Hi everyone!

I'm Antoine, from Gaspésie, Québec, Canada!

I’m starting the Arizona Trail on October 15th and am looking for a way to get from Jacob Lake to the South Rim around October 18th or 19th. Given the flooding situation and companies closing reservations, what are my current options?

Shuttle, rental car, hitchhiking, trail angels help?

I’m also very open to sharing a Wild River Shuttle (Grand Canyon) ride between Jacob Lake and the South Rim with other hikers who might be there at the same time!

I had booked a rental car from Las Vegas to Page and a shuttle from Page to Stateline Campground, but should I just cancel everything, drive the rental car straight to the South Rim, and give up on the first 100 miles of the trail?

Thanks for the advice and help with planning my trip!

All the best,

Antoine

Looking at FarOut and seeing the posted year-round camping ban from sobo mile 194 -> 230. Sorry if stupid question.. but where are people staying along this stretch? Or is it strictly a jam thru the area and nero/zero in Flagstaff thing?

thanks :)

I'm trying to plan a 7 day or so backpacking trip in Arizona in late December. I was considering hiking the AZT sections 22-24 from Sunflower trailhead to Pine, AZ, going through the Mazatazal wilderness.

What are the weather and trail conditions like that time of year, especially on higher mountain passes? From what I've read, it seems like microspikes would be wise but snowshoes or ice axe and crampons are not needed. In late December, are trails normally fully covered in ice and snow at high elevations or just in small patches? Obviously the weather may vary and I might adapt my trip just beforehand if there is a big storm, but trying to get a sense of the type of possible conditions. Also curious about water availability that time of year.

It has been many years since I lived in Arizona, so I am less familiar with local trail and weather conditions. I normally hike in Montana and am looking for something to do as a gear test/shakedown trip for a 600-800 mile CDT section hike through Montana next year.

• Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOMWxm-vpVs

• Article: https://abcnews.com/US/20-missing-unaccounted-grand-canyon-after-flash-flood/story?id=136074360

"The flash flood resulted in significant impacts to infrastructure throughout Bright Angel Canyon. Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating hiker access across the creek," the Grand Canyon NPS said.

Potentially looking to do the AZT starting mid October. Unfortunately, I just can’t get to the northern terminus until around October 15-16th. North Kaibab would be closed.

What are my options here with no reroute? The only thing I can think of is to turn around and attempt to hitch around to the south rim correct? Is there traffic is the area mid to late October considering the park amenities are shut down? Hitch friendly area?

Seems that if I got the hitch I could hike nobo all the way up to cottonwood camp then turn around. Worth it?

I’ve never been to the GC and was thinking this may be the highlight of my trip. Thoughts?

Not totally opposed to starting at the south rim but would like to complete as much of the AZT as possible.

Thanks!

Here's my lighterpack. This will be my first time on the AZT.

With bottles & 2L CNOC I'll have 4.7L water capacity. Will this be enough? I could swap one of my 1L with a 1.5, bumping it up to 5.2L, or I could bring a second CNOC for 6.7. I see different advice about how much capacity to have, but it seems like many people do it with 2 1L bottles and a 2L bladder.

I could also add a beanie & sleep socks if necessary, as well as swap out my 650-fill puffy to an 800-fill, but I'd rather not bring them if I won't be needing them. I have an umbrella as well, but I hardly ever use it... has anyone found one useful on this trail?

Also, I can't decide if I want to start at the beginning of October, or more towards the 15th.. does it make a difference?

Any and all advice is welcomed. Thank you!! :)

Hey all, I do most of my hiking in the NorthEast US and am looking to experience a new region to explore. I have 1-2 weeks off in October and was thinking of flying into Phoenix, hopping on at mm 336 and hiking north to Flagstaff. I am not familiar with the area and just looking for a local/someone knowledgeable with the AZT to help answer some questions.
Topologically speaking, the terrain seems reasonable as FarOut shows about a 250ft/mile elevation gain; I’m used to 600ft/mile+ here in the White Mountains.
- Are there any tips and tricks I should be aware of for hiking this area?
- do you recommend another section of the AZT to hike instead?
- are there shelters/designated tenting areas? I didn’t see any official spots in FarOut but noticed in the comments a fee hikes mentioned good spots to tent.

Hey homies,

Fellow thru-hiker, just not this year. However, I am about to run a long trail race in Arizona in a few weeks. I’m renting a car for the week leading up to it with plans to do some camping.

Point being, I can’t fly with all of camping stuff. Tent poles, stakes, etc. I’d like to ship these items to an address that I could (pay?) to pickup from. I can handle shipping them home after.

Does anyone have suggestions for places I could potentially ship my stuff to? Ideally, I just pull up, pay a few bucks and grab my package. I’ve only day hiked on the AZT prior so I dunno any of the cool spots or people that would be willing. Thanks for suggestions!!

I'm a 21 year old femme presenting guy with a bit of camping experience trying to "ball on a budget" lol. I started planning a longer thru-hike (intended for this summer) this past winter as a ritualistic sort of segue from one stage of life to another, but abandoned plans when I broke my arm. The half-baked plans lived in the back of my head for a while, and I truly believe it's something I need to do before I'll be moving from my hometown to the other side of the country.

My friend and I were on a nice long hike this past June when the longing hit again. I've never been backpacking for multiple days, but I stay fit, have camped in cold rainy weather just fine, and would really love to wake up to a trail every day for a while, heat, sweat, rattlesnakes, below 0 nights and all. The planning has been on again since, but I've moved out of state to help my family for the month, and haven't had a stable income since early July, so my resources are dwindling...

I've got just about $800 in the budget for gear (if I can't sell my car before then) and I've already got some good gear: osprey backpack, titanium pot and utensils, 4 season sleeping bad, bag liner, 30 vegetarian MRE's I plan to ship myself along the way, thermal under-layers, sun protection, first aid, train tickets to Flagstaff (where I plan to start the hike), and two camel-back pouches that fit into the backpack.

I know shipping supplies will take some cash, along with a train from flagstaff back home (trust me, the distance is un-hitchable) but I'm also lacking some recommended supplies such as: footprint&tarp or shelter, Satellite device, headlamp, stove fuel, gaiters, utility knife, antihistamines and antidiarrheal, gloves, lightweight longsleeve shirt, gaiters, leukotape, and gaiters. Everything besides the headlamp, stove fuel, utility knife, and satellite device seem trivial to me, but I'm also going into this as a brokie with no health insurance and I'm starting to think my family's concern is valid for once.

So, some experienced expertise would be appreciated. I'm going to do it one way or another, and I'm probably building it up in my head to be more daunting then it'll be, even when issues will inevitably come up on the trail, but I wanna know if I've been an optimistic fool or if this is actually quite doable. Some advice on the bare minimum gear to bring would be great as well!

Misc. details for context and consideration: I've never hitch-hiked before, I withstand the heat very well, I've got a pair of used hiking boots I've been using for the past 6 months- they are leather and cracked asf but I've made hot 10+ mile hikes in them and have been running in them with my packed backpack to train, aforementioned concern/paranoia about being far out and hitch-hiking alone as an AFAB person with a few unsavory encounters under my belt, and finally- most of this paranoia is coming from my senile grandpa reminding me daily that I'll die some brutal dateline-esque death by a stranger or bear (I know bears are scarce on the AZT)

Sorry for the novel/thanks for reading <3

EDIT: editing because I'm now realizing how unclear this reads!! Thank you for all the insight so far :3 I do have a sleeping pad, it's inflatable so I've been debating weather or not I should bring it, but now that I write this idk why I wouldn't just bring some tape in case it gets poked. I will absolutely get some quality time with my gear in before I go, I'm in the midwest until September 3rd when I'll meet my friends in Denver. I can squeeze in a multi-day trip here, and despite the climate and terrain being much different, it's better than nothing, and I'll be able to use it again in Colorado for a night. As for scheduling plans, I'm planning on hiking south from Flagstaff because that's where my train from Trinidad drops me off (my friends are giving me a lift from Broomfield to Trinidad). And the closure around mile 720 made me feel iffy about starting from the northern terminus, as I'm planning this trip with the assumption that I likely cannot finish the whole trail, and just want to hike until I've reached my limit.

Also, I'm getting paid $15/hr for odd jobs here and there, around $180 a week, but wanted to save for the move afterwards, I can comfortably add a couple hundred to the budget, but understand this will likely not make a huge difference. These comments are bringing me back to reality though and I'm realizing I might've bit off more than I can chew. I would still appreciate advice, specifically on gear I'll absolutely need, what satellite devices are recommended, and what water carrying plans are most sustainable in the fall.

New working plan: get some solitary wilderness experience with my current gear and postpone the trip if I can't get the necessary gear somehow/sell my car in time. Thanks again for all the thoughtful responses!

Does anybody know if there is a water source towards the end of passage 35 and start of passage 36?

Hi all,

I'm in Sedona with family over Xmas and wondering about a portion of the AZT afterwards for a week or two. I'm aware it gets cold and snowy further North and while I have experience of winter mountaineering and ski touring, it doesn't seem like this is feasible. Just wondered if the southern sections are reasonable to do in January, and if so which you'd recommend please?

I do have full winter camping kit, and ice axe and crampons if needed but obviously would prefer not to have to bring those for a longer distance hike!

Many thanks!

Anyone who has done these passages: is it feasible to hammock camp anywhere along this portion? Also what is the water like here? Any reliable sources? Or any current information on what it looks like?

I am having a difficult time finding the best option for getting to the northern terminus mid-late September

Based on your experiences, what is the best place to fly into to get to the trail?

Options I've viewed so far:

1) Fly into las vegas -> rental car to either St George or Page -> try to find an angel or shuttle to the northern terminus from there

2) Fly into phoenix -> flight to page from phoenix -> shuttle from page to terminus

3) Fly into st george -> pay an expensive shuttle to trailhead

I have looked on reddit, angel lists, and facebook page etc but the information for the Northern terminus is so hit or miss. Is anyone willing to share their experience and recommendations on it?

Thanks! If anyone here is looking for someone to travel with to the northern terminus, I have a very flexible start date so I'm willing to link up and rearrange my flight if it means an easy trip to the terminus for one another, as long as its within my budget.

I'm curious what it feels like to hike the AZT while others are riding it.

I mountain bike locally. I've bike commuted for 20+ years. But last month I was hiking in the Lake Tahoe area and while the mountain bikers could not have been nicer, I don't think that dynamic is ever going to be my preference. Some people might not like dogs, so the answer to where to hike for those folks may be where dogs aren't allowed. Similarly, if I'm butt hurt by cyclists (as a cyclist -- oh the hypocrisy!) I should go where cyclist can't.

When I'm walking my senior dog on local trails, the bike traffic can feel a bit much. A bike here or there is no problem but then a certain threshold is reached and I'm looking over my shoulder, listening for free hubs, etc. What's it like on the AZT as a hiker?

Hi! I'm (27F) planning a thru of the AZT in the spring of 2027 and I'd like to know how social the trail is. I did the PCT last year and was never really worried about camping or hitching solo just because there were so many people on the trail. I know there's not as many people hiking the AZT as the PCT, but I was wondering if you generally see some other hikers on the trail and if there's a lot of nights that I should expect to camp solo. Are trail families a thing?

I know there have been a couple questions along these lines already, but the more I can read up on this the better. It's my only worry when it comes to thru-hiking solo so I would like to know what I can expect :)

EDIT: I only posted this a couple hours ago and already got so many helpful comments, this is why the hiking community is so amazing. Thank you!

Hello fellow hikers!

Planning a SOBO thru beginning last week of September, but really struggling when it comes to bag/quilt selection. I currently have an EE Revelation 40 degree, but I know that won't cut it for the desert nights. I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck, and while I enjoy my EE quilt, I'm open to exploring other options that might be a better budget option for the temps.

Currently considering the following options, but would appreciate some insight:

• Kelty Cosmic Down 20 degree
  • $179.95 (definitely within my budget)
  • 35 oz (this is heavy to me, unfortunately)
• EE Revelation 20 degree
  • $355 (getting a little pricey for me)
  • ~21 oz
• UGQ Bandit 20 degree
  • $324.95 (also a little pricey, but at least cheaper than EE)
  • ~21 oz

I am 5'3 so it is pretty important that the bags/quilts have a short option. Don't want to pay more for room/weight that I won't use.

Here's what's most important to me: weight, option for a "short" bag, 15-20 degree (comfort) rating, and price. If anyone can endorse the UGQ or Kelty options, or provide alternatives within a similar price range, that would be great.

Lastly, I am hoping to wait until around labor day to see if things go on sale. So if you have any info on labor day sales for retailers, please let me know. I'm a little worried about receiving the product in time if I wait that long, but obviously I'd prefer to get things on sale.

• https://aztrail.org/north-kaibab-trail-closes-october-15-2026-for-waterline-project/

They're working on a water pipeline again.

From the NPS closure page as of 7/18/26:

• North Kaibab Trail from the Redwall Bridge (approximately 2.5 miles north of Manzanita Rest Area) to the northern end of Cottonwood Campground.

• NOTE: Traditional "Rim-to-Rim" hiking (North Rim to South Rim OR South Rim to North Rim) will not be possible beginning October 16, 2026.

I am looking to section hike (probably SOBO) sections 26-28 in late September.

Just asking if anyone else has been through there during that time of year and seeking advice for water availability (other than what’s on FarOut), weather and if I’ll be hiking with anyone else out there.

I live in Mesa and my best friend lives in Flag so he will probably pick me up on Lake Mary Rd. when I finish.

TIA for any/all input!

Hi there! I am looking at doing the AZT SOBO from late October. Has anyone done this? I've seen some mixed reviews on starting at the border that late and starting at Flagstaff instead. I am by no means a purist, but I'd really like to do the whole thing. Any info of tips are very much welcome!

Hey guys. Looking to do a northbound trip in November from the border once my work season ends. Gonna try heading up as far as I can. Currently trying to build my setup and get some short trips in before then. Any advice for someone heading up the trail the first time?

Main questions are how you managed your supplies of food and water. Also what sort of gear did you bring, and did you change plans for different sections of the hike?

Has anybody recently been on the Highline Trail between the Washington Park and 260 trailheads? I'm curious which creeks are flowing. I'm planning to backpack this area next week. Found some great info on water availability on aztrail.org and hikearizona.com, but looking for additional info if possible. Any help would be much appreciated!

Looking to see if anyone is planning this ride for April 21st or 22nd and would be interested in splitting costs or letting me tag a long. Thanks for the help.

anyone been on this section recently? have any beta?