Arizona Trail Installs Highline Portal Sign at Pine
A new portal sign at the Pine Trailhead aims to make the 63-mile Highline Trail easier to find.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Hiking
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An Arizona Trail crew led by Shawn Redfield installed a new Highline Trail portal sign at the Pine Trailhead on Thursday, October 29. The National Forest Foundation purchased the sign materials with donations to the Highline Trail Restoration Initiative.
Why it matters
The sign is intended to help hikers locate the Highline Trail, which was designated a National Scenic Trail in 1972. Restoration of the existing 63 miles was completed last year, and an identical sign has been installed at the 260 Trailhead.
The Arizona Trail coincides with the Highline Trail for 20 miles from Pine to Washington Park, while the Highline Trail's existing length is 63 miles. Two miles of the planned five-mile Buckshot Trail loop from the Pine Trailhead are complete, and the timeline for the remainder has not been specified.
The players
Shawn Redfield
Shawn Redfield leads the Phoenix-based Arizona Trail crew that installed the portal sign at the Pine Trailhead.
National Forest Foundation
The National Forest Foundation is a nonprofit that purchased the sign materials using donations to the Highline Trail Restoration Initiative.
The details
The Arizona Trail sign is centered beneath the new Highline portal sign, which was installed in Pine. An identical sign was placed at the 260 Trailhead, the other end of the Highline Trail, and efforts are underway to build and complete hiking and mountain biking loops below the trail.
Timeline
Thursday, October 29, 2026: Portal sign installed at the Pine Trailhead.
Last year (2025): Restoration of the existing 63 miles of the Highline Trail was completed.
Past 19 months: Rim Country Trail Fund collaborated on $3.4 million in grants.
Trail History
The Highline Trail was designated a National Scenic Trail in 1972, and the new portal sign builds on that federal recognition by improving navigation along the route. The 63 miles of the trail restored last year reflect a continuing effort to bring the route back into usable condition for hikers.
Hikers heading to the Highline Trail can now more easily locate the route from the Pine Trailhead and the 260 Trailhead. The shared 20-mile section with the Arizona Trail may be useful for planning multi-day trips between Pine and Washington Park.
The takeaway
Hikers planning trips on the Highline Trail can use the new portal signs at both trailheads to orient themselves. Checking current trail conditions before heading out is advisable, since loops and connections are still being built.
What happens next
Efforts are underway to build and complete hiking and mountain biking loops below the Highline Trail, including the five-mile Buckshot Trail loop from the Pine Trailhead, though no completion dates were given.
Further reading
Explore more about hiking trails across Arizona.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Paysonroundup.
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