Arizona · Hiking

Thumper

4.4 mi
round trip
36 ft
climb
3,881 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jan–Apr, Oct–Nov
best months

Is Thumper open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Red Rock Ranger District. It doesn't name Thumper, 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.

Thumper is a 4.4-mile out-and-back hike in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 36 feet, and its natural surface makes it a straightforward walk rather than a technical climb. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Tuzigoot weather station show April highs around 79°F and October highs around 83°F, while July averages climb to about 101°F. Several other hikes sit close by, including Bones at 0.7 miles and Rustbucket at 1.4 miles. The Bill Ensign Trail is about 1.6 miles away, and Raptor Hill is about 1.8 miles away. For an overnight stay, Mingus Mountain Campground is roughly 9.5 miles from the trail.

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 Thumper

    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, 1.9 mi away at 3,470 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

TUZI Tavasci Marsh Trail

~3 min drive

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

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

Parsons #122

~11 min drive

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

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

Packard

~12 min drive

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

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

Verde River Greenway trail

~3 min drive

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

HIKE

Side Oats Loop

~10 min drive

4.03-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 76 ft of elevation gain.

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

SOB CANYON

~9 min drive

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

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

Mesa Trail

~4 min drive

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

HIKE

Blowout Canyon #551

~10 min drive

6.18-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,804 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Raptor Hill

~3 min drive

9.38-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 868 ft elevation gain.

Lower SmasherPhoto: Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Smasher

~4 min drive

2.99-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 221 ft elevation gain.