The Arizona National Scenic Trail is a National
Scenic Trail from Mexico to
Utah that traverses the whole north–south length of the U.S. state of
Arizona. The trail begins at the Coronado National Memorial near the US–Mexico
border and
moves north through parts of the Huachuca, Santa Rita, and Rincon
Mountains. The trail continues
through the Santa Catalina north of Tucson and the Mazatzal
Mountains
before ascending the Mogollon Rim north of Payson, and eventually leading
to the
higher elevations of Northern Arizona and the San Francisco Peaks. The trail then continues across the Coconino Plateau and in and out of
the Grand Canyon. The Arizona Trail
terminates near the Arizona–Utah border in the Kaibab Plateau region. The
800-mile (1,300 km) long Arizona Trail was
completed on December 16, 2011. The trail is designed as a primitive trail
for hiking, equestrians, mountain biking, and even cross country
skiing, showcasing the wide variety of mountain ranges and ecosystems of
Arizona.