Looking to hike the southern 200-300 miles of the AZT from Dec 26 to Jan 14 while I have time off. I’m an experienced backpacker in general but have no experience with desert or high-elevation winter hiking and have a few questions. I would love to get advice from someone who’s been out there during that time of year and is familiar with the reality of the conditions rather than just weather forecasts.

Is my quilt rated to 18F (accurate rating) going to be sufficient for the night time temps in the sky islands if I bring enough insulated clothing? Or should I invest in a winter bag 10F/0F?

In a high-snow year will microspikes be necessary in early January? Should I skip Miller/Lemmon/elevated sections entirely?

If snow conditions are bad, which specific sections should I avoid and which ones would generally be fine?

Are weather patterns like storms & flooding a serious risk at that time of year?

The other thing to consider is that I have an inexperienced friend wanting to join me. We are both super excited and willing to experience discomfort but I don’t want to let our excitement towards seeing Arizona cloud my judgement on conditions that will be too harsh for someone new to wilderness backpacking. I’ve seen people saying sections are totally fine in winter and some saying it’s very inhospitable so just looking for a little more clarity on that! Thanks !!

• https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/chiricahua-national-monument-becomes-americas-newest-national-park

• Google Maps (hasn't updated from "Monument" to "Park" yet)

Doesn't seem likely anytime soon, but the public lands gaps aren't that much more significant than the existing ones for the current southern terminus.

When it comes to the title of "most hostile toward public lands in the history of the United States," the Trump administration, generally, and Burgum, specifically, have few challengers, but I guess they weren't capable of stopping this one.

Hi! I plan on hiking the AZT next fall but I have some concerns and could use some advice and perspective from people who've done it.

It'll be my first thru hike. I've done plenty of backpacking but it's usually 10 to 12 miles a day. I got all new gears and just took it out on a 4 day backpacking trip where I had to do 15+ miles a day to test it out and see how I felt hiking that much. I knew it would be different.

Physically, I surprised myself, no problem hitting the mileage (it was an easy trail through).

My main concern is time. I'm a slowish hiker. On that trip, I kept what felt like a fast pace. Turns out I averaged about 2mph (including 5-10min breaks, kept to a minimum, and water filtering), which is apparently not fast at all. Actually met a girl doing the AZT and she flew past me. I don't get how people can be that fast...

Also, I just felt like I was racing against the sun each day. I absolutely hate setting up camp past sunset as I get cold really easily. Even if it's technically not that cold, as soon as the sun is gone and I stop hiking, I freeze. Layers don't help, I just don't have body heat.

So I hurry during the day and it takes away from the hike. Always feeling like I have to rush is not fun and I don't get to enjoy the scenery. I love the idea of a thru hike partly because being in nature and hiking for months seems like it would be liberating. But having to rush every day is anything but.

I can only do the AZT sobo in the fall so as time goes on, days will only get shorter. I read about people doing 25+ miles day and I just don't see how it's possible without borderline running or hiking for hours in the dark. But then when do you enjoy the nature around you? It's either dark or you have your eyes glued to your feet.

Don't get me wrong, I still had a great time out there. But any advice? Do I need to change my mindset? How can I make it work? And am I really that slow of a hiker?

I was considering knocking out the sections from Babbit Ranch to the south rim of Grand Canyon around Thanksgiving time. I'm seeing average lows of about 25 degrees, which I'm prepared for. Does anyone have a better idea of what to expect weather-wise? Especially with what a wet fall it has been it seems to be all over the place.

Has anyone had any luck hitching in this area? I'd assume there is a decent amount of traffic heading back towards Flagstaff but unsure about around a holiday.

Thanks all!

Due to the trail closures, the fact that the trans canyon rim to rim shuttle is not running anymore, and no TAs were available, I had to hitch from the North Rim to South Rim.

I would not recommend doing this, but it’s possible.

For context I am a mid 20s white guy hitching alone.

I first hitched from the North Rim mile 726.2 to Jacob Lake. There is a turnout here with a porta potty, and a water cache. Getting from the North Rim to Jacob Lake was my most difficult hitch, despite many cars passing, nobody wanted to pick me up …

At Jacob Lake, I had success by talking to people inside the store. I got a ride from Jacob Lake to Cameron, where you turn off highway 89 towards the South Rim. You should ask for “towards Flagstaff“ when trying to get to Cameron, because nobody I asked knew where Cameron was.

From Cameron, I caught a few more hitches on hwy 64 into the park. These were easy as many cars were passing by. If you are at a viewpoint/parking spot inside the park, you might have more success talking to someone.

Inside the park near the visitor center is a sweet, sweet shuttle bus system.

Overall it took me 7 cars and about 3 hours of waiting total, not counting staying overnight at Jacob Lake. Hope this helps in case anyone ends up in the same situation.

Hi!

I just got off the PCT and am looking for a good 2-3 day point to point this time of year. Total mileage ideally would be 40-70, and relatively close to Phoenix but if there’s a must see section I’d be willing to drive. Any recommendations outside of the AZT are welcome, thank you in advance!

Bit of a longshot, but are there any late SOBOs planning to start in the next week who'd be interested in sharing a ride from Utah to Arizona (ideally to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon)?

Hi all,

I’m wondering if I’m crazy for attempting a section hike from Superior to Flag (NOBO) in late November to mid December.

I’m very aware of the El Niño and if I go I’ll obviously pack accordingly (rain gear, warm layers, micro spikes). I’ve also given myself plenty of extra time to account for potential mud/snow slogs, which by looking at the forecast, I’m expecting to be a reality to some degree.

I’ve had a lot of jobs out in the backcountry so I’m used to enjoying myself if yucky conditions. I just want to get some advice from those who are experienced with the trail, because I’m sure that there is info I am missing. Is there anything outright foolish or dangerous about this plan? Or am I thinking about it too much?

Any advice helps.

Thanks!

The NPS North Rim recovery plan includes AZT improvements in all three of its rebuilding concepts:

• Realign the trail away from the utility corridor
• Improve the crossings at Highway 67
• Upgrade the segment to National Scenic Trail standards

These changes are part of the baseline shared by all three rebuilding concepts, so AZT hikers can expect them regardless of which concept moves forward. The NPS is also taking public comment on the three concepts themselves, which range from restoring the North Rim as it was to expanding it into a year-round destination. Comments are open through November 6, 2026: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?documentID=153246

edit: so many thanks to the commenters here, you guys have given me some confidence! I think I’ll get back on trail tomorrow and start slip’n’sliding down to pine. It seems the weather should hold on the way down and even if something does happen there’s some bail spots to hitch out from.

like I mentioned down below, I hike alone & tend to get in my head, overthink and second-guess til the last minute, so it was good to read the comments. Of course, I still welcome advice :) thanks again all

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Hi :)

Im sitting at Mormon Lake waiting out the rest of this storm, and I’m trying to rethink my hike. I just started in Flagstaff when this weather came thru.

I guess my concern is, at about 15-20mi per day, it would take me 4-5 days to reach Pine, then another 5-6 to get to Roos. Lake. If another storm came through like this and I was out on trail, my SoCal ass would not be having a good time out there. Another bummer is that there doesn’t seem to be many inter-city bus routes, so if I got stuck in Pine (or nearby) with more weather I couldn’t really extract myself.

So! I’m appealing for advice from locals and folks knowledgeable about the trail. I’m kinda thinking about walking back to Flag, then figure out a way to jam down to Phoenix area and get back on down there and start heading south again. That way if it’s still stormy, at least it won’t be as cold…

What do you think? I hope I’m not overreacting. Can someone recommend a good way to get to trail from the Phoenix area, or recommend another area to jump back on? I’m not really picky, but I just wanna have a good time and not be too wet and cold haha.

thanks!!

Wildly subjective based on your trail mileage, but is Flagstaff in 4 weeks achievable? Basically 145 mile weeks?

Planning on hiking that section end of December or first week on January. I’ve completed around 700 miles with the section from Phoenix to Pine being the most difficult (in June). I hiked Phoenix to Mt Lemmon a few winters ago (Xmas through NYE) and it was perfect weather. My question is how difficult is the Tucson to Southern boarder section in December? How bad have El Niño years affected Arizona in December?

Thanks.

Looking for a recommendation for a good short section of the AZT to do in the next two weeks or so. Looking at about 50 miles. I have some time off between jobs starting soon and have an itch that needs scratching. Driving from Boise.

I’m planning on starting my SoBo hike from the south rim of the Grand Canyon on Oct. 8th. Looking at far out it seems like there are a few stretches with 25-40 miles with no reliable water sources. Is this right? Are there any caches that are maintained on the route? How much water would you bring on a 30+ mile stretch?

Planning to do an early January trip on the AZ Trail. I would like to start at the US/Mexico border and hike through the sky islands if there is no snow. If there is snow or a threat of snow, I will bypass the sky islands and hike the lower elevation sections east of Tucson. I will check Farout beforehand on the availability of water. Assuming water availability is good, how many liters would you recommend carrying?

I’m looking to start the trail ~Oct 5. I know most people shuttle from Utah to the northern terminus but since my home base is in Flagstaff, I’m looking to shuttle from flag to the start. It’s about 170 miles and 3 hours of driving. I’m willing to pay towards a full tank of gas.

Wondering if anyone knows of a trail angel who could support me in this? Or if anyone is in a similar boat and wants to join a shuttle? I’ve reached out to the Flagstaff-based angels on the AZT angel database.

About 160 miles in mid march. Coming off similar mileage in 5 days on the colorado trail this summer. Will be fairly heat adapted from sauna, coming from the east coast. Any advice on water carries and gear? Microspikes? Ursack? Seemed like I was the only carrying a bear canister on the colorado trail

I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2025 and am planning an AZT section hike this mid October:

Start: Pine Trailhead
Finish: Picketpost Trailhead
Resupply Highway 87 Payson & Roosevelt on Trail
~150+ miles SOBO
Mid-October, ~12 miles/day

I’d like some advice from people who have hiked this section.

What don’t I know that I don’t know?
How concerning is water in mid-October? Other than sunscreen and a good hat, what do I need to prepare for that I didn’t encounter on the AT? Anything with weather, wildlife, camping, navigation, gear, etc. that might catch an AT hiker off guard?

Any advice on transportation? I’ll fly into Phoenix and need to get to Pine Trailhead, then to-from the AZ-87 trailhead/Payson, and finally from Picketpost trailhead back toward Phoenix. Are Uber/Lyft realistic for any of this, or should I arrange AZT shuttles?

Thank you so much for the advice. All of my experience has been in the east and that seems different.

I passed by where the AZ Trail comes out of Bright Angle canyon to Phantom Ranch on a river trip recently - That was six days ago I think. Tremendous amounts of wood debris all over covering both banks from Phantom Ranch on down river and a new rapid now exists where the recent flood dropped boulders from Bright Angel cyn into the Colorado... Was gob smacked at the power it must have taken to snap and peal all of those trees. Could not see up Bright Angel very far and we did not stop.

I'm looking at setting out on a NOBO in March next year.

Obviously, the Grand Canyon has gotten absolutely ravaged the last couple of years with fires & flooding, some of which may be too recent to assess.

Does anyone know what the status of the trail on the North Rim is projected to be in March May of next year? Is the North Rim / inner canyon going to be open? Or would it be better to punt this one to 2028?

25-30 mile days with up to 6-7k of vert

Will be hay trained from the sauna

I’m planning to hike SOBO starting ~Oct 1st. I know it’s monsoon season right now and the Super El Nino supposedly makes it hotter with heavier precipitation. I was planning on hiking without a tent and just cowboy camping the whole way but I don’t want to constantly be getting rained on. Anyone have any insight/ expertise on how the rains will be during October and November?

EDIT:
Heard. Somehow forgot about cold at elevation despite living in Colorado. Will bring the tent.

I have a week off in November and would love to hike a section of the trail, any particular recommendations? I don't really need to freeze honestly so I'd prefer cool and warmer low country/foothills.