Arizona · Hiking · Near Kachina Village

Little Elden Trail

Little Elden TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
14.6 mi
round trip
1,521 ft
climb
8,063 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jul, Sep
best months

Is Little Elden Trail 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.

Little Elden Trail is a hard hike of about 14.6 miles in the Flagstaff Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 7,140 feet to about 8,060 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,521 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Ft Valley show May highs around 71°F and October highs around 66°F, while July and August bring the most wet days of the year. The trail starts close to several other destinations. Tonteel and the Arizona Trail-Fort Valley are both about 0.1 mile away, and the Left Wall climbing area is about 1.2 miles off. For an overnight stay, Little Elden Springs Horsecamp is about 2.4 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Little Elden Springs Horsecamp

    Campground

    Campground · 2.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Mary's Cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Museum of Northern Arizona Research Center

    Museum

    On your way back · 4 mi

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

    Best time to visit Little Elden Trail

    Best months: May–July and September. 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

      46° / 17°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      48° / 20°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 24°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      62° / 27°

      5 wet

    5. May

      71° / 33°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 49°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 49°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 41°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 30°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 23°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 16°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ft Valley, AZ, 6.7 mi away at 7,347 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors