Hikers can expect to resupply every 50 or so miles, and the trail town community is welcoming and accessible. All of these miles are in northbound miles from the Southern Terminus.
Patagonia (mile 51.2): On trail
Patagonia is the first real town on the Arizona Trail, and while small, it fulfills all the hiker needs. There are a post office and two small stores. Red Mountain Foods has the best resupply options, and the small coffee shop in town has Wi-Fi. The RV park also has Wi-Fi and hot showers. Mail a box to Patagonia if money is a concern. Resupplying in the town is more expensive than you might anticipate.
Vail (mile 112.6): 6.3 miles off trail
Vail has a post office, Safeway, Quik Mart, Walgreens, and multiple restaurants. The lodging is a bit sparse in town. Skip Vail if you’re mailing a package to Colossal Cave, but if a pharmacy and grocery are needed, this is a good option.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park (mile 119): 1 mile off trail
As the name suggests, this is a giant cave. There are a restaurant and a gift shop here, but in order to resupply a box will need to be mailed here. The cave tour can be taken for a fee while you wait. This is a good spot to resupply if you are mailing boxes. It is not far off the trail and an almost guaranteed spot to see a Coati.
Tucson (mile 161.6): 12 miles off trail
Tucson has every amenity you could wish for, but access to the big city from the trail requires a long hitch. This resupply option does have an REI and is home to multiple trail angels. Unless something is amiss in the first part of your Arizona Trail thru-hike, you don’t have to stop in Tuscon. There are plenty of other smaller spots with easier access.
Summerhaven (mile 183.9): On trail
Mt. Lemmon is home to the southernmost ski area in the country. After meeting a lift operator, I can confirm that the resort does open a few days a year. This small community on top of the mountain has everything a hiker could want. There are multiple restaurants, a small store capable of providing a resupply, and even a post office. The trail goes right through the middle of the community, so a stop is almost unavoidable. Between the public, Wi-Fi, free coffee/hot chocolate at the store, and the multiple restaurants, definitely take a short break in this community.
High Jinks Ranch (mile 196.4): On trail
This is the historic site formerly owned by Buffalo Bill Cody. The ranch accepts resupply packages in support of all those completing the Arizona Trail and beyond. Detailed instructions below and via the FarOut guide:
- Resupply packages are accepted for an $8 donation that covers handling and the disposal/recycling of materials left behind.
- Mail the package via UPS or FedEx (USPS doesn’t deliver to High Jinks Ranch). When mailing the package, use the following address and write on the box your anticipated pickup date/date range: [Your full name] c/o High Jinks Ranch 33550 S. High Jinks Road Oracle, Arizona 85623
- High Jinks Ranch must be made aware that the package is being mailed ahead of time via telephone call (520) 479-3163 or Facebook message to the High Jinks Ranch FB site. The ranch will not accept and hold packages if arrangements have not been made.
Oracle (mile 198.2): 4 miles off trail
Oracle is located a few miles off the Arizona Trail, but there are the options of hiking a side trail into town or trying to hitch from a couple of different spots. The town has all of the amenities, including a Dollar General, post office, and lodging options. If the resupply strategy is of the “buy as you go” variety, Oracle is the best option in this area of the trail. The Dollar General boasts a better resupply selection than the Summerhaven General Store.
Kearny (mile 262.7): 7.2 miles off trail
Known as the “Friendliest Town on the AZT,” Kearny is a fully loaded resupply stop. Old Time Pizza will even deliver right to the trail. There are two options for free camping in town: at the lake or next to the laundromat. The two grocery stores should have any resupplying covered too. Kearny is a better choice over Superior. It’s not so much a matter of differences in towns, but the mileage and how the towns fall. Be sure to sign the banner in Old Time Pizza and they will likely even offer you a ride back to the trail.
Superior (mile 300.5): 5 miles off trail
Superior is a well-equipped town with a post office, library (internet), grocery, market, coffee shop, and restaurants along with a motel. Recently a couple, MJ and Al became trail angels, making the town an even more intriguing option.
Roosevelt Lake Marina (mile 345.3): 1 mile off trail
Mixed reviews best describe the marina. It does have a restaurant and convenience store although the owners have been reported to not be hiker friendly. It seems that a trail angel has recently emerged in the town of Roosevelt. Call ahead to ensure they accept packages.
Payson (mile 386.7): 30 miles off trail
Payson is a midsized town that has everything a hiker could need. Getting around town can take a bit since things are somewhat spread out. I have skipped Payson twice and gone straight through to Pine but also visited Payson once as well. If Roosevelt is skipped, Payson is a good option, especially if lodging is needed.
Pine (mile 460.6): 3 miles off trail
Pine is a small town a couple of miles down the road from the Arizona Trail crossing. THAT Brewery is on the way into town and accepts resupplies from hikers along with offering a hiker box and a great variety of cold beer on tap. There is a full grocery store farther into town along with a wide assortment of restaurants and amenities. This is one of our favorite towns on the Arizona Trail and we would recommend using it as a resupply. Both options for mailing a box and buying in town are equally good. Definitely visit a brewery.
Mormon Lake (mile 532.9): 1 mile off trail
Mormon Lake has a post office, lodge, store, RV park, and a restaurant. Some of the services are seasonal, but the store is open year-round. Mormon Lake is not far off the trail for resupply, and the owners and employees are very welcoming.
Flagstaff (mile 570 or 583.7): On trail or 1 mile off
Most hikers take the shorter “town” route alternate, but after hiking the Walnut Canyon route, taking the longer route to town would be my recommendation. Flagstaff has an REI and all the possible things you could need. I have always been able to find cheap lodging too. Flagstaff is a must for resupplying and it will be much more reasonably priced than the remaining options on the trail (northbound).
Tusayan (mile 683.7): On trail
Tusayan is the home to one of the most expensive McDonald’s in the country. All of the restaurants are high-priced, along with the store. All the amenities are here, but they are expensive. If you can, hold off on resupplying until the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The store there was quite a bit more affordable than Tusayan. If you do spend time in town, Starbucks has better internet than McDonald’s.
South Rim of the Grand Canyon (687.7): 1.2 miles off trail
Quite possibly the most affordable grocery store of all the national parks. There are lodging options but depending on the time of year, a campground will likely be the best option. If you mail a resupply there is a post office. A backcountry camping permit will also need to be obtained here to cross the Grand Canyon. There are amazing deals at the general store here, way better than most stores in national parks.
Jacob Lake (mile 761.7): 2.4 miles off trail
Jacob Lake is the last resupply for a northbound hiker. The small community has just enough necessities to work for hikers. There is reported camping available along with an inn.
