Advice needed!!! Indiana girl hiking across the whole state.

[Sybillahikesarizona]

I'm having trouble finding trails that will get me all the way across the state. My destination is Taos, New Mexico. I'd really like to see Flagstaff, the grand canyon and Phoenix along the way as well. I dont mind connecting with buses if neccesary, I'd rather not spend the money though. I've never been to Arizona and I've never really planned a backpacking trip either. I'm planning on hiking from late September to November
So my questions are:
1. Are there enough trails to hike all the way across the state like this? If so which trails do you suggest?
2. Are there enough camping spots and places to get water?
3. Any other places I need to see along the way?
4. Will I die of a heat stroke if I start in September? What is the weather usually like in the fall?
5. Anything I should I know about hiking in Arizona? I'm from Indiana, I dont know that first thing about Arizona, just that I want to see it.
6. Is hitchhiking in Arizona any more dangerous than any other place? I've heard that the midwest and texas are places to avoid if hitchhiking but ive never heard what arizona is like.

Thanks for reading!

[te_wa]

start at Utah border and hike the Arizona Trail until you reach the Grand Enchantment trail that will take you all the way to Albuquerque. (late) September is a great time to start and that will put you down in the lower deserts by the last part of October.. a little warm but on the plus side, just beyond the thunderstorm season so water will be (hopefully) replinished in the drainages along your trek.
Being from Indiana, youre in for a great surprise as we are considered one of the Mountain States. Check out the Arizona Trail website (search Google) and look into the Grand Enchantment trail which you will begin once in Rogers Canyon, AZ

[joebartels]

Option #1 From Flagstaff you start at Lockett Meadow. You hike the Inner Basin Trail up Humphreys and down the Humphreys Summit Trail. You head out off-trail across the forest to the north of Kendrick Mountain. You take the Pumkin Trail up and come down Kendrick Trail #22. Here you go off-trail through the forest to Garland Prairie. You drop into Sycamore Canyon and follow it down to the town of Cottonwood. You hike or shuttle through town to the Black Canyon Trail #114 and head up Mingus Mountain. And then you can hike a little more on top but you'll need to hitch a ride to Prescott. Any 18 year old female won't have any issues getting a ride in that area. However that would likely be the end of your life so get a taxi. From Prescott you hike up into the Bradshaws Mountains. I don't know these trails or I'd suggest. After the Bradshaws you lock in on Mt Peeley in the Mazatzal range. This requires crossing the New River life sucking mountains. From Peeley you follow the only cool section of the AZT (Arizona Trail) to Tucson. From here you take a bus to Silver City NM and follow the CDT up.

Option #2 Or you could simply hike the AZT, but it's mostly old roads and misses out on what Arizona really has to offer.

FYI: Option #1 does require you to be a billy goat! Te-wa's reply is easier to understand and actually doable.

[Sybillahikesarizona]

Thanks for the help! i'm excited now.

You're definitely right Te-wa about me being surprised. Down in Southern Indiana there are some hills but I'm from central Indiana and theres not so much as a lump in the ground in these parts. haha. I've done a couple short hiking trips in the Sierra's though so maybe I'll be okay.

[Sybillahikesarizona]

Does anyone know of a more direct route from Flagstaff to Albuquerque? Hiking all the way down to Phoenix might be a bit too ambitious.

[PaleoRob]

Most direct route from flag-ABQ is basically the I-40 corridor. Not exactly the best hiking, right alongside the interstate. Its possible, I guess, to hike south a ways past Flag, then bear east along the northern foothills of the White Mountains. You could move up or down in elevation, depending on the temperature. Not sure if there's much in the way of established trails in that area, headed that direction though.
Hit NM, cross Zuni, hop onto the Zuni-Acoma trail to Acoma, and then you're almost to ABQ. Might have to swing a ways south though to avoid some of the other reservations that may not be happy with hikers crossing.