Arizona · Hiking · Near Kachina Village

Howard

HowardPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
12.1 mi
round trip
380 ft
climb
7,266 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jul, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Howard open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Coconino National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Coconino National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Howard is a 12-mile out-and-back hike on the Forest Service's Coconino National Forest, in the Flagstaff Ranger District of Arizona. The trail rises about 380 feet from roughly 6,700 feet to about 7,266 feet, and it is rated hard. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Flagstaff Pulliam airport weather station run from highs around 68°F in May to 74°F in September, while July and August bring the most wet days. That station sits about 260 feet below the high point, so temperatures up high run a little cooler. The Kelly Trailhead is the parking for this hike. Ward, a hike just over 0.7 miles away, and East Kelly Canyon, a climbing area about a mile off, are the closest nearby options. Pine Flat Campground West lies about 4.6 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Pumphouse Wash (FR 237) Dispersed Camping Area

    Campground

    Campground · 2.6 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Mess Hall

    Museum

    Museum · 5.8 mi from Kachina Village

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jul, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Howard

    Best months: May–July and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      43° / 18°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      46° / 20°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      52° / 24°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 28°

      5 wet

    5. May

      68° / 35°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 43°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 51°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 51°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 43°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      64° / 32°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      52° / 23°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 17°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Flagstaff Pulliam Ap, AZ, 6.1 mi away at 7,003 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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