Has anyone here hiked the Arizona Trail in Winter?

What sections are you going to hike and when exactly?
Much depends on how high you will go in elevation and when. Usually we do not get much snow till January, but my
Elk hunt was cut three days short last year in Flagstaff on December 12 by a massive and severe snow storm so things can be different year to year. This trail is known for lack of water so keeping up to date on the AZT website is critical if you cannot do water drops ahead of time.
I live on the AZ/Mexico border at the southern terminus so hiking here is generally good year round, until we get snow up at 7,000 to 9,000 feet, then we just do the lower sections here until spring. Of course the desert sections are also good but there are storms in winter between Phoenix and the Rim that will cover the trail on the shady sides till spring also. The sections from Flagstaff to the GC are not impossible in winter conditions when it's dry, but the clay soil in that area is nasty when soaked and it's pretty bitter out there when the temps drop, and they do close the access to the GC during bad weather as they cannot maintain the roads all of the time. That's all I know from living here 32 years, I am hiking the AZT as much as possible this winter in preparation for a longer hike next year. I lived in Flagstaff and will not be hiking there after the snow falls except for short snowshoeing hikes.

Thanks Desert Dweller. I will be doing a northbound thru-hike. Your information has been very helpful. I was concerned about the Flagstaff area, because that is the only area I've hiked in. I was there in March and it wasn't bad, but can see how it could be in January.

You could always start the desert sections and see how the weather goes that year. If that is the time you have to hike no harm in trying. Just remember that the beginning down here entails starting at 5,600 feet at the border then climb up Montezuma pass to 6,600, then up to 9,300 below Miller Peak, then down to Bathtub springs 8,600, then 8,200 and 8,400 along the Crest Trail then you drop into Sunnyside 5,800 so there is a drop off of the high stuff and you are past the worst of the high points. So you have to take all this in consideration, you won't need snowshoes or crampons here, it's not that type of trail. And you just need to watch the weather systems as December 2014 develops. Some years are very dry and we don't get much precipitation till January or February. Study the latitude of this area and you will get a better idea. Our weather systems are very dependent upon what comes up from Mexico and how far the cold from the north dips down.

Hello! I know you were thinking about a winter thru hike of the AZT in 2013, and I am curious to see if you've done it and if so, if you could share your experience. I'm thinking a January thru hike as well (2016) and was wondering what you've encountered and how was the water then.

thanks!