b"The Arizona Trail was the dream of Dale Shewalter who envisioned a cross-state trail in the 1970s, and in 1985, while he was working as a Flagstaff schoolteacher, walked from Nogales to the Utah state line to explore the feasibility of a trail traversing Arizona. H e then began traveling around the state givingThe Arizona National Scenic Trail (Arizona Trail)among dense stands of saguaro cacti, grasslands, tall presentations and building support amongstretches over 800 miles from the U.S. border withpines, and oak-juniper forests.agencies and trail groups. The idea wasMexico to Utah, connecting deserts, mountains, embraced by all types of trail users throughout Arizona,canyons, wilderness, history, communities, and people. After approximately 50 miles, the trail reaches the and by Arizona State Parks and the Kaibab, Coronado,The Arizona Trail has something for everyone, fromcommunity gateway of Patagonia, one of the first major Coconino, and Tonto National Forests, the Bureau ofremote and challenging wilderness to easily accessiblestops on the Arizona Trail. The trail then climbs into the Land Management, and National Parks Service. passages near many GatewaySanta Rita Mountains on the south side of Tucson. This Communities, this trailmountainous section around Tucson is known for its In 1994, the Arizona Trailshowcases Arizonas diversesky islands which are prominent, isolated mountains Association incorporatedvegetation, wildlife, scenery, andthat drop into radically different valleys. The trail then as a 501(c)(3) non-profithistory in a way that providesdrops into Rincon Valley where it then enters the Rincon organization and becamea unique and unparalleledMountains and Saguaro National Park.an organized voice for theArizona experience.trail, and brought togetherThe Rincon Mountains are followed by the Santa passionate day hikers,Wildlife is abundant on theCatalina Mountains which lie northeast of Tucson. The backpackers, equestrians,Arizona Trail. The mostSanta Catalina Mountains will take you through the mountain bicyclists, runners,common animals on the trailrugged and wild Pusch Ridge Wilderness. An alternate trail builders, natureare cows that graze in thebypass is recommended for equestrians and hikers who enthusiasts, cross-countrygrasslands and range areas. Youwant to avoid the difficult terrain of the northern Santa skiers, and llama packers fromwill see rattlesnakes and GilaCatalina Mountains.throughout the state. Thesemonsters both of which can be committed individuals (thenaggressive and poisonous so keep a safe distance.CENTRAL SECTION(Passages 14-26)and even more so today) provided the necessary routeAlso unique to the arid areas are the desert tortoise,The central section brings hikers back into the desert identification to close the gaps of the trail, provided thejavelinas, and desert birds such as the Gila woodpecker,and enters one of the more remote parts of the trail - necessary volunteers for building cactus wren, and gilded flicker. Outside of the desert,the Sonoran desert. The Sonoran desert is one of the and maintaining the trail, created maps and providedthere are elk, mountain lion, and black bear. Bears are nothottest deserts in the world as well as one of the most GPS coordinates, identified water sources and resupplya problem on the trail, so most people don't bear bag and points, and raised money and awareness for the trail.instead keep their food in their tent. Water and how to find it along the Arizona Trail is extremely important. It does not occur naturally alongThe Arizona Trail is divided into 43 passages much of the trail. beginning in the south with the Huachuca Mountains and ending in Northern Arizona at Buckskin Congress designated the Arizona Trail a nationalMountain Passage. The variety of scenery and scenic trail in 2009 in an amendment to the Nationalelevation is staggering. Completed in 2011, the trail Scenic Trails Act. It has become one of the premierpasses through the Huachuca, Santa Rita, Rincon, long-distance trails in the country. The diversity ofand Catalina Mountains. It crosses the San Francisco people that have made this happen is as wide as thePeaks, the Mogollon Rim, and the Coconino and trail is long. The Arizona Trail demonstrates what trailKaibab Plateaus. It even dips into, and out of, the users and land managers can accomplish when theyGrand Canyon. share a common vision. It is administered by the U.S. Forest Service.Other partners in the managementSOUTHERN SECTION(Passages 1-13)and protection of the trail include the Bureau of LandThe southern part of the trail begins at the Mexican Management, the National Park Service, Arizonaborder travels through the rolling grasslands and State Parks, the Arizona Trail Association, and severalsmall canyons in the southern Arizona landscape. counties and municipalities. The habitat in this region is diverse and alternates 24 March 2021"