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Arizona Alpine Trail group seeks Payson support for trailhead, master plan and local staging facilities
Summary
Arizona Alpine Trail representatives briefed Payson council on a 700‑mile master‑planned loop that would use existing forest roads and connectors and requested local coordination on staging, trailheads and potential grant partnerships; state parks funded a $360,000 master‑plan grant, organizers said.
Representatives of the Arizona Alpine Trail presented a high‑level briefing to the Payson Common Council on Aug. 13 about a planned 700‑mile loop of off‑highway vehicle and multi‑use routes through eastern Arizona and asked for town coordination on staging areas and connector routes.
Jeff Sauer, treasurer for the Arizona Alpine Trail nonprofit, said the route is roughly 700 miles, divided into about 30 segments on the group’s website (azalpinetrail.org), and that the master plan is funded by a roughly $360,000 grant from Arizona State Parks. Sauer said the trail primarily uses existing U.S. Forest Service roads; the group said it is not cutting new trails except where necessary and has been aligning routes to approved travel‑management plans.
Sauer and consultant Wayne Colbank of Logan Simpson said the draft master plan is expected late this year and that an official version could be released next June. They described opportunities for Payson to host a trailhead or staging area (the presenters suggested a location near the Rodeo/Fairgrounds and Doll Baby Road) and described economic benefits seen in other states where similar trails increased lodging, fuel, food and related spending.
Councilors asked about safety and environmental impacts on difficult western segments and about measures to reduce trash. Sauer said education, sponsored cleanups and partnerships with waste‑management firms and local riding associations are part of the group’s approach. Colbank added that once the master plan is endorsed by State Parks the project becomes eligible for off‑highway and parks‑grant funding for construction, maintenance and mitigation work.
No formal council action was taken. Town manager and staff said they would follow up with the trail organizers on potential trailhead locations and any state or local grant opportunities.
What’s next: project organizers and town staff expect to meet to identify suitable staging areas, evaluate routing around towns to reduce noise and dust, and explore grants from the Arizona Office of Tourism and State Parks for promotion and infrastructure.
