Arizona · Hiking · Near Kachina Village

Swell

SwellPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
3.0 mi
round trip
357 ft
climb
8,298 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jul, Sep
best months

Is Swell 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.

Swell is an easy hike of about 3 miles in the Flagstaff Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is natural-surfaced and not accessible, and it rises about 360 feet from a low point of 7,932 feet to a high of 8,298 feet on an out-and-back route. 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, about 11 to 13 a month. Lunar Tide is a hike just 0.1 mile away, and the Schultz Loop Trail and Rusty Pipe mountain biking routes are within half a mile. Climbers can find Left Wall about a mile off.

Around this trail

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

    Little Elden Springs Horsecamp

    Campground

    Campground · 3.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    On your way back · 4 mi
  • If it rains

    Museum of Northern Arizona Research Center

    Museum

    On your way back · 3 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 Swell

    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, 5.9 mi away at 7,347 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lunar TidePhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Lunar Tide

Next door

Lunar Tide is a 2.42-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 289 feet of elevation gain.

BroadsidePhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Broadside

Next door

6.60-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 690 ft of elevation gain.

Ricochet TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Ricochet Trail

~2 min drive

2.48-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 678 ft elevation gain

Schultz Loop TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Schultz Loop Trail

Next door

0.62-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 52 ft of elevation gain

Schultz Creek TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Schultz Creek Trail

Next door

12.36-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 2,044 ft elevation gain

TaawaPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Taawa

~4 min drive

4.21-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,012 ft elevation gain.

AbalonePhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Abalone

~1 min drive

0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 24 ft of elevation gain.

Full SailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Full Sail

~1 min drive

6.08-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 742 ft of elevation gain.

Arizona Trail-Fort ValleyPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Arizona Trail-Fort Valley

~1 min drive

2.86-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 292 ft elevation gain.

Upper Hotshots TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Upper Hotshots Trail

~1 min drive

0.8-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 198 ft elevation gain