Recap: Network for Arizona Trails Summit
from the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of Ground Truth
Back in October, Diablo Trust attended the Network for Arizona Trails Summit, a biannual gathering that brings together trails and outdoor recreation managers, specialists, and advocates from across the state. This year’s theme - Getting Everyone on the Trails - focused on creating inclusive trail experiences, managing for diverse users, and addressing capacity challenges on Arizona’s trail systems.
Conversations throughout the summit emphasized how education and outreach are key to sustainable recreation management. Programs that teach people of all ages how to recreate safely, respect the land, and follow good trail etiquette are essential to maintaining healthy landscapes. Organizations like Tread Lightly!, which promotes its motorized recreation T.R.E.A.D. principles (similar to Leave No Trace), are helping model effective stewardship outreach.
Another key example highlighted at the summit was the Greater Sedona Recreation Collaborative - a collaborative group of diverse partners focused on motorized recreation management in the Sedona area. The group was recently awarded over $1.8 million from AZ State Parks and Trails to implement collaboratively developed strategies surrounding education, monitoring, restoration, road maintenance, and motorized trail system management strategies that address local concerns while maintaining access.
A key takeaway from the summit was the power of partnership. Shared messaging, shared resources, and shared efforts can help ensure safe, sustainable access to Arizona’s outdoors while cultivating the next generation of land stewards. Diablo Trust supporters have already partnered with the Coconino National Forest and Tread Lightly! to share safety and etiquette information with motorized recreation users—an important step in building a culture of stewardship on multiple-use lands.
We look forward to exploring ways to expand this partnership even further and to implement the best practices being identified across the state. Stay tuned for more!
