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Arizona Alpine Trail president outlines 704‑mile OHV master plan, projects tourism boost
Summary
Jerry Smith, president of the Arizona Alpine Trail, told the Show Low City Council the completed 704‑mile OHV master plan aims to break the route into day loops, expects state promotion in July, and projects substantial visitor spending per day that could benefit Show Low businesses.
Jerry Smith, president of the Arizona Alpine Trail, briefed the Show Low City Council on the group’s completed master plan for a roughly 704‑mile off‑highway vehicle (OHV) loop and said the organization will seek coordinated promotion with state partners this summer.
Smith said the plan—finished this year and celebrated with a public opening on April 18 in Show Low—was funded with about $330,000 from state parks plus roughly $47,000 in matching cash and in‑kind contributions. "We connect to about 20 towns," Smith said, and the plan is to break the route into marketing loops people can do in one to four days.
Why it matters: Smith presented the trail as an economic‑development opportunity for towns along the route. He gave a per‑rider spending estimate of $300 a day and said the group expects, "as a kind of a minimum when we get going this summer, maybe 300 people a day will be on the trail," which he said could generate "90 to $100,000 a day" in local spending. Smith said the Arizona Office of Outdoor Recreation, the Arizona Office of Tourism and Arizona Highways have expressed interest in helping to promote the trail, and the group will seek Show Low’s participation in coordination and advertising.
Details and next steps: Smith described the marketing plan, possible July outreach sessions (two multi‑day date blocks were under consideration) and local staging points such as the Clay Springs trailhead for group rides planned June 20. He also thanked staff and volunteers—naming Morgan Brown, Lisa Robinson and Mike Maraskell—for grant support and event help. Smith invited chambers of commerce and local economic development staff to collaborate on promotion and said additional information would be circulated to the city.
The council offered brief praise and local questions about routing and crossings; Smith confirmed at least one crossing of Highway 260 would be required at the 300 Road area. The presentation was for information; no council action was requested or taken.
