The Highline Trail stretches over 60 scenic miles, offering breathtaking views of open vistas, brushy hills of manzanita, and stands of ponderosa pine just below the dramatic Mogollon Rim which defines the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau.
Over the years, the trail has faced challenges from erosion and fire. Its picturesque route along the Mogollon Rim crosses numerous canyons and drainages, often on steep slopes, leading to erosion, ruts, and safety issues for visitors, as well as significant impacts on the watershed. Major reroutes were needed to create a more sustainable trail.
The NFF and the Tonto National Forest came together alongside other community partners to launch the Highline Trail Restoration Initiative in 2020. Through this collaboration, partners worked to assess and implement the proposed trail maintenance, rerouting, and rehabilitation along the entire 60-plus miles of trail. The NFF is working with the Forest and partners to secure ongoing funding, generate excitement, and encourage more people to explore and enjoy this amazing trail.
