NOTE: The AZT is a technical, rocky, mostly-singletrack route that traverses long stretches of remote, waterless terrain. It is physically & mentally demanding in the best of conditions. Please plan accordingly.
Suggested Start Date: Thursday, October 16th, 2025 – 6:00am
(3rd Thursday in October each year)
Border monument 103.
No entry fee, no prizes, absolutely no support
The Arizona Trail 300 is a self supported, wilderness mountain biking race held on a portion of the cross state Arizona Trail. The race follows the trail as closely as possible from Mexico to Superior, AZ, covering some 300 miles of varied terrain (elevations range from 1600 to 8100 ft). The trail surface is primarily singletrack, but the race will detour on dirt and pavement to bypass Wilderness areas the trail passes through.
This is not an organized or sanctioned event in any way. It’s simply a group of friends out to ride their bikes on the same route at the same time. We’ll probably compare times afterwards, but more importantly, we’ll compare experiences — the highs and lows the trail and mountains offered us.
All we provide is a route, a suggested start date(*) and tabulation of results. Period. There is no race organization, no checkpoints, no support system, nothing. You are completely on your own, just as you would be if you chose to ride the Arizona Trail, or any other trail, on any other day.
(*) Anyone is welcome to ride the route at any time. We provide a suggested start date if you want others to ride with/against. ITTs (individual time trials) are encouraged and will be ranked with that year’s results. However, please, if you are going to show up on the suggested date, plan to start at the suggested time as well, out of respect for other riders.
If you want to be included in the “results” you need to follow the rules of self-supported travel set on the rules page. This means things like support crews and water caches are not allowed. This is done in order to ensure a level playing field.
State Trust Land Permit Required: The AZT300 route crosses State Trust Land (off the AZT itself) which means all riders must purchase a recreational permit. They are available at the link below, and can be purchased / delivered online ($15). The 300 requires a permit due to using roads and trails that are not AZT, but on State Trust Land outside the 15′ easement corridor.
https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/
Route
Using a GPS device is the preferred method of following the route. Cue sheets are also provided for those that do not wish to use a GPS.
—> Click here for route details and GPS files <—
RULES
Please take the time to review the rules and spirit of the race:
Questions
Start with the AZTR FAQ page & the ATA’s Mountain Biking resource. Please consider posting your questions to bikepacking.net’s Ultra Forum. There is a yearly forum thread there with common questions asked and answered. There’s a helpful community of AZT riders that can help, and that way your questions (and answers) can help others with the same questions.
Discussion
Each year there is a discussion thread including updates, SPOT info, declarations of intent, heckling, etc over at bikepacking.net in the Ultra Racing Forum. Please check in there in the weeks leading up to the race for the latest updates.
A Trackleaders Registration link will be posted here, the Bikepacking.net Ultra Racing Forum and the Arizona Trail Race (Mtb) Facebook group one month prior to the Grand Depart. Registration is not mandatory, but highly recommended. Thanks.
Rider limit: 60 people, combined, in both events (300 & 800)
