Recreation Opportunities
There are many recreation opportunities along the AZNST (after all, it's over 800 miles!). In your journey, you'll find spots to swim, fish, forage, bird-watch, and more. Just be sure to follow the guidelines from the forest or land management agency that you are recreating on.
Traveling the Trail
The AZNST is managed for hiking and horseback riding.
The majority of the trail is also managed for mountain bikes, but mountain bikes are not allowed in any wilderness areas. If you plan on biking the trail, please refer to the resources for mountain bikers provided by the Arizona National Trail Association. These resources include alternate routes that take bikers around the wilderness areas.
The AZNST is a non-motorized trail. E-Bikes and off-highway vehicles are not allowed.
Permitted Uses of the AZNST
The AZNST is primarily designated as a non-motorized trail. It has been designed as a continuous, non-motorized, primitive pathway. The vision emphasizes settings that support quiet recreation, where natural sights and sounds are prevalent, valuing wildness, remoteness, and solitude.
The types of uses permitted on trails in Arizona vary significantly depending on the land management agency, the specific trail designation, and the area's established purposes.
Here's a breakdown of permitted uses across different trail systems and land types:
The comprehensive plan identifies the foundational and managed uses of the AZNST as:
- Hiking, with an emphasis on long-distance backpacking and day hiking.
- Bicycling
- Pack and saddle stock use
The trail provides opportunities for continuous, long-distance hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, along with other non-motorized activities.
Electronic bicycles (e-bikes) are generally prohibited on the AZNST because all federal agencies define them as motorized. The only exceptions are on dirt roads and some paved sections where e-bike use is allowed. For any segment on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, a decision to exempt e-bikes from the off-road vehicle definition would be denied due to the AZNST's Congressionally designated non-motorized status.
Motorized use by the public on or along any national scenic trail is generally prohibited by federal law (16 U.S.C. 1246), unless specified in the trail's enabling legislation, authorized by regulation for very specific exceptions, or explicitly permitted on private lands that are part of the trail by agreement. Sections where the trail is co-located with existing open roads or utility rights-of-way that had prior motorized use are considered interim routes and are not subject to this prohibition.
Any special uses that occur along national scenic trails must not substantially interfere with the nature and purposes of the trail.
Competitive events generally promote faster forms of travel and have a greater potential for interfering with other trail users' enjoyment, so agencies will consider if other trails might meet an applicant's needs before issuing permits on the AZNST.
Commercial recreational uses, such as outfitting and guiding services, are permitted if consistent with the AZNST’s nature and purposes and evaluated primarily on preventing interference with these core values.
Special use permits for motorized activities on or crossing the AZNST would not be issued if the use would substantially interfere with the trail's nature and purposes.
Permits are not required for long-distance hiking or riding along the AZNST, but they are required for overnight camping in a few specific areas managed by the National Park Service and Arizona State Land Department.
Camping Along the AZNST
Many multi-day AZNST users opt to dispersed camp (and in many trail segments, this is the only option). If you are interested in taking advantage of a developed campground during your stay, please refer to the information provided by each national forest about what campgrounds are accessible from the trail.
Top photo: An AZNST thru-hiker hiking through a ponderosa pine forest below the San Francisco Peaks on the Coconino National Forest. (Photo courtesy of Mike Cavaroc)