AZT Passage 34: San Francisco Peaks is a 35.2-mile point-to-point section of the roughly 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail. This moderately rated section is most ideal in the spring and fall seasons and is recommended as an overnight backpacking trip due to the length. Located north of Flagstaff, AZ, this passage runs from Schultz Pass to Cedar Ranch and is accessible for hikers, trail runners, long-distance backpackers, equestrians and mountain bikers.
Passage 34 skirts the west side of the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff. This passage is long, scenic, and rich with biodiversity. The trail follows a well maintained singletrack through beautiful pine, spruce, and aspen forests at high elevation— briefly reaching 9,000 feet—and then transitions down to typical Arizona high-desert terrain. It is not uncommon to find snow on the trail, or in the high elevations of the San Francisco Peaks, well into the spring season.
This section features fields of ferns with towering aspens and passes through picturesque alpine meadows with fantastic mountain views, most notably Humphrey’s Peak, the high point of the San Francisco Peaks and Arizona’s tallest summit at 12,633 feet. In addition, the trail goes near the Arizona Snowbowl which features year round activities and a full restaurant and bar.
DIRECTIONS
Follow Arizona National Scenic Trail signs/trail markers.
WATER
Water can usually be found at Alfa Fia Tank and East Cedar Tank, however, you should always refer to the updated water report before heading out.
Check the Arizona Trail Water Report for current information at: https://aztrail.org/explore/water-sources/.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INFORMATION
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