Taking place on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day® is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service. Tens of thousands of hikers, bikers, paddlers, horseback riders, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses come together in partnership to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands and trails. Learn more on the American Hiking Society’s website.
The Arizona National Scenic Trail, one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the US, organized a number of hikes and rides for the public to celebrate on Saturday, June 6. I joined a group on Passage 5, located in the Santa Rita Mountain foothills south of Tucson.
The group was also celebrating the completion of the Santa Rita Single Track reroute! Over the years, the Arizona Trail Association has been moving the trail off dirt roads and creating new single track trails, as a way to enhancing the experience for everyone. This newest reroute was finished last month, and I’m pleased to say I participated in that effort. It was also a personal celebration – three months post hip replacement surgery. The hike felt great and was a wonderful connection with fellow volunteers and stewards!
