Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Elevation Gain
4,979.00 ft (1,517.60 m)
Trail type
Shuttle
Distance
20.20 mi (32.51 km)
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AZT Passage 26: Highline is a 20.2-mile point-to-point section of the roughly 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail. This moderately rated section runs from the Pine Trailhead to the Mogollon Rim and is located east of Prescott, AZ. This passage is accessible for hikers, trail runners, long-distance backpackers, equestrians and mountain bikers. 

Passage 26 follows the Highline National Recreation Trail for 17 miles and then climbs steeply onto the Mogollon Rim, an impressive escarpment that forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. The route follows a well maintained singletrack trail lined with juniper, manzanita, and oak trees. It crosses numerous drainages, several springs, and passes through forests of aromatic pines and fir trees. It traverses steep sandstone slopes and features spectacular vistas of the Mogollon Rim ahead.

The route leaves the Highline Trail at Washington Park Trailhead and makes a steep climb to the top of the magnificent Mogollon Rim. This marks a significant transition where the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) leaves the lower-elevation deserts in the south and enters a landscape of pine-clad plateaus to the north. This passage includes numerous access trails and evenly spaced trailheads, which make it ideal for day-hiking.

DIRECTIONS
Follow Arizona National Scenic Trail Signs/Trail Markers.

17+  miles of this passage follows the well-established Highline Trail in the Tonto National Forest.

WATER
Check the Arizona Trail Water Report for current information at: https://aztrail.org/explore/water-sources/.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INFORMATION

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Mogollon Rim Trail. Fresh Spring Water. Scenic Views.

Cons

Very Steep Climb.

Trailhead Elevation

5,400.00 ft (1,645.92 m)

Highest point

7,331.00 ft (2,234.49 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Wildlife
Wildflowers

Typically multi-day

No

Permit required

No

Location

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