Ultimate Arizona Trail Resupply Guide with Spreadsheet for both Southbound and Northbound Thru-Hikers
From October 12th, 2022 through November 8th, 2022, I solo thru-hiked the roughly 800-mile Arizona Trail “AZT” southbound from the Utah-Arizona border to the Mexico-Arizona border. In this Arizona Trail resupply guide (make sure to also check out my resupply spreadsheet!), I outline strategic resupply towns and stops for both northbound “NOBO” and southbound “SOBO” Arizona Trail thru-hikers to resupply their food at, along with mile markers for both directions. For each resupply stop, I provide essential details such as distance off trail, transportation options, whether to mail or buy supplies, available grocery stores, addresses for mailing resupply boxes, amenities like showers and laundry facilities, nearby lodging options, recommended restaurants, and the distance to the next resupply stop. Additionally, I'll share insights from my own 28-day southbound thru-hike of the Arizona Trail in 2022.
What is a resupply? A resupply on long-distance hikes involves replenishing your food, fuel, and other essentials such as charging your electronics, doing laundry, and showering at predetermined points along the trail. Having a good resupply strategy is important for maintaining supplies without carrying excessive weight.
Similar to my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, these were some factors I considered when planning my Arizona Trail resupply plan:
Distance from Trail: How far off the Arizona Trail is the resupply stop? I usually tried to resupply at places that were closer to the trail because resupplying closer to the trail would shorten the time needed for resupplying.
Ease of Access: Can I walk to the resupply location? Do I need to hitch? How hard is the hitch?
Buying Food vs. Mailing a Box: Is it more efficient/convenient to mail a resupply box? Do they charge for package holding? What days/times is the mailing pickup location open? Is there a grocery store or place to buy food in town?
Distance Between Resupply Stops: I tried to space out my resupply stops pretty evenly, ensuring they weren’t too close or too far apart. The average distance between my resupply stops was about ## miles, which was roughly ## days of hiking for me.
Avoiding Hitching as Much as Possible: As a solo female hiker, I experience some anxiety when it comes to hitchhiking, so I make an effort to minimize it, which definitely shaped my AZT resupply strategy.
Tips for Mailing Resupply Packages on the Arizona Trail:
Always write your name, ETA, your phone number, and “Hold for AZT Hiker” on the side of your boxes!
Verify what mailing service you need to send your package with (USPS, FedEx, UPS). Sometimes you have to mail with a specific mailing service.
Double check what days of the week and times the resupply locations or post offices are open so you can plan when to get to town when they are open.
If you want some ideas on what food to put in your resupply boxes, check out my blog post: All the Food I Ate and Put in My Resupply Boxes on my Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike!
Northbound vs. Southbound on the Arizona Trail:
Typically, the Arizona Trail is thru-hiked northbound in the spring and southbound in the fall to avoid snow in the northern sections during late fall/early spring and the heat in the southern sections during late spring/late summer months. I chose to thru-hike the Arizona Trail southbound simply because I made a last minute decision to thru-hike the AZT in the fall of 2022. Hence, in this resupply guide, I list the AZT resupply stops in southbound order, but I do also include the northbound mile markers (and the stops are listed in northbound order in my Arizona Trail Resupply Spreadsheet).
Gear:
If you’re interested in what gear I brought on my AZT thru-hike, check out my Arizona Trail Gear List (almost ultralight)! For the more recent gear I’ve used, check out the following posts: Continental Divide Trail Southbound 2023 Final Ultralight Gear List.
My Arizona Trail Resupply Strategy
The following list of resupply locations is not an exhaustive list of every single resupply option on the Arizona Trail because there are a lot of options. The following resupply strategy is what worked best for me on my Arizona Trail thru-hike.
Note: The exact mile markers will vary by year and based on which maps you use. I do include a few additional resupply stops that I didn’t resupply at, but I thought were important to reference – these are marked with an asterisk “*” and are italicized.
Make sure to do your own research, stay flexible, and do what works best for your hike! Always verify the details and availability of each stop and business, as it may change year to year.
With all that in mind, here is my Arizona Trail Resupply Guide! The town descriptions are listed in southbound order, since that is the direction I hiked the trail, but I also include the northbound mile markers along with the southbound mile markers. Here are all the resupply locations if you want to jump ahead to a particular stop:
Arizona Trail Resupply Stops in Southbound Order:
*I marked stops that I didn’t resupply at as italicized with an asterisk, but thought were good resupply options to include here.
Northern Terminus of the Arizona Trail (Arizona-Utah Border, State Line Campground)
*North Rim Grand Canyon General Store & Campground (store & services open May 15th - October 15th)
South Rim of the Grand Canyon (Mather Campground / Grand Canyon Village)
Southern Terminus of the Arizona Trail (Arizona-Mexico Border)
Arizona Trail Resupply Stops Spreadsheet
Are you a spreadsheet person like me? Here is the link to the Google Sheets spreadsheet of my resupply guide for the Arizona Trail: Arizona Trail Resupply Stops Spreadsheet
This spreadsheet contains the resupply stops mentioned in this post, with tabs for both northbound (NOBO) and southbound (SOBO) directions. It includes mile markers, distance to the next resupply stop, whether you should mail or buy your resupply, the off-trail distance to each location, and additional notes.
So, what do I do with this spreadsheet?
To create your own copy of my AZT resupply spreadsheet, click on "File" and then "Make a Copy". You can add or delete rows/towns as needed, include your personal notes, and remember to update the "Miles to Next Resupply" column if you make changes to ensure your Arizona Trail resupply plan remains accurate.
Arizona Trail Resupply Stops:
Northern Terminus of the Arizona Trail (Arizona-Utah Border, State Line Campground) - Southbound Mile 0 / Northbound Mile 794.6
How did I get to the northern terminus of the Arizona trail? I flew into Las Vegas, Nevada and then the next morning I took a shuttle from Las Vegas to Page, Arizona. Once in Page, AZ, I took another shuttle to State Line Campground to begin my thru-hike.
Distance to My First Resupply Stop (South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona): 99.8 miles
*Jacob Lake, Arizona - Southbound Mile 27.7 / Northbound Mile 767
I didn’t resupply here and others I have spoken to also didn’t rely on Jacob Lake as a full resupply stop. It is more of a place to grab a meal (they have a restaurant) and stay the night at the inn for a shower.
Distance Off Trail: 2.5 miles
How to Get There: Walk via the Ceballos Trail (from Orderville Trailhead) or hitch
*North Rim Grand Canyon General Store & Campground - Southbound Mile 77 / Northbound Mile 717.5 (store & services open May 15th - October 15th)
This wasn’t a full resupply for me. I reached the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on their last day of operation in the fall of 2022, so I got lucky with that. Since it was their last day before closing for winter, the camp store had basically no food (very minimal options), so I was glad I didn’t rely on the North Rim as a full resupply. Instead, I used it as a place to refresh, recharge, shower, and do laundry. I stayed a night at the hiker/biker campsite before hiking to the South Rim the next day. I wouldn’t recommend relying on this as a full resupply stop, especially if you’re going northbound since it typically doesn’t open until May 15th in the springtime.
If you’re hiking the Arizona Trail northbound in the spring, it is unlikely that the North Rim will be operating any services. My partner thru-hiked the AZT in spring 2024 and said nothing was open on the North Rim when he passed through at the end of April—not even showers or laundry—but he was able to stay a night at the hiker/biker campsite. The North Rim’s services are typically open from May 15th through October 15th each year (you can still hike through during other times of the year, but there won't be services and the road might not be open)."
Distance Off Trail: 0.5 mile to campground and camp store (1.7 miles to lodge)
How to Get There: Walk via Bridal Trail
Mail or Buy? Buy some snacks, not a full resupply and also likely not open for NOBO hikers
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm
Grocery Store: Campground general store (limited options)
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: n/a, I wouldn’t rely on this as a full resupply stop
Showers: Yes, coin operated at campground (open May 15-October 15)
Laundry: Yes, laundromat at campground (open May 15-October 15)
Lodging: Hiker/Biker site at campground for $6 (must hike or bike into the national park to stay at the hiker/biker site)
Restaurants: Deli and cafe at lodge
South Rim of the Grand Canyon (Mather Campground / Grand Canyon Village) - Southbound Mile 100 / Northbound Mile 695
I really enjoyed my resupply at the South Rim. I hiked rim-to-rim in one day and then had a short hike over to Mather Campground to secure a spot in the hiker/biker campsite for $6. I resupplied at the General Store, which had a ton of options and is basically a full grocery store that even has hiking gear. Then I ate at the restaurant in Yavapai Lodge, showered, did laundry, and then called it a night. The next morning, I relaxed, got breakfast at the lodge, and enjoyed coffee from the café. I really enjoyed hanging out at the South Rim and highly recommend stopping here!
Distance Off Trail: 0 miles
How to Get There: Walk
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Flagstaff, Arizona): 106 miles (via Flagstaff Urban Trail, explained below)
Mail or Buy? Buy
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
Grocery Store: Yes, the Canyon Village Market (General Store), which is a fully stocked grocery store with lots of options and even has some backpacking gear if you need it (water filters, etc.)
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: Mail via USPS General Delivery to:
[Hiker’s Name]
General Delivery
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Showers: Yes, coin operated showers at Mather Campground ($2.50 in quarters for 5 minutes)
Laundry: Yes, coin operated laundry at Mather Campground ($2.50 for wash, $1.25 for dry, $1.25 for laundry detergent)
Lodging: Yes, there is the Yavapai Lodge, but AZT thru-hikers can stay at the hiker/biker site in Mather Campground for $6
Restaurants: Deli in the Canyon Village Market (General Store) and restaurant in Yavapai Lodge
*Tusayan, Arizona - Southbound Mile 105 / Northbound Mile 690
I didn’t stop in Tusayan, but it is a good alternative to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon just a few miles down the road if you want access to more lodging options and more restaurant options.
Distance Off Trail: 0.7 miles
How to Get There: Walk via Tusayan Greenway Trail
Mail or Buy? You can either buy or mail depending on what works for you (apparently the grocery store has marked-up/high prices?)
Grocery Store: Tusayan General Store
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: Mail only via UPS or FedEx to:
[Hiker’s Name] c/o Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
450 Route 64
Tusayan, AZ 86023
Showers: Token operated showers available at Grand Canyon Camper Village ($5/8 min for non-guests, $2/8min for guests)
Laundry: Coin operated laundry available at Grand Canyon Camper Village ($3.50 for wash, $2.00 for dry)
Lodging: Lots of hotel options in Tusayan; First come first serve camping is available at Grand Canyon Camper Village for $30/night
Restaurants: Lots of options - Wendy’s, Plaza Bonita, Big E Steakhouse, & more
Flagstaff, Arizona - Southbound Mile 198 or 209 / Northbound Mile 565 or 586 (depends on which way you go)
The Arizona Trail splits into two trail route options going into Flagstaff and both are official Arizona Trail routes:
(a) Hike the Flagstaff Urban Trail (blue line in FarOut) that takes you straight through Flagstaff and back out of town to rejoin the red line AZT.
(b) Hike the red line AZT in FarOut to Highway 89 and hitch to Flagstaff.
I chose to hike the Flagstaff Urban Trail and liked how it made resupplying logistics easier for me. I lucked out and had a friend I met earlier in the year on the PCT who was temporarily living in Flagstaff, so he helped me get around town and let me crash in the guest room. I loved my time in Flagstaff and it was a great mental reset for me after a mentally rough first 200 miles.
Distance Off Trail:
If you take the Flagstaff Urban Trail (blue line in FarOut):
From SOBO mile 198: 8 miles via Flagstaff Urban Trail (this is what I did)
From NOBO mile 565: 4.5 miles via Flagstaff Urban Trail
If you hike around Flagstaff via AZT red line in FarOut:
From mile SOBO 209 / NOBO mile 586 (Highway 89): 8 miles via highway
How to Get There: Either hike the Flagstaff Urban Trail or hitch/shuttle from Highway 89
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Mormon Lake, Arizona): 57.4 miles (via Flagstaff Urban Trail)
Mail or Buy? Buy
Grocery Store: Quite a few grocery store options in Flagstaff - Fry’s, Safeway, Walmart, etc.
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: You probably don’t need to mail a resupply box here since there are so many store options for both food and gear, but if you do, there are 3 different post offices in Flagstaff. Choose one near the amenities you think you’ll be near to mail your box via general delivery to.
Showers: No public showers, need to stay at hotel/motel for it
Laundry: Laundromats in town, if you stay at a hotel or motel they might have laundry facilities
Lodging: Lots of hotel/motels in Flagstaff to choose from
Restaurants: So many restaurants in Flagstaff! I ate at MartAnnes Burrito Palace and it was really good!
Mormon Lake, Arizona - Southbound Mile 262 / Northbound Mile 532.7
I managed to get enough food here to reach my next resupply stop, but the store has very limited options. Also, I would verify when the store is actually open when you plan to go through, as it sounds like they might only be open seasonally.
Distance Off Trail: 1.3 miles
How to Get There: Walk via Navajo Springs Trail
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Pine, Arizona): 76 miles
Mail or Buy? Buy or Mail (I bought from the store - I would mail if you have dietary restrictions or want specific food)
More Info: https://www.mormonlakelodge.com/
Grocery Store: Mormon Lake Lodge Country Store (limited options)
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: Mail via UPS or Fedex to with your ETA written on the box:
[Hiker Name] c/o Mormon Lake Lodge
1971 Mormon Lake Rd
Mormon Lake, AZ 86038
Showers: Coin operated showers at campground
Laundry: Coin operated laundry at campground
Lodging: Mormon Lake Lodge, Mormon Lake RV Park & Campground
Restaurants: Mormon Lake Saloon
Pine, Arizona - Southbound Mile 338 / Northbound Mile 457
I stayed at a trail angel’s place in Pine on my AZT thru-hike, but there are other lodging options available too. Pine is cute, and I enjoyed stopping here. The grocery store is small, but they have the essentials and enough to resupply. I’ve heard great things about the brewery, but I only ate at the Early Bird Cafe before hiking out.
Distance Off Trail: 1 mile
How to Get There: Walk via AZ Highway 87
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Roosevelt Lake): 113 miles
Mail or Buy? Mail or Buy (can buy if no dietary restrictions or if you’re not looking for specific food)
Grocery Store: Ponderosa Market (I did my resupply here with no issues, but I’m also not picky)
Address to Mail a Resupply Box:
THAT Brewery & Pub:
Write your ETA and phone number on package
Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays
Mail to:
THAT Brewery & Pub
AZ Trail Hiker - [Hiker Name]
PO Box 90
Pine, AZ 85544
Post Office General Delivery:
[Hiker Name]
General Delivery
PINE, AZ 85544
Showers: no public showers
Laundry: Pine Laundry
Lodging: Beeline Guest House, Pine Creek Cabins
Restaurants: Early Bird Cafe, THAT Brewery & Pub, Old County Inn
*Payson, Arizona - Southbound Mile 410 / Northbound Mile 385
I didn’t stop in Payson, but if you want to break up the 113-mile food carry from Pine, you could stop in Payson, which is about a 30 minute drive from where the AZT crosses Highway 87 at SOBO mile 410/NOBO mile 385. Payson is a full service town with lots of lodging options, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Distance Off Trail: 32 miles
How to Get There: Hitch
Roosevelt Lake Marina - Southbound Mile 451 / Northbound Mile 343.7
Roosevelt Lake is a great place to mail a new pair of shoes along with your resupply box since it is roughly halfway. They have a small 'hiker shed,' where you can camp behind for free (at least when I thru-hiked the AZT, you could). I picked up my resupply box from the marina’s convenience store, enjoyed dinner at the marina’s restaurant, and cowboy camped behind the hiker shed before hiking out the next morning.
Distance Off Trail: 0.2 miles
How to Get There: Walk via the Cemetery Trail
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Kearny): 81.2 miles
Mail or Buy? Mail
More Info: https://rooseveltlakemarina.com/
Grocery Store: None (just a gas station store with candy and drinks)
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: Mail to Roosevelt Marina, which has a pickup fee of $10. Make sure to write “Hold for AZT Hiker” and your ETA on the box
[Hiker’s Name] c/o Roosevelt Lake Marina
28085 N. Hwy. 188
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
Showers: None
Laundry: None
Lodging: You can camp behind the “hiker shed/hut” for free
Restaurants: Roosevelt Lake Marina has a restaurant
*Superior, Arizona - Southbound Mile 495 / Northbound Mile 300
I didn’t stop in Superior, but it could be a good option if you want to break up the 81-mile food carry from Roosevelt Lake to Kearny or if it fits into your resupply plan well. Superior is a full service town with a few lodging options, a grocery store, and a dollar store.
Distance Off Trail: 6.5 miles via Highway 60
How to Get There: Hitch from Picketpost Trailhead
Mail or Buy? Buy
Grocery Store: Save Money Market, Family Dollar
Kearny, Arizona - Southbound Mile 532 / Northbound Mile 262.5
Self-proclaimed as the 'Friendliest Town on the Arizona Trail,' Kearny definitely lived up to its claims. Everyone in town was so nice. I was able to get a ride with a trail angel who was incredibly kind and helpful (thank you, Gary!!!). I stayed one night at the inn, ate pizza at the local pizza place, and the next morning got the free donut and coffee for AZT hikers at the grocery store. It was Halloween, so they had Halloween-themed donuts! The grocery store was huge and had lots of options. Gary also gave me a ride back to the trail the next morning. He is too nice!
Tip: Don’t get water out of the Gila River because it is downstream from the active mine. Load up on water in town before hiking out.
Distance Off Trail: 7 miles
How to Get There: Hitch a ride or call a trail angel
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven): 79 miles
Mail or Buy? Buy
Grocery Store: IGA Foodliner now called Norm's Hometown Grocery - they offer a free donut and coffee to AZT thru-hikers!
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: mail via general delivery to:
[Hiker Name]
General Delivery
Kearny, AZ 85137
Showers: No public showers
Laundry: Coin-operated laundry is available at the RV park (or also at the inn, if you stay there)
Lodging: General Kearny Inn,
Restaurants: Old Time Pizza, Buzzy’s Drive-In, West End Cafe
*Oracle, Arizona - Southbound Mile 589.5 (Highway 77) or 600 (Cody Trail #9) / Northbound Mile 205 (Highway 77) or 195 (Cody Trail #9)
I didn’t stop in Oracle, but maybe it would work well into your resupply plan.
Distance Off Trail: roughly 2-2.6 miles
How to Get There: hitch from Highway 77 or hike 2 miles in via Cody Trail #9
Grocery Store: Dollar General, Circle K
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: mail to post office via general delivery:
[Hiker Name]
General Delivery
Oracle, AZ 85623
Laundry: Laundromat in town
Lodging: Chalet Village Motel, El Rancho Robles Guest Ranch
Restaurants: Several restaurant options
Mount Lemmon / Summerhaven, Arizona - Southbound Mile 611 / Northbound Mile 184
I did a quick resupply here. I bought my resupply from the general store, which had limited options but enough for me to get to my next resupply stop. Since I SOBO’d the AZT, it was a chilly November day when I stopped here, so I drank hot chocolate and chilled on the porch of the general store while my electronics charged before heading back to trail.
Distance Off Trail: 0
How to Get There: Walk
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Colossal Cave): 64 miles
Mail or Buy? Mail or Buy (can buy if you don’t have many restrictions)
More Info: https://mtlemmon.com/
Grocery Store: Mount Lemmon General Store
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: mail to either general store or the post office:
To mail to the Mt. Lemmon General Store (include your ETA and phone number):
[Hiker’s Name]
c/o Mt Lemmon General Store
12856 N. Sabino Canyon Parkway
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
To mail to the post office:
[Hiker’s Name]
General Delivery
Mount Lemmon, AZ 85619
Showers: no public showers
Laundry: none
Lodging: lodging options in Mount Lemmon
Restaurants: Coffee Bean, Sawmill Run Restaurant, Mt Lemmon Cookie Cabin, Beyond Bread
Colossal Cave Mountain Park - Southbound Mile 675 / Northbound Mile 119
If you’re using the FarOut AZT Map, Colossal Cave is marked as “La Posta Quemada Ranch in Colossal Cave Mountain Park” as a purple fork icon (I was confused when I hiked the AZT because the marker’s name is a bit misleading in FarOut). I mailed a resupply box here. There is a gift shop and they also have outlets for charging.
Distance Off Trail: 1.2 miles
How to Get There: Walk via road
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Patagonia, Arizona): 66.9 miles
Mail or Buy? Mail
More Info: https://colossalcave.com/
Grocery Store: None
Address to Mail a Resupply Box: No fee for package holding. Make sure to write “Hold for AZT hiker” and your ETA on the box, and mail to:
[Hiker’s Legal Name] c/o Colossal Cave Mountain Park
16721 E. Old Spanish Trail
Vail, AZ 85641
Showers: None
Laundry: None
Lodging: There is a campground with water spigots and tables about 1.8 miles down trail
Restaurants: There is a cafe and gift shop
*Vail, Arizona or Tuscon, Arizona - Southbound Mile 682 / Northbound Mile 113
I did not resupply here, but some AZT thru-hikers will go into either Vail or Tucson from the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead. Vail is a small town with a Safeway, restaurants, post office, and several restaurant options. Tucson is a full service city with lots of lodging options, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Distance Off Trail: 6 miles to Vail, 29 miles to Tucson
How to Get There: Hitch a ride or schedule shuttle
Patagonia, Arizona - Southbound Mile 742 / Northbound Mile 52
This was one of my favorite resupply stops on the Arizona Trail! Patagonia is a cute little town with just enough amenities. I stayed at TerraSol and had an awesome time there. It’s like a hostel campground with great vibes and hot showers. They had bikes you can borrow, which makes getting around town super easy. My favorite memory from TerraSol was when everyone went to bed, and it was dark and quiet—javelinas came out and ran around camp looking for food! (TerraSol has hooks for you to hang your food, don’t worry.) I resupplied at the Patagonia Market with no issues, and I remember them having reasonable prices.
Distance Off Trail: 5 miles
How to Get There: Hitch a ride or schedule a shuttle from AZ-82 or walk the 5-mile Patagonia Connector Trail
Distance to My Next Resupply Stop (Southern Terminus of the AZT): 52.4 miles
Mail or Buy? Buy
Grocery Store: Patagonia Market, Red Mountain Foods
Address to Mail a Resupply Box:
Showers: $10 at TerraSol (which will also get you laundry next door at the RV Park)
Laundry: coin operated laundry at RV Park next to TerraSol
Lodging: TerraSol Campground, Stage Stop Inn
Restaurants: A few different restaurant options in Patagonia! I ate breakfast at one of the coffee shops and enjoyed it.
Southern Terminus of the Arizona Trail (Arizona-Mexico Border) - Southbound Mile 794.6 / Northbound Mile 0
Mexico!!! After reaching the Arizona Trail southern terminus, I hiked about 3.5 miles to the Coronado National Memorial Visitor Center via Joe’s Canyon Trail (blue line in FarOut). Another option is to hike the 2 miles back to the Montezuma Pass Trailhead and get a ride from there. I scheduled a shuttle to take me to the Tucson airport.
Tip: There is an Amazon locker right next to the Tucson Airport where you can order items! I ordered a new outfit to the locker so I wouldn’t have to wear my smelly clothes on the long plane ride home since I went directly to the airport from the trail.
Conclusion
Hopefully my Arizona Trail resupply strategy can help you figure out what resupply stops will work best for your hike! Always double-check the details for each location, as services and availability may change. Happy hiking and safe travels on your AZT adventure!
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