September 14th, 2025
ATTN 800 Riders: When registration opens this coming Tuesday, be aware you will have two choices available. While the Humphreys Peak hike to Arizona’s highest point, 12,633′, is part of the route, it is not mandatory. It is, however, highly recommended. So, not fully optional and this is why: If any rider does not feel comfortable leaving their bike/gear left unattended in the forest while doing this hike, I respect that concern, and feel free to opt out of the hike. The results will be separated based on who does the hike and who doesn’t. As a side note, if an early season snow storm comes into the region and the peak is covered in snow, I DO NOT expect anyone to hike to the summit. This is merely a side challenge during an odd year for the AZTR due to the North Rim closure. Summit selfies are not required, but encouraged!! More specific information regarding the hike will be emailed to those who register for the hiking portion of the 800. This information will not be made public. See images below:
September 7th, 2025
ATTN: There is no change for the 300 from 2024. The 800 gpx track for 2025 has been posted. As you all know the North Rim is closed for the remainder of 2025. This year’s 800 will look quite different, but the challenge remains. There are a couple minor route changes from 2024, see maps below the first image. The big change you all have been waiting for is the finish. The altered Grand Canyon portage will be along the following trails: S. Kaibab/Tonto/Bright Angel. Then you will make your way south via the legacy AZT route across Babbitt Ranch. You’ll rejoin the AZT at Kelly Tank, then make your way up towards the AZ Snowbowl Ski area for a summit of Humphrey’s Peak. Bikes are not allowed on this segment due to Wilderness. Upon returning from Arizona’s high point of 12,633′ you’ll continue along the AZT to Buffalo Park where the finish awaits at the Dale Shewalter sign.
August 25th, 2025
Couple of notes: Registration for the 2025 Grand Depart on October 16th will open at noon (AZ Time, MST – which is the same as Los Angeles this time of year) on Tuesday, September 16th. The link will be posted on THIS PAGE.
The 800 gpx link has been temporarily disabled while I finalize the track. I need to scout a preferred alternate section of the course near Babbitt Ranch which I should have done in the next couple of weeks. While the Dragon Bravo fire on the North Rim has greatly altered the 800 route this year, I hope you will all be pleased with this new challenge for 2025. I look forward to unveiling this route to all the 800 hopefuls. Stay tuned…
May 24th, 2025
ATTN: 800 gpx track has been updated as of today, May 24th, 2025. There is a private property issue in the final 1/4 mile before reaching Payson. If you have an older file, please update to the current version. DO NOT trespass on tribal land, your possessions may be confiscated.
February 26th, 2025
Registration for spring ITTs is now open!! Follow the link: https://form.jotform.com/trackleaders/aztrspring25
November 5th, 2024
FKTs are no longer being recorded. The course changes year-to-year along with potential fire/snow detours. There is a spreadsheet here that lists the past winners on one tab, all the course changes over the years on another, and a yearly list of everyone’s time splits.
October 26th, 2024
Highline trail is now OPEN.
September 17th, 2024
ATTN: The Grand Depart is now FULL. If you would like to be put on the wait-list, send me an email. (azt300.750@gmail.com). If you signed up and can’t make the start or want to switch to an ITT, please let me know asap so those on the wait-list can be notified. Thank you.
Registration for the 2024 Grand Depart is now OPEN: https://form.jotform.com/trackleaders/aztr24
Please consider making a donation to the Arizona Trail Association for all the hard work they do to make a great trail for us to enjoy via mountain bike!! I suggest a $50 donation and add a note ‘AZTR Rollover Gate‘ so they can see how much we support their efforts. Thank you!! Donate here: https://aztrail.org/get-involved/donate/
Note the new start time of 6:00a from border monument 103. Extra hour of daylight to get through the sunset closure of private ranch land. *You MUST be completely through this area before sunset, not just entering it. It will be strictly enforced. No exceptions. Also, be sure to read through the entire Rules page, not just the bulleted numbered rules. It is up to each rider to ensure they know and understand the rules of the AZTR.
September 4th, 2024
GPX files for both routes have been uploaded, full rez and 10k versions along with southbound. New additions for 2024 are in the images below:
August 8th, 2024
GPX downloads have been temporarily disabled while the final versions are vetted. I hope to have them posted in time for registration. So far, only minor changes, so last year’s gpx can be used for recon.
April 30th, 2024
ATTN: New start time for the Grand Depart!! Rollout from border monument 103 will be at 6:00 a.m. MST. This moves it one hour earlier giving riders an extra hour to get through the sunset closure near mile 52.5 and an extra hour of cool weather pedaling.
February 27, 2024
Sprint ITT registration is OPEN: https://form.jotform.com/trackleaders/aztrspring24
October 17, 2023
Blue Ridge Bypass GPX file has been added to the GPX download page.
September 29, 2023
ATTN RIDERS!! COURSE CHANGE!! Please update your gpx files. Route change begins at mile 127.5 before reaching Saguaro National Park. No change to resupply options. Cue sheet has been updated.
September 19, 2023
Registration for the 2023 Grand Depart is now OPEN: https://form.jotform.com/trackleaders/aztr23
Please consider making a donation to the Arizona Trail Association for all the hard work they do to make a great trail for us to enjoy via mountain bike!! I suggest a $50 donation and add a note ‘AZTR Rollover Gate‘ so they can see how much we support their efforts. Thank you!! Donate here: https://aztrail.org/get-involved/donate/
September 18, 2023
GPX files have been updated and posted.
September 10, 2023
Registration will be posted at 12:00p (noon) MST on September 19th. GPX downloads are temporarily disabled as the route is being finalized. Couple of major changes on Mt. Lemmon: The AZT has officially been moved off upper Oracle Ridge over the the adjacent Red Ridge using Catalina Camp as a connector back to Oracle Ridge at Dan Saddle. Mining operations in the area necessitated the need for a permanent change. 800 riders will now use the Lemmon Pusch route while ascending Mt. Lemmon. 300 riders will continue to use the paved Catalina Hwy.
May 27, 2023
GPX files have been published for the October Grand Depart. The 300 file, v4, should be the final version. For the 800, v6 can be used for planning, but it is NOT the final version as construction continues on the Highline trail re-routes. That is anticipated to be completed during the summer months.
In the meantime, there are 7 other updates to the route since last October, 5 along the 300 and 2 farther north for the 800, not including the upcoming Highline changes. Below are maps showing the changed areas. The pink line is the new route for 2023, blue was the published route for 2022. I’ve also included the route mile marker, MM, at which each new section begins.
March 9, 2023
GPX files have been updated and posted for any spring ITTs. So far, only minor changes. One short re-route near Cott Tank in the Canelo Hills for both the 300 & 800. A 3 mile re-route just north of Sunflower on the 800. If the Temporal Gulch re-route project wraps up during the spring ITT window, look for another update. No ETA on that currently.
September 24, 2022
GPX update to the 800 files. No change to the 300 files. The Coconino Nat’l Forest updated the Pipeline Fire Closure and the AZT is now open on the north side of Mt. Elden, no reroute required for this area. Also, a small reroute near Sunflower on the north side of AZ87 has been added.
September 20, 2022
Registration for the Fall 2022 Grand Depart is OPEN!! Register here: Arizona Trail Race 2022 Tracking Registration Please consider a donation to the Arizona Trail Association for the tireless support of bikes on the AZT. https://aztrail.org/
September 18, 2022
GPX files have been updated and posted. Please update your files!! https://azt300-800.com/route-gpx/
September 5, 2022
REGISTRATION CHANGE!! For anyone who plans to sign up for the Grand Depart on October 20, I had to move the registration back 4 hours on September 20. Sign-up will go live at 11am AZ time (Mountain Standard/Pacific Daylight Savings). I had a conflict with my new work schedule and can’t guarantee I’d be available to post the link at the previous time. I’ll post this elsewhere, but please help spread the word. This does not affect the start of the ride, only the registration for the Grand Depart.
For anyone planning to ITT the route, please reach out to me directly for a separate registration link. Thanks.
July 31, 2022
The AZTR Rules have been updated. Please review if you plan to take on the AZTR Challenge. It is the rider’s responsibility to know the rules and inform family & friends of what is expected.
Registration will be posted on September 20, 2022 at 11am AZ time (MST) on this website, the Facebook AZTR page (Arizona Trail Race (mtb)), the Instagram account (@azt300_800) and the Ultra Racing Forum page on Bikepacking.net. Remember, there is a 60 rider limit combined for both the 300 & 800.
For those wanting more of a challenge, the southbound versions of both the 300 & 800 have been altered for additional difficulty. Tracks have not yet been finalized and are only available as ITT attempts. These additions only make routing sense in the southbound direction.
Questions? A great place to start is the FAQ page: https://azt300-800.com/faq/