Nevada · Hiking

Smith Creek 1

7.6 mi
round trip
1,029 ft
climb
6,690 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Smith Creek 1 open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ely Ranger District. It doesn't name Smith Creek 1, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

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

Smith Creek 1 is a hard hike in the Ely Ranger District of Nevada's Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 7.6 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,029 feet, taking you from a low point of about 5,661 feet to a high of about 6,690 feet. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses, but not bikes. It is open year-round. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show May highs around 65°F and September highs around 73°F, with fewer wet days in both months than in winter. Several other hikes sit within a few miles, including Deep Canyon about 2.2 miles away, Horse Canyon about 2.6 miles away and Rye Grass Canyon about 3.3 miles away. Mt. Moriah is about 6 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Smith Creek 1

    Best months: April–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

      39° / 21°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      40° / 22°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      49° / 29°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 34°

      9 wet

    5. May

      65° / 41°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 52°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 60°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 59°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 51°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 38°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      39° / 20°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Baker 5 W, NV, 23.2 mi away at 6,617 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Osceola Ditch TrailheadPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Osceola Ditch Trailhead

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Osceola Ditch TrailPhoto: paulinkenbrandt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Osceola Ditch Trail

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5.23-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,375 ft elevation gain.

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Deep Canyon

~4 min drive

8.28-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 4,423 ft elevation gain.

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Big Canyon

~12 min drive

4.00-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,308 ft elevation gain.

Lower Lehman TrailPhoto: paulinkenbrandt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Lehman Trail

~40 min drive

0.54-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 233 ft of elevation gain.

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HORSE CANYON

~4 min drive

7.66-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 3,751 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Mount Moriah Trail

~13 min drive

1.8-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 974 ft gain and 9,686 ft max elevation.

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Rye Grass Canyon

~6 min drive

2.20-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 332 ft elevation gain.

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Horse Canyon Trail

~5 min drive

6.76-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 3,380 ft elevation gain.

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Negro Creek

~17 min drive

8.28-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,865 ft elevation gain.