The Arizona National Scenic Trail ranges 817 miles from the Mexican border to the Utah state line — the entire span of Arizona. Most of this route is a simple dirt path which follows a diverse series of landscapes and habitat. The well-known deserts in the south give way to green mountainous forests in Central Arizona and deep canyonlands in the north, ultimately arriving at America’s beloved Grand Canyon.
A teacher from Flagstaff, Arizona named Dale Shewalter began promoting the idea for a statewide trail in the 1980s. After a lot of work by citizens and officials, the route is used today by hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. It is one of the newest National Trails, established in 2009.