HomeTrailsArizona Trail vs Chief Pontiac Trail Conventional Hike

Arizona Trail vs Chief Pontiac Trail Conventional Hike

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Units
Arizona Trail Chief Pontiac Trail Conventional Hike
Distance 767 mi1,234 km 16 mi26 km
Elevation gain 36,148 ft11,018 m 482 ft147 m
Typical duration 49 days 2 days
Difficulty
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National Regional
Country United States United States
Best time to hike Best from December to December Best from September to October
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

Arizona Trail vs Chief Pontiac Trail Conventional Hike: which should you hike?

At 767 mi1,234 km, Arizona Trail is the longer route — roughly 750 mi1,208 km more than Chief Pontiac Trail Conventional Hike (16 mi26 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Chief Pontiac Trail Conventional Hike is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.