Arizona · Hiking

Lower Smasher

Lower SmasherPhoto: Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
3.0 mi
round trip
221 ft
climb
3,792 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jan–Apr, Oct–Nov
best months

Is Lower Smasher open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Red Rock Ranger District. It doesn't name Lower Smasher, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Red Rock Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Lower Smasher is an easy out-and-back hike in Arizona's Coconino National Forest, within the Red Rock Ranger District. The route is about 3 miles long, with a low point of 3,568 feet and a high of 3,792 feet. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Tuzigoot weather station, at a similar elevation, put April highs around 79°F and October highs around 83°F. Midsummer highs there average near 100°F. Several other hikes start within a couple of miles, including Thumper, Bones and the Tuzi Marsh Overlook Trail. For an overnight stay, Mingus Mountain Campground is about 9 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jan–Apr, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Lower Smasher

    Best months: January–April and October–November. 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

      61° / 30°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      65° / 33°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      71° / 38°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      79° / 43°

      3 wet

    5. May

      88° / 51°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      99° / 59°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      101° / 67°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      98° / 66°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      93° / 58°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      83° / 47°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      71° / 36°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      60° / 29°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuzigoot, AZ, 2.2 mi away at 3,470 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Verde River Greenway trailPhoto: jasonwoodhead23, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Verde River Greenway trail

~4 min drive

0.33-mile out-and-back trail on the Verde River Greenway in Arizona.

SOB CANYONPhoto: Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

SOB CANYON

~6 min drive

13.6-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 3,426 ft gain and 4,690 ft max elevation.

Parsons #122Photo: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Parsons #122

~8 min drive

7.32-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 99 ft gain.

TUZI Tavasci Marsh TrailPhoto: jasonwoodhead23, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

TUZI Tavasci Marsh Trail

~4 min drive

1.08-mile loop in Arizona with 158 ft gain and 160 ft loss.

PackardPhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Packard

~9 min drive

10.80-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,270 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Thumper

~4 min drive

Thumper is a 4.40-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 36 feet of elevation gain.

Mesa TrailPhoto: jasonwoodhead23, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mesa Trail

~5 min drive

1.1-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 129 ft elevation gain

R.R. DrawPhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

R.R. Draw

~12 min drive

6.53-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 770 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Bill Ensign

~6 min drive

3.53-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 12 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

TUZI Old Dairy Trail Road

~3 min drive

0.37-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 29 ft of elevation gain.