A hike on the Arizona Path (AZT) is a really distinctive expertise. In reality, the Sonoran Desert is probably the most biodiverse desert area on the earth – boasting an entire 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 via an ever-changing panorama.
We completely cherished mountain climbing this path, and we predict you’ve made a great choice in selecting to stroll this path. We’ll offer you all of the assets you want for a profitable journey on the AZT on this information. And in case you haven’t fairly determined what your subsequent path will likely be, scope out your different choices from our intensive catalog of journey guides.
Fast Info
- 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) in the course of the springtime – often beginning in early or mid-March and ending in April. Hikers going north to south (SOBO) sometimes 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 in case you plan to remain. SNP additionally requires an entrance price.
- Issue: Difficult
Highlights
- Amazingly various vary of landscapes, crops, and animals
- Tons of wildflowers within the spring/altering leaves within the fall
- Mountain climbing via the Grand Canyon
- Solitude in a rugged wilderness surroundings
- Pleasant path cities and sturdy community of path angels (good individuals who assist out thru-hikers alongside the path hall)
- Effectively-marked and maintained
- Feeling amazingly succesful and assured on the finish of the journey
- You get a hand-crafted copper belt buckle for ending
Lowlights
- Not as social as many different long-distance trails
- Some sections are very rocky
- Overgrown prickly crops in some sections
- May be arduous on sneakers/gear
- Discovering water is a problem in dry years
- Snakes, spiders & scorpions in case you’re bothered by creepy-crawlies
- Quite a lot 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 largest concerns for while you begin your hike will likely be temperature and water availability. Desert environments are vulnerable 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 route 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 purpose of ending earlier than Might. This timeline means that you can take pleasure in extra water than the autumn mountain climbing season because of winter snowmelt, and you may count on 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 advocate.
SOBO hikers start their journey south from the Utah border in fall – sometimes in early October – and goal to finish the path earlier than the top of November. Water availability within the fall relies upon virtually completely on how moist the summer time monsoon season is in Arizona, so it modifications significantly from yr to yr. However typically, fewer water sources are flowing in the course of the SOBO season. Fall temperatures can range lots 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 possibly 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 probably the most nice situations to hike in. Part mountain climbing means that you can select what’s most vital to you – skipping the cruel Arizona warmth, hitting the path when water is most plentiful, or avoiding freezing temperatures and snow – for every part of the path so you may 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 definitely 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 satisfying tempo and calculate in a number of“zero” days (relaxation days) and “nero” days (quick for “almost zero”) to permit the physique to recoup. This can be a good choice if you’d like a protracted and difficult expertise however don’t fairly have the 3-5 months it takes to complete off the Pacific Crest Path or Appalachian Path.
Issue of Path
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/surroundings, and the size of the path.
SUN EXPOSURE
The AZT cuts a path via the Sonoran Desert, and as you would possibly count on, it’s a fairly sunny place. There’s little or no shade on most sections of the path, so we think about sunscreen, a solar shirt, sun shades, and a solar umbrella necessities for this hike. Maintaining your pores and skin protected is tremendous vital to your general well being, and having a shaded place to take a break below your umbrella can do wonders for morale on particularly sizzling days.
See our 20 Ideas for Backpacking within the Desert Information for extra recommendation on staying secure and cozy on the AZT.
WATER
It might shock you to study that almost all of Arizona’s water sources are recharged by snow. The state doesn’t see a lot rainfall outdoors of its summer time monsoon season, however the high-elevation areas get a good quantity of snow in most years. That is why most individuals go for a spring NOBO hike on the AZT – water is extra plentiful. Don’t take that to imply you’ll see it usually, although. Except you hike in a extremely excessive snow yr, you’re more likely 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 at the very least 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 ft. Many hikers received’t make it via the entire path with a single pair of sneakers, so it’s vital to issue this in when constructing your price range.
It’s best to select footwear with ample cushion in case your ft aren’t accustomed to mountain climbing on rocks all day as a result of it might probably develop into downright painful after a number of hours straight of stepping on jagged rocks.
After all, you’ll additionally encounter tons of Arizona’s iconic cacti alongside the journey. These crops are stunning, however they will trigger some actual injury in case you get too shut. Particularly, you need to watch out round “leaping cholla” (pronounced choy-a). These cacti will go away you lined in prickles from the lightest brush in opposition to its fruits, and what’s worse is that they drop spine-covered balls all around the floor that may be robust to keep away from. Make sure you deliver a small pair of tweezers in your first-aid equipment to drag 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, but it surely additionally requires a big money and time dedication. We sometimes price range $2-$3 per mile for a thru-hike, and we advocate letting your loved ones and office learn about your plans as far prematurely as potential to rearrange for time away. Not everybody has the liberty or monetary assets to step away from society for thus lengthy, so many hikers select to finish the path in smaller sections.
Northbound vs. Southbound Routes
Northbound (NOBO) is the extra widespread route 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 fairly 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 plentiful within the spring NOBO season
- You save the Grand Canyon for (virtually) final
- There are extra folks on path to work together with in case 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 would possibly 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 straightforward (aside from the Grand Canyon), so that you get a pleasant warm-up
- Aspens within the north change shade within the fall
CONS
- Fewer folks to work together with in case 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 take care of early-season snow within the north and lingering excessive temperatures within the decrease desert
Getting There
NOBO
In the event you’re mountain 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 secure. In the event you go along with a unique shuttle driver, make sure 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 dust highway.
SOBO
There are a few other ways to get to the northern terminus, however the best choice is to fly into Web page, AZ by way of the Phoenix airport after which get a shuttle or a journey from a path angel to the Stateline Campground.
Planning Your Itinerary
Planning a unfastened each 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 advocate overestimating the time it is going to take you to finish the path as a result of it’s simpler to get off early than it’s to get off late if in case you have obligations to return to. Take into consideration your capability, mountain climbing model, zero days, and a bit leeway for sudden hiccups when creating your mileage plan.
The FarOut app is our most popular useful resource for planning and navigation on path as a result of you may 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 concerning 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 will discover descriptions of every part of the path (referred to as passages on the AZT), entry a checklist of shuttles and path angels, and a lot extra.
Permits
There isn’t a allow for the AZT, however you cross via two nationwide parks that do require permits.
You could get hold of a backcountry allow for Saguaro Nationwide Park earlier than getting 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 at the very least one in all these websites: North Rim, Brilliant Angel, and Mather (South Rim). There are backcountry workplaces on each rims of the park, and it’s best to 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 in case you’re not planning on doing rim-to-rim in in the future. We stayed at Brilliant Angel Campground within the canyon, and we extremely advocate 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) in case 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 advocate skipping the price space and discovering some flat floor to sleep on on the AZT.
Water
Water availability on the AZT fluctuates drastically primarily based in your begin date, snowpack, and the climate. Water sources may be far aside and unreliable within the desert, and most of them are off path. We advocate 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 large water carries.
Our greatest recommendation is to fill up wherever you may, by no means go away a supply thirsty, and carry greater than you assume you want. The FarOut app is nice for planning your water carries as a result of you may see different hikers’ studies about which water sources are flowing forward. Nonetheless, there’s no assure you’ll discover water at a supply while 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 straightforward to wash within the area. As a result of there’s a lot dust in lots of the water sources, it’s best to count on to need to backflush your filter repeatedly to revive the move price.
Utilizing electrolyte mixes in your water may even assist masks any bizarre flavors and hold 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 secure from animals, however most of this path isn’t conducive to hanging a bear bag. We often simply positioned our Ursacks outdoors of the tent the place we might see them in case we would have liked to scare away a critter.
The place to Resupply
Since you’ll be on path for a number of weeks, you received’t be capable of carry all of your meals without delay – you’ll have to cease and resupply periodically. Most individuals resupply 8-10 occasions, stopping each 80-100 miles. Resupplying usually is fairly straightforward for a lot of the AZT if you wish to lower down on meals weight in your pack, however bear in mind that city stops may be costly and time-consuming.
You may resupply by mailing packing containers forward of time to a publish workplace or a spot on the town that gives to carry packing containers for hikers (like a gear store) or getting a journey into a close-by city for the grocery retailer. In case your resupply plan includes mailing packages, you’ll need to ship them properly prematurely to ensure they arrive in time so that you can choose them up.
In the event you’re mailing your resupply packing containers to a publish workplace (be certain the PO in your goal city accepts normal supply), that is the way you’ll need to deal with your field:
- Your Title
c/o Normal Supply
City Title, AZ 01234
Arriving By: ETA
It’s additionally a good suggestion to write down your identify or put a particular marker (like colourful doodles or stickers) on all sides of the field to make it simpler for postal employees to search out it amongst the heaps of different packing containers.
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 snug and welcoming place to pitch your tent, do laundry, and take a bathe. Hikers have entry to an outside 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 once we got here via, but it surely 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 efficient choice for vegans/vegetarians/folks with dietary restrictions. They’ve numerous good produce and a terrific choice of bars. Patagonia Market’s choice is a little more primary 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 packing containers right here, and the employees 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 bunch of different hikers.
Summerhaven (AZT NOBO mile 190.2)
This can be a tiny city that you just’ll cross proper via on path on the prime of the Mt. Lemmon climb. We don’t advocate 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 following day. You’ll in all probability hear buzz concerning the Cookie Cabin on the best way right here, however we don’t assume it’s price a cease. The pizza and cookies have 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 biggest path cease, as a result of it’s not very walkable and there aren’t many lodging for staying in a single day. However in case you’re not choosy, the city does have a Greenback Normal and a terrific espresso store.
Keep right here: We didn’t truly keep in Oracle, however everybody recommends the Resting Oak – a home owned by a pair that caters to hikers. Their data may be discovered on the FarOut app within the middle of Oracle. We have been feeling fancy, so we break up an Airbnb with a good friend within the close by city of Catalina for some grilling and bathtub soaks.
Eat right here: The quirky Manner of the Bean Espresso Membership is technically a personal membership, however the proprietor provides hikers free day passes. The drinks right here have been superb, and the environment is tremendous stress-free. Additionally they serve breakfast meals and pastries.
Resupply right here: Your solely resupply choices in Oracle are Greenback Normal and Circle Ok (a small comfort retailer). Vegans, vegetarians, and folks with dietary restrictions could have a tough time discovering good meals choices. The city of Catalina has a Bashas’ grocery retailer and is 20 minutes south. You might be able to 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 form of want we had. Quite a lot of AZT hikers say that is their favourite city on the path, and we heard nothing however good issues concerning the type folks there.
Keep right here: There are some people on the town that repeatedly host hikers, however they’re by word-of-mouth. You’ll need to get their data from the FarOut app if you wish to keep at their hiker haven on the town.
Eat right here: Previous 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 repeatedly provides hikers rides to and from path.
Resupply right here: There’s an IGA grocery retailer on the town that has a wide selection and provides thru-hikers a free espresso and donut for stopping in.
Superior (AZT NOBO mile 306.3)
Superior is an in depth 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 group 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 primary however cute, and there’s a Household Greenback throughout the road in addition to a number of eating places close by.
After we returned within the fall, we stayed with the legendary path angel MJ whose data may be discovered on the FarOut app. She welcomes hikers into her house 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 Principal. It’s a Fifties-style diner within the coronary heart of downtown that serves breakfast staples, burgers, and milkshakes.
Mountainside espresso can be implausible – we went there a number of occasions, and the employees members have been all so candy.
Resupply right here: There’s a Household Greenback proper on the town on the principle freeway in case you’re in a rush, however we desire 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 a great choice for a full resupply, but it surely does have a number of hiker staples in case you’re simply searching for a few fundamentals.
Payson (AZT NOBO mile 390.6)
Payson is a couple of 30-minute journey from path, however we have 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 highway in Tonto Basin, however Payson has a bunch of motels to select from. The Majestic Mountain Inn has affordable 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 because the grocery retailer we shopped at has one inside.
Resupply right here: Walmart, Bashas’, and Safeway are all on the principle highway via 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 can have all of the choices you possibly can ever need.
If you should exchange gear, there’s a Huge 5 Sporting Items, Walmart, and a really hiker-friendly footwear store referred to 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 group of Strawberry is simply three miles up the highway, and we had no downside 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 most important 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 affordable 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, affordable costs, pleasant employees, and the meals is nice. Undoubtedly attempt 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 among the proceeds from one in all their beers to the Arizona Path Affiliation. They’ve additionally acquired normal brewery meals choices like burgers and sandwiches.
In the event you keep in Strawberry, you’ll doubtless eat lunch or dinner on the Sportsman’s Chalet because the motel provides 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 choice of hiker meals. In case you have dietary restrictions it could be higher to mail your self a field to THAT Brewery or hitchhike 20 minutes down the highway to Payson.
Flagstaff (AZT NOBO mile 570.4)
Town of Flagstaff may 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 choice counts as having accomplished the part. In the event you 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 inns and motels have 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 fairly good bus system that’ll get you the place you should go. We selected to stick with a path angel on the town and had a terrific expertise.
Eat right here: Flagstaff has all of the eateries you possibly can ever need, and there are numerous choices for vegans and vegetarians as properly. We didn’t attempt 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 plentiful vegan proteins). There’s additionally an REI on the town in addition to a number of native outfitters, so that is the perfect time to exchange 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 an entire 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 most suitable 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 yr and has a much less spectacular retailer. Some hikers select to cease within the small group of Jacob Lake at mile 771.8, however we predict carrying some additional meals weight via the Grand Canyon from right here is the higher wager.
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 price.
Eat right here: There’s a small deli within the grocery retailer that has okay meals, but it surely’s fairly costly. We opted to prepare dinner our meals on the campsite.
Resupply right here: There’s a normal retailer within the village that shares all of the hiker staples, and we have been in a position to do a full resupply right here for surprisingly low cost.
Backpacking Gear – What to Pack
It’s crucial to maintain your pack weight to a minimal when setting out on a thru-hike. Dialing in your gear may 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 satisfying and profitable expertise.
Since we did the path in two seasons, we had two fully completely different units of drugs. Beneath we’ll checklist our prime suggestions from the gear we carried, seasonal gear suggestions, and issues we might have most popular to have.
TENT
We used a Zpacks Duplex Zip for the northern 500 miles of the path, and we had a terrific 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 do exactly fantastic and prices much less. Pairs of hikers wanting additional area will love the bigger Zpacks Triplex, although you might need some hassle discovering tent areas to suit it in. Study extra concerning the Zpacks Plex tents and our different prime thru-hiking tent suggestions on our checklist of the Greatest Ultralight Tents.
Many hikers select to cowboy camp (sleep below the celebs as an alternative of a shelter) for a lot of the path – and we advocate all hikers do that for at the very least one night time. The climate is often nice sufficient for this to be completely doable and cozy, however it’s best to at all times carry some kind of shelter simply in case. In the event you plan to do plenty of cowboy tenting, chances are you’ll desire to hold a tarp. Our prime tarp suggestion is the versatile and ridiculously gentle Zpacks 7×9 Flat Tarp.
SLEEPING BAG/QUILT
Temperatures range dramatically at night time, and also you’ll go from low to excessive elevation fairly repeatedly. 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 truly skilled temperatures within the teenagers for a number of nights on our fall hike within the north, however we managed to maintain heat and cozy with what we had.
A quilt is an efficient choice for this path due to its versatility – you may drape it over you want a blanket on heat nights or cinch it tight to lure 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 good for fall, and the Unbound is lighter than the Burrow so it was good for spring. We love them each and it’s also possible to discover extra data 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 additional heat. Relying on the way you sleep, both of those choices can be a good selection for the spring or fall. You may also 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 general prime choose 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 fashionable choice 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 good for the longer meals and water carries you’ll expertise on the AZT.
You may’t go flawed with both alternative or any choice 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 vital to pack a dependable water filter that’s straightforward to wash. We used the Platypus Quickdraw paired with a Smartwater bottle and a Katadyn BeFree. Each of those are microfilters, so that they misplaced move price rapidly because of all of the muddy water we filtered. However each are additionally fairly straightforward to wash within the area, so we have been proud of our selections.
We additionally carried chlorine dioxide tabs as backup, which is one thing we advocate doing for this path. We met a hiker whose filter had frozen on an unexpectedly chilly night time. They’d have been left with out a 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 additional water capability if we would have liked it.
Study extra concerning the filters and vessels we carried on our lists of the Greatest Water Filters and Greatest Water Bottles. Since that is the desert, we think about electrolyte dietary supplements a necessity that can assist you keep hydrated. Examine our Greatest Hydration Mixes Information to see our prime suggestions.
FOOTWEAR
Most hikers select to put on path runners for this hike as a result of they’re light-weight, breathable, and cozy. In the event you go this route, it’s best to count on to want two pairs as a result of the rocks on the AZT eat via the comfortable rubber tread and tear up the mesh uppers.
We exhausted a pair of Altra Lone Peaks (males’s / ladies’s) on this hike and purchased a brand new pair in Flagstaff (a bit over 500 miles whole into our journey, plus we’d completed some smaller, pre-AZT hikes in them). We (and plenty of different hikers we met) have been proud of these path runners as a result of they’ve glorious grip, low weight, and a large toe field. A well-liked choice for hikers wanting extra cushion between their ft and the rocks can be HOKA Speedgoats (males’s / ladies’s). Each of those sneakers are prime picks on our lists of the Greatest Mountain climbing Sneakers for Males and Ladies.
We additionally wore Chaco Z/1 Basic Sandals (males’s / ladies’s) (sure, sandals) which we cherished however isn’t one thing we’d advocate to hikers who aren’t accustomed to sporting sandals on rugged trails. However in case you’re curious, you may 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 have 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 usually windy on the AZT, and – because the identify 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 once we needed to cold-soak lunch, and it doubled as a water bottle for once we wanted additional water capability. We additionally carried the Toaks Pot for nights once we needed to boil water individually, and it’s the proper choice for solo hikers seeking to hold pack weight low.
Extra data on the Windmaster may 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
Try our Greatest Light-weight Backpacking Meals Information, Greatest Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals checklist, Greatest Power Bars checklist, and our different Meals Guides for our prime hiker-food suggestions.
We every carried an Ursack Main to maintain our meals protected against animals. Study extra about it on our Greatest Stuff Sacks checklist.
CLOTHING
Beneath is the checklist of clothes we advocate for this path, and it’s best to use it as a tenet to construct your ideally suited clothes system. Finally the perfect clothes to take would be the belongings you like and that make you are feeling most snug. Head over to our Backpacking & Mountain climbing Clothes 101 publish and our Attire Gear Guides for extra recommendation on placing collectively your ideally suited layering system.
NAVIGATION
We used the FarOut Arizona Path Information which was a vital device for locating water. Most AZT hikers use this app, however the ATA additionally has some nice assets which might be particularly useful for part hikers.
FIRST AID KIT
It’s best to at all times deliver a small, personalised first assist equipment when heading into the backcountry. We used a customized equipment that we pieced collectively utilizing the AMK .3 Ultralight Package, a ton of ibuprofen, a number of benadryl tabs, and cut-up strips of RockTape. Try our Greatest First Assist 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 have been more than happy with our choice to deliver solar umbrellas. We additionally extremely advocate sporting a UPF mountain 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. In the event you desire a knife, we advocate the Benchmade Mini Bugout from our Greatest Pocket Knives checklist as a result of it’s light-weight and compact. The Swiss Military Basic SD can be a terrific choice in case you’re searching for a multitool.
OTHER ITEMS
For extra suggestions on our favourite light-weight backpacking tools, take a look at the CleverHiker Gear Information and our Prime Picks web page.
Go away No Hint
Stopping and minimizing human influence is essential to the well being of our wilderness. Individually, chances are you’ll assume your fireplace, shallow cathole, or meals scraps within the river aren’t going to hurt an ecosystem, however there’s a big cumulative influence.
We share this area with hundreds of individuals mountain climbing alongside the AZT yearly, in addition to the various array of plant and animal life, so all of us have to 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.
Grow to be a Member of the Arizona Path Affiliation
The Arizona Path Affiliation (ATA) protects and maintains the AZT. With out the arduous work of their employees and volunteers, there can be no path. We extremely advocate changing into a donating member of this superb 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 hand-crafted copper belt buckle – really the good path completion reward we’ve ever seen.
Extra Data
We hope this information helps you propose an unforgettable journey alongside the Arizona Path. For extra fashionable CleverHiker content material, take a look at the next hyperlinks:
