Best Day Hikes on the Arizona National Scenic Trail
Your Guide to Hiking the Best Parts of the Trail
The 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) is as beautiful as it is daunting. It crosses the state, from Mexico to Utah. It travels up and down Sky Island mountain ranges, across the Saguaro-studded Sonoran Desert, through the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the world, past Arizona’s highest peak, and from rim to rim of the Grand Canyon. But you don’t need to hike the entire route to experience its historical, geological, and botanical significance. Many scenic views and important sites are accessible within a few hours’ journey.
Trail expert Sirena Rana guides you along the most interesting and accessible portions of the trail in 30 carefully crafted routes. Each entry includes navigational information and interpretive facts about the trail’s cultural history, natural history, and geography.
Inside You’ll Find
- 30 hikes through the most scenic and significant portions of the trail
- In-depth route descriptions and fun facts
- Detailed maps and full-color photographs that highlight Arizona’s diverse environments
- Information on area food, activities, and lodging
This guidebook was created in partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism. It is perfect for casual and experienced hikers alike, so get out there and enjoy the trail!
Sirena Rana has logged thousands of miles hiking, backpacking, rafting, and canyoneering in the Southwest, both for fun and working as a guide. She is an expert on the Arizona National Scenic Trail. She has been involved with its construction, promotion, and maintenance for over a decade and has completed the trail twice. Sirena developed the Arizona Trail Gateway Community Program to help connect trail users to the 33 towns along the trail and provide economic development through tourism. Her consulting company, Trails Inspire, promotes the outdoors via photography, freelance writing, public speaking, and trail design and construction. A trained archaeologist, she enjoys sharing the culture and history of her adopted state. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Sirena is based in Tucson, Arizona, but considers the Grand Canyon her second home.
