California · Hiking · South Warner Wilderness

Tom Smith Cabin Trail

1.7 mi
round trip
458 ft
climb
7,358 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 2 h ago

Is Tom Smith Cabin Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Modoc National Forest.

  • Forest Fire Restrictions 2026 have been lifted as of 09/27/2026

    Agency alert covering Modoc National Forest · Order 09-26-01 · USFS · Modoc National Forest

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

Tom Smith Cabin Trail is a 1.7-mile out-and-back hike in the South Warner Wilderness, part of the Warner Mountain Ranger District of Modoc National Forest in California. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is accessible, with a natural surface that allows horses and is not open to bikes. The trail gains about 458 feet from its low point at 6,893 feet to the high point at 7,358 feet. It's a short, easy route, and the forest service's accessibility status marks it as accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs in the upper 70s with only about three wet days a month, while winter highs sit around 35 degrees and bring roughly 12 wet days. The station sits about 850 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Upper Cottonwood Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Owl Creek Trail lies about 2 miles off. For an overnight stay, Pepperdine campground is about 3.5 miles away and Soup Springs is about 7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Tom Smith Cabin Trail

    Best months: May–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

      35° / 22°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 20°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 23°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 27°

      12 wet

    5. May

      58° / 34°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      68° / 41°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 48°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 47°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 42°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 32°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 25°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 20°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Denio 52 Wsw, NV, 43 mi away at 6,500 ft. The station sits about 900 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.