The mythical Phoenix bird is capable of emerging from the ashes, unscathed and reborn anew, but a trail doesn’t undergo that kind of transformation naturally after a fire ravages the landscape and destroys salutary vegetation. A trail requires a team of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers to rehabilitate its health and usability.

In October 2020, the Sears Fire ravaged over 14,000 acres of the Tonto National Forest, including portions of the Bronco-Granite Mountain segment of the Maricopa Trail. You can learn more about the trail rebuilding efforts undertaken by Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation and a volunteer team of ACE (American Conservation Experience) crew members from Mare Czinar and Ernie Weber in Phoenix Magazine.