Arizona Trail Section Hike: Passages 10 and 11
The Arizona Trail runs 800 miles from Mexico to Utah through the state of Arizona. The trail is divided into 43 passages. In this article I share a 31.7 mile section I hiked in the Redington Pass and Santa Catalina Mountains. In this series we are covering each section I hike. I am hoping I can provide tips and insights into how you can spend an afternoon to a few days at a time on this trail that stretches from Mexico to Utah! Or for a few months as a thru-hiker! This is my Arizona Trail Section Hike Passages 10 and 11 guide, enjoy :).
If heading NOBO (Northbound) Passage 10 begins on Redington Road near Tucson Arizona. It ends at the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground. Passage 11 on the Arizona Trail begins here and ends at the Marshall Gulch Trailhead in the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Arizona Trail Association provides detailed GPS coordinates and maps for each passage on their website. It’s a great resource! When I hiked this section in the spring there were plenty of places to filter water, campgrounds that you could stop at, and road crossings should an emergency arise. I hiked passages 10 and 11 of the Arizona Trail in two days!
Arizona Trail Section Hike Passages 10 and 11 Need to Know’s:
If you live in Tucson Arizona this is VERY EASY to accomplish as day hikes that you don’t even need to backpack for. Driving distance from where we lived in Central Tucson is less than 40 minutes to the trailheads.
Both passages have mountain passes and high elevation gains and losses. The day I hiked Passage 10 I met a few thru-hikers who had gotten unexpected cold weather and snow higher up. They had VERY frigid nights because it was unexpectedly winter again. Arizona is not just all hot desert. Spring and Fall would be the ideal time to hike this stretch.
The Gordon Hirabayshi Campground closes on May 1st for the summer!
GPS and Map Coordinates for Passage 10 can be found HERE.
GPS and Map Coordinates for Passage 11 can be found HERE.
If you are leaving a car you should have a National Forest Pass (there are fees.) The National Parks Annual Pass also does the trick!
In the spring there are plenty of areas to filter water. I am unaware of these sources and if they exist in the fall after a hot dry summer in Arizona.
You pass through some cattle land in passage 10. I would personally be very weary of filtering water from here even if it’s a moving stream. Just my opinion!
What else happened that was memorable during this Arizona Trail Section Hike?
Passage 10 ends where one of the forced prison internment camps for Japanese Americans was located. Gordon Hirabayashi’s story is inspiring, almost unbelievable, the reason for it unjust and racist, and the aftermath fulfilling for future activists. There’s a great board up of quotes from him, stories of the past and how this all unfolded (that don’t defend the propaganda and hate the US government used to fuel Anti-Japanese sentiment, and definitely worth the walk off the trail to see for yourself. It’s towards the front of the campground on your left if walking off the AZT at the end of Passage 10. After being convicted he hitchhiked from Washington State, stopped in Idaho to see his family in a different prison camp, and made his way here. While convincing them to put him in this work camp without prison bars he went to the movies in Tucson :). He came back when this campground was named in his honor. He lived here with conscientious objectors to the war which ranged from Hopi Native Americans to Jehovah Witnesses, per the board.
The views of Mica Mountain and the fresh powder were amazing in Passage 10.
The hike down and through Sabino Canyon and the popular summer natural pools for Tucsonians with the Saguaro Cacti and wildflowers was equally stunning. The scenery on passages 10 and 11 was great.
I saw Trail Magic! A section hiker needed to get a new water filter and a kind couple gave her a lift to Summerhaven just when I thought we would need to filter water from my Lifestraw for her! Thanks Trail Angels :).
I met thru-hikers from the Czech Republic, mountain bikers (yes you can do that on most of the AZT!), and a few other AZT thru-hikers as I passed through the bubble. Doc and I hiked some miles together and Cake greeted me with “You going to Utah too?!” to which I replied “Someday!”. LOL. It’s fun to chat and talk with the hikers on these big scenic trails. And I enjoy getting to use my trail name of DH.
I’ve lived and hiked quite a bit in Arizona but it was my first time enjoying the Santa Catalina Mountains up close. This might be my new favorite “range” in Arizona. They are beautiful and residents of Tucson and the surrounding area are LUCKY to have this gorgeous world class hiking in their backyard!
WHAT GEAR DO I USE AND LIKE THE MOST ON MY AZT SECTION HIKES?
Hoka One Kaha’s and Hoka Two GTX’s are my trusted shoes.
I use my REI 40 Liter Backpack.
Darn Tough Vermont and Merino Wool Socks from REI and SmartWool are my go to’s.
Osprey Water Bladder and Lifestraw Collapsible Filter for hydration.
I wear New Balance running shorts mainly and much prefer that to more typical hiking shorts. I also wear sun hoodies that I got from my crew at Scioto Made.
The Arizona Trail Association is a COMPLETE and comprehensive guide.
I carry a Garmin GPS and if I were to be a thru hiker I would use the Farout (used to be Guthook) App as well.
The Arizona Trail is a new National Scenic Trail but the one that I had previously hiked the most miles on. Until section hiking chunks of the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail in 2023 and 2024. The AZT was officially completed in 2011 but still has a lot of resources and support needed to keep the momentum going. What started as a dream of a school teacher near Flagstaff in 1985 (way to dream big Dale Shewalter!) at his young age of 35 has morphed into a amazing thru-hiking experience! Dale’s dream turned into reality rather quickly if you ask me.
The Arizona Trail can be done in March and April or October and November as a thru-hike. But many find themselves section and day hiking it because of the great job done in creating the passages for it. It’s a tough trail but it takes you through scenic exploration after scenic exploration in the state of Arizona. Passages 10 and 11 are no exception. They were days of hiking that rivaled anything I have done on the AT and the PCT and they were 35 minute drives from Tucson to trailhead. Accessibility from the city to the wilderness is important and while there are many other barriers to entry beyond driving distance this does make it more possible.
This 31.7 mile stretch of the AZT was done in two heart thumping, burrito and banana eating, memorable days. There is a plethora of side trails to take, especially in Passage 11 in Sabino Canyon. Have fun, prepare, and welcome to a great stretch of the mountains of Arizona that surround Tucson and the stunning to witness in person Sabino Canyon.
Thanks for reading and happy trails to you! Whether you are planning a thru, section, or day hike…or are a trail town local, trail angel, or just someone wanting to learn more about the Arizona Trail…I hope the AZT gives you what you need! Don’t forget to Leave No Trace and pack your 10 Essentials!
Comment below with questions or your experience on hiking the AZT’s Passages 10 and 11.
Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R