If you want to hike, camp, ride, or otherwise recreate on Arizona state trust land, you need an Arizona State Land permit before you go. The Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) sells recreation permits online for $15 for an individual or $20 for a family, and each one is good for a year from the purchase date.1Arizona State Land Department. State Trust Land Recreation Permit There is no free-access window and no grace period for first-time visitors.
Trust land is not the same as a National Forest or BLM land. The ASLD manages roughly 9.2 million acres held in a perpetual trust for public schools and other beneficiaries, and every use of that land is expected to generate revenue for the trust. That is why even casual hiking requires a paid permit.2Arizona State Land Department. History of Arizona State Trust Land
Who Needs a Permit
Anyone entering state trust land to recreate needs an ASLD recreation permit. That covers hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, birdwatchers, photographers, picnickers, and campers.3Arizona State Land Department. Frequently Asked Questions
The one meaningful exception is for hunters and anglers. If you hold a valid Arizona hunting or fishing license and are actively pursuing game or fish, you do not need a separate recreation permit.1Arizona State Land Department. State Trust Land Recreation Permit “Actively pursuing” is the operative language. A hunting license does not cover a day of hiking or sightseeing on trust land; for that you still need the recreation permit.
Trust parcels sit scattered across all 15 counties, mixed in with federal and private land, and boundaries aren’t always signed. The ASLD’s free online Parcel Viewer shows the location and status of every trust parcel in the state, which is worth checking before any trip.4Arizona State Land Department. ASLD’s Parcel Viewer
How to Buy a Recreation Permit and What It Costs
Permits are sold through the ASLD’s online portal. You read the terms, pick a permit type, and pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Debit and e-check are free; credit cards carry a processing fee of $2.00 or 2.2% of the total, whichever is greater.1Arizona State Land Department. State Trust Land Recreation Permit
Three permit types are sold directly online:
- Individual Permit, $15: one person, valid one year from purchase.
- Family Permit, $20: two adults plus all children under 18 living in the same household, valid one year.
- Small Group Permit, $15: up to 19 named people for a single gathering, valid only until five days after the event date.3Arizona State Land Department. Frequently Asked Questions
For a household that visits trust land more than once a year, the Family Permit is the obvious choice. It costs only $5 more than an Individual Permit and covers everyone under one roof.
What the Permit Allows
A recreation permit covers geocaching, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, bicycling, photography, sightseeing, and birdwatching. Drones are allowed too, as long as you follow applicable FAA, state, and local rules.3Arizona State Land Department. Frequently Asked Questions
Overnight camping is allowed but capped at 14 cumulative days per calendar year, and your campsite must sit at least a quarter mile from any livestock or wildlife water source, including stock tanks and catchments.5Arizona State Land Department. Recreational Permits Terms and Conditions
Rules That Trip People Up
The permit’s terms and conditions are legally binding, and breaking any of them voids your permit on the spot.5Arizona State Land Department. Recreational Permits Terms and Conditions A few rules catch visitors off guard:
Stay on Existing Roads
Motorized travel is restricted to existing roads and trails. A single set of tire tracks does not count as a road or trail, so you can’t follow old ruts into the backcountry. Recreational motor vehicles also can’t operate within a quarter mile of any building, paved road, or stock tank.5Arizona State Land Department. Recreational Permits Terms and Conditions
No Target Shooting, No Fireworks
Target shooting is prohibited year-round on state trust land, and so are fireworks. Licensed hunting during a lawful hunt is a separate activity and is not affected by this ban.6Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Fire Restrictions
Leave Rocks, Plants, and Wood Where They Are
You cannot remove rocks, minerals, fossils, plants, firewood, or any other natural product from trust land. The state’s trespass statute specifically covers extracting minerals, earth, rock, and fossils, and cutting or carrying away timber.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 37-501 – Trespass on State Lands; Classification
Respect Gates, Livestock, and Ranch Infrastructure
Most rural trust land is leased for grazing. Leave every gate exactly as you found it, open or closed. Don’t harass livestock or wildlife, and don’t damage or remove windmills, fences, corrals, or stock tanks.5Arizona State Land Department. Recreational Permits Terms and Conditions The grazing lessee was there first and has a legal right to uninterrupted operations.
Fire, Waste, and Trash
Campfires must be fully extinguished, and you have to comply with any fire restrictions issued by the Arizona State Forester. Human waste goes in a portable toilet or a slit trench covered to ground level before you break camp. All trash leaves with you.5Arizona State Land Department. Recreational Permits Terms and Conditions
Fire Closures Can Override Your Permit
Arizona’s fire season can shut down access to state trust land entirely. The Department of Forestry and Fire Management uses three escalating levels: Stage I (limited restrictions), Stage II (broader prohibitions), and full closure. During a closure, no public access is allowed on state-owned and managed lands until the restriction is lifted.6Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Fire Restrictions
Closures typically hit from late May through July, when drought and heat peak, but they can happen anytime fire danger warrants. Your recreation permit explicitly requires you to obey closures issued by the State Land Commissioner.5Arizona State Land Department. Recreational Permits Terms and Conditions Check DFFM before any summer trip. A valid permit does not let you onto a closed parcel.
What Happens If You Don’t Get a Permit
Entering state trust land without a permit, or violating your permit’s conditions, can result in criminal trespass charges. Under Arizona law, trespass on state lands is a Class 2 misdemeanor.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 37-501 – Trespass on State Lands; Classification8Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 13-707 – Misdemeanors; Sentencing9Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 13-802 – Fines for Misdemeanors
The statute reaches beyond just walking on without permission. It also covers cutting or removing timber, extracting minerals or fossils, damaging fences or buildings, and negligently starting or exposing land to fire.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 37-501 – Trespass on State Lands; Classification For a $15 permit, the math on compliance is simple.
When You Need More Than a Standard Permit
Standard recreation permits top out at 19 people. Once your group hits 20 or more, or the activity is competitive or commercial, you need something different.
For non-commercial gatherings of 20 or more people, the ASLD issues a Large Group Recreational Permit. You can’t buy it through the standard online portal. You submit a public inquiry through the ASLD, and staff follow up with requirements and pricing.1Arizona State Land Department. State Trust Land Recreation Permit
Commercial activities, guided tours, commercial filming, and competitive events all require a Special Use Permit. The non-refundable application fee is $300.10Arizona State Land Department. Applications and Permits Review can take up to 90 days, and you should expect to be asked for liability insurance and additional fees on top of the application cost.3Arizona State Land Department. Frequently Asked Questions If you’re organizing a commercial shoot or a public race, start the application at least four months before your target date.