the arizona wilderness.

If you’re planning a hiking trip in Arizona, anywhere in Arizona really, then Matthew J Nelson’s Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail is an absolute necessity. The guide is packed into 43 pages, making it easy to carry along on any trip, and those 43 pages are jam packed let me tell ya. And I will.

Nelson has included all sections worth exploring in the Arizona National Scenic Trail and divided them into appropriate sections. This includes Central, North to South trails, backcountry safety and other advice so that you can have an enjoyable experience and still live to tell the tale. Each section also includes what you can find in said area, for example, plants, bodies of water, rock classifications, and alternate routes. Also where to mountain bike and where not to mountain bike. I personally thought the overviews of each area were extremely useful, as they included level of difficulty, distance, maps and photos. It’s never bad to be overly prepared for anything!