Rustbucket Trail

Lower Smasher Trail is a short route at 1.5 miles, with grades of 8 to 10 percent, so it climbs steadily without going on for long. It is rated trail class 3, a more developed class than most paths nearby, which usually means a clearer and wider tread that is easier to follow. The route carries number 88 and is managed by the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest. Its length makes it workable as a quick outing or as a link to a longer day. Check with the ranger district for closures and current conditions before you go.

Raptor Hill Trail runs about 4.69 miles and carries the number 181. The surface is native material, which means dirt and rock rather than anything laid down. Grades sit around 5 to 8 percent, steady rather than steep. Trail class 3 describes a path that is easy to follow and holds up to regular use. The Coconino National Forest manages it through the Red Rock Ranger District. At that length, plan for a few hours and take water, a map and sun protection. Weather turns the tread slick and can change how long the route takes, so check conditions with the ranger district before you go.

Bones Trail is 6.05 miles long on native material, so the tread is dirt and rock rather than gravel or pavement. Grades run 5 to 8 percent, which is a steady pull rather than a sharp climb, but the length adds up. It is rated trail class 2, meaning a built path that stays rough in places. The route is numbered 180 and falls under the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest. Carry more water than you think you need, since there is no posted water along the way, and check with the ranger district for closures and current conditions before heading out.

Thumper Trail covers about 2.3 miles and is numbered 131. Its surface is native material, so dirt and rock rather than gravel or pavement. Grades run about 5 to 8 percent, a steady pull rather than a scramble. It is rated trail class 2, which means a simple path with few built features and less signing than a busier route. The Coconino National Forest manages it through the Red Rock Ranger District. Take a map, since a class 2 path can be faint in places. Water, sun protection and sturdy shoes matter on open ground. Check with the ranger district for closures before you set out.

Raptor Bones Connector Trail is short, about 0.18 miles, and it links other paths rather than going anywhere on its own. It carries the number 181B. The tread is native material, so dirt and rock underfoot. Grades run around 5 to 8 percent, which is gentle. Trail class 3 points to a clear, well defined path. The Coconino National Forest looks after it through the Red Rock Ranger District. Because this is a connector, look at a map of the whole loop before setting out so you know what it joins. Check with the ranger district for closures, and bring water even on a short walk.

Bones Trail is 6.05 miles long on native material, so the tread is dirt and rock rather than gravel or pavement. Grades run 5 to 8 percent, which is a steady pull rather than a sharp climb, but the length adds up. It is rated trail class 2, meaning a built path that stays rough in places. The route is numbered 180 and falls under the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest. Carry more water than you think you need, since there is no posted water along the way, and check with the ranger district for closures and current conditions before heading out.

Deadman Pocket Trail runs 5.2 miles through the Bradshaw Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, near Clarkdale. It is trail number 0117. The typical grade is 12 to 20 percent, which is the steep end of what we list anywhere in the area, so treat the distance as slower than it looks on paper. Native material underfoot, class 2. Hiking and horses are the allowed uses. Bicycles are not listed. Carry more water than you think you need for a climb this sustained, and check the forest for closures before heading out, because district conditions change with weather and fire.

Deadman Trail is short and steep. It covers 1.59 miles on native material, with grades in the 12 to 20 percent range, so the climbing is sustained for its length. The route is rated trail class 1, the roughest built class, meaning a faint and narrow tread in places where route finding matters. It is open to hiking, horseback riding and bicycles, and is numbered 29 under Kaibab National Forest. Sturdy footwear helps, and a trail map is worth carrying because a class 1 path can be easy to lose. Check with the forest for closures and conditions before you drive out.