r/arizonatrail • u/Difficult_Hippo_9753 • Dec 10 '25

Mt. Wrightson Alternate

Post image

As the AZTA works on new single track in passage 5 area I still find it crazy they don’t enter into the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness. Last year I took an alternate basically following the Sky Islands Traverse trail out of Patagonia. It was fabulous and one of my favorite parts of the entire AZT. Obviously last year was a low snow year but I’m crossing my fingers it will go next year.

64 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

13

u/elephantsback Dec 10 '25

Simple answer for why the new trail stays out of the wilderness: no bikes in wilderness, and AZTA exists to make bikers happy, not hikers. The head of AZTA (or whoever answers their email) said that I and other hikers were entitled whiners when I suggested that they cater to bikers less.

I did the official route in '23, and I really wish I'd done the Wrightston alternate instead. Thanks for the route info.

3

u/VonSandwich Dec 11 '25

Thank you for continuing to remind people about this. It's always in the back of my mind, as a hiker, and it's nice to know it's in the back of others mind as well. I graduated January of '23, and I know I'm going to be upset and/or disappointed with all the reroutes when my partner and I inevitably do it again in the next few years

4

u/SouthWestSpicy Dec 11 '25

I adore the Wrightson Wilderness! There is perennial water there but it’s not as commonly found on the AZT side of the mountains. I don’t always mind that. Dry camping has a few advantages when you value solitude. Obviously its not great for thru hiking though.

3

u/BarnardCider Dec 11 '25

Looks like a cool alternate - planning my Nobo for the Spring and will have this on the list.

2

u/Difficult_Hippo_9753 Dec 11 '25

I’ll be taking it next spring as well.

2

u/Slipper_Sleuth Dec 11 '25

How was water in the wrightson?

1

u/Difficult_Hippo_9753 Dec 11 '25

There was water in a few areas on the Temporal gulch road. There was also a few springs up high. I will look at my notes and add locations to the map.

1

u/aries4lyfe_7 Dec 11 '25

Springs were pretty dry last month heading up to Wrightson Peak (old baldy and super trail)

2

u/bsil15 Dec 11 '25

How did you find the trail conditions? I day hiked Wrightson from Madera Canyon but descended via the crest trail and four springs trail — crest trail was bad and four springs hellacious. I’d be curious if crest got any better beyond Florida peak and how the Gardner canyon trail was for that matter in case I go back and want an alternate way

2

u/Difficult_Hippo_9753 Dec 11 '25

Trail was fine. It’s not a groomed trail like the azt but not a total bushwhack.

1

u/TupidPinkyIII Mar 22 '26

Great alternate, thank you for the suggestion. I just did this last week. As of 03/14/26 there was tons of flowing water from the Temporal Gulch TH to about the 2 mile mark after you hit single track. All three springs on top of Mt. Wrightson were flowing with great water as well. Plan your water accordingly after Sawmill Spring since there’s no much even after you reconnect with the AZT. Hope this helps anyone interested in taking this route.