The Arizona Trail: An 850-Mile Mountain Bike Exploration of Climate Change
Along the 850-mile Arizona Trail, which spans the length of the state from Utah to Mexico, diverse ecosystems showcase how climate change is actively altering life as we know it across the Southwest.
During fall 2025, The Arizona Republic newspaper’s climate reporter and award winning journalist, Joan Meiners, spent seven weeks traveling the full trail on her mountain bike to witness these threats, document their impacts, and consult with experts on solutions.
Rich with photos and video from the journey as well as scientific expertise and cultural context, this presentation takes audiences through the state’s biggest environmental challenges and opportunities, mile by mile. From the northern forests torched by a massive fire that closed parts of Grand Canyon National Park in 2025 to the humanitarian urgency for answers illuminated at the border with Mexico – Joan Meiners’ trail journey is a scenic and dynamic window into some of Arizona’s most pressing problems, told from the frontlines of journalistic exploration through literal living landscapes.
In celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary, Chandler Library is hosting a lecture series, Arizona's Living Landscapes, that explores the state's natural environment and its relationship to our history, culture, and lived experiences. This series is supported by the Arizona Humanities and Friends of Chandler Public Library.