Stage 2 fire restrictions will be in effect on the North Kaibab Ranger District this Thursday (06/18/2026) at 6:00 a.m.

🚫 No building, maintaining, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal, coal, and briquettes, even in developed recreation sites. This includes smudge pots, pellet grills, and wood stoves. The only exception is using a stove or grill that is solely fueled by pressurized liquid petroleum or pressurized liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels.
🚫 No smoking (except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material).
🚫 Blasting, welding, or operating any acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
🚫 During the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., operating a generator, chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine for felling, bucking, skidding, processing, road building and woodcutting during industrial operations or firewood gathering capable of igniting a fire. An exception is allowed for operating generators with an approved spark arrestor in an area barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet of the generator.

Violations could result in mandatory appearance in a federal court, fines, and/or jail time.

The Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts will remain in Stage 1 restrictions at this time. Refer to the Forest Order for details.

As a reminder, explosives and fireworks are NEVER allowed.

The Kaibab’s fire restrictions do not prohibit target shooting. However, all existing regulations for discharging a firearm on public lands still apply.

06/15/2026

The next screening of Trailblazers is coming up July 8 in Flagstaff, part of the Sedona Film Festival! Tickets and event info:

In 1982, brothers Troy and Gil Gillenwater decided to walk across the state of Arizona. Without GPS, mobile phones, or continuous trails, they cobbled together an 810-mile adventure that took over two months and two mules to complete. Little did they know, their trek would be an inspiration for the....

06/15/2026

State of Arizona Abandons Funding for the Arizona Trail

On Friday, June 12, the Arizona Legislature and Governor reached a compromise on the state’s budget for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). Within the $18.3 billion budget was a total allocation of $0 for the Arizona Trail. A special Arizona Trail Fund was established in 2006 with an initial investment of $500,000. Since that time, it has only received an allocation four times. This is the second year in a row it has been unfunded. While we recognize it was a tough budget year for AZ, there is really no excuse for a state not investing in its only state scenic trail and national scenic trail.

Our initial ask was for $500,000. This is 0.0027% of the state’s budget. Then, the Senate hacked that down to $100,000. Then the House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee refused to hear it. And in the end, it was reduced to $0. Dedicated funding for Arizona Trail construction and maintenance is clearly not a priority for the State Legislature or Governor’s Office.

What does this mean for the AZT?

- We won’t be able to put young Arizonans who work for conservation corps (Arizona Conservation Corps and American Conservation Experience) to work on trail projects over the next year.
- Volunteers will need to leap into action to support priority trail maintenance and construction projects.
- We won’t be able to leverage state dollars as “matching funds” within federal grant opportunities, meaning our grant applications won’t be as competitive.
- Big trail construction projects will need to be paused until dedicated funding is secured.
- We won’t be able to support Arizona’s professional trail contractors (Flagline Trails, Cuddy Mountain Trail Construction, and Proline Trails) over the next year – this will have an impact on locals who work for them as well as Arizona’s outdoor recreation economy.
- The Governor is going to have a difficult time reaching her goal of building 200 miles of new non-motorized trail by 2030.
- In order for the ATA to meet our goals and maintain momentum, we will rely on friends like you to provide support.

Our most sincere thanks to everyone who reached out to their state representatives and senators over the past few months. We encourage you to reach out to Governor Hobbs and your state representatives to congratulate them on passing the budget while expressing respectful disappointment for not funding the Arizona Trail.

If you haven’t donated to the ATA this season, please do that soon. We really need your help to step in where the state has failed.

https://aztrail.org/get-involved/donate/

06/14/2026

Firefighters Working to Contain the Box Fire in Saguaro National Park

TUCSON, Ariz. – Interagency wildland firefighters are responding to the Box Fire, which was reported on June 13 at approximately 7:15 a.m. in Saguaro National Park. The fire is located in the Rincon Mountains in the east district of the park, just west of Juniper Basin campground. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The fire is estimated to be approximately 40 acres and is 0% contained.

To provide for public safety and allow firefighters to operate effectively, the following trails and areas are temporarily closed:

• Trails originating from Javelina Picnic Area
• Loma Alta Trailhead
• X9 Ranch access routes
• Juniper Basin and Grass Shack backcountry campgrounds

At this time, there are no evacuation orders in place.

Wildland firefighters are actively working to suppress the fire and protect life, property, and natural and cultural resources. Using a direct extinguishment strategy, firefighters are working at the fire’s edge to stop its spread while aviation resources are providing water and retardant drops.