AB Young Trail #100
Reviews
Exposed switchbacks. Shade cover all the way to fire lookout. Lovely wildflowers. Uncrowded trail. Trekking poles helpful on way down
Hiked from oak creek up to the lookout tower and back. Expect a very chossy steep trail and you'll be prepared, much easier going up then down. Great views and an overcast day is your friend as the trail is very exposed.
Another classic hike in Oak Creek Canyon. Initially a very steady climb through whole areas of fire damage but which has opened up the views. The fire tower is posted and closed . Fantastic scenery
The parking at bootlegger picnic area is limited. I recommend to get there early. Crossing the creek is the first challenge. you will find the tral sign at the other side of the creek. The trail is on good condition, steep, plenty of switchbacks but the views are worthy.
This was my 3rd time hiking this trail. The only tricky part is finding your way across the creek. There’s little signs. Having trekking poles is helpful. I’m naturally good at crossing creeks since I grew up hiking all over oak creek. It’s a steep trail up but lots of fun. Great exercise and great views. Going all the way to the fire lookout was cool. I saw some deer. I’ll use this hike for staying in good hiking shape. Close enough to Flagstaff
This was my second time on this trail, (2/22/25) and honestly I just wanted to get up on top of the Rim, and I did . The view is worth it. The devastation wrought by the Slide fire of 2014 you see on the way up, but once you get over the top you begin to understand how damaging it was to Oak Creek Canyon. It is a real gasser though to get that far. If you are interested in getting in condition for hiking Grand Canyon ABY is a good place to start. Like most of the trails that are near the basalt and cinder cap covering the Kaibab Limestone in Coconino National Forest, you have to deal with a lot of the scree on the trails. On ABY there is a rock slide that bisects many of the switchbacks. Of note is the beginning, because you have to find your way across Oak Creek to access the trail itself. Be mindful that when you descend down a stairway from the parking lot look for the sign directing to AB Young, but stay left of the information board to reach the best options for rock hopping across.. and if you fall in like I did, just get over it and keep going. On the other side of the creek you should notice a sign for the trail and there begins the first segment… going . How long it takes depends on you.
It doesn't tell you how to get across oak creek!
definitely gets your heart rate up & incredible views from the top of the canyon! Jump in the creek afterwards to cool off! :D
Crossing the creek a little dicey,but doable. Start among brush, but once you hit the switchbacks you get views. It's the same view all the way up, just higher. Good workout. Go past top of escarpment through the woods for good views up onto the Mogollon rim to Flagstaff and views of the peaks. Trail is in the sun,so warm, but chilly windy at the top. Trail is dusty with small rolling rocks and areas of narrowing. My hiking pole was nice to have.
Tough trail but it was perfect hiking conditions today! Gorgeous views. You MUST stay on the trail and be prepared for the early winter sunsets! Bring lots of water!
Nice trail. There is a creek crossing at the start. Take your time to find the best way across. The trail is easy to follow. It goes straight up for two miles but it’s not technical - just a climb. We ate lunch on the rocks very close to end of trail. Beautiful views up there. We only saw one other person the entire time on the trail.
We started at Junipine Resort where we stayed so that is the route you see. Thus was an amazing, very varied trail. Forest, rushing creek, cactus, rock formations, desert. It is hard for sure. It is a long steep climb! The views just got better and better making it will worth it until the end. The fire tower is in the forest. There are no views there. Skip the last half mile!
7 miles total if you go all the way to the end. There are 15 creeks to cross. A couple are super easy. The others require some balance. Most of the trail is flat but you do have to navigate some rocks/boulders. Def crowded, especially first half. But worth it !!
Note that the 5 stars is for going to the end of this hike then walking about 4.5 miles further on forest roads to get to the Jenga Rock, or what AllTrails has marked as the End of the World. The hike is about 14 miles round trip this way.
Cool trail, stream at the trailhead is flowing plenty of water.
Great short hike, lots of zigzag and beautiful overlooks at each one of the turnarounds! Darn forgot to turn resume on at one point and we actually did about 1100 feet at the end about halfway to the top. Gorgeous.
I hiked AB young to Edge of the world to see jenga rock. Such a beautiful day!
This trail is great. It gets a little long towards the top. If you go by the TP towards the top, there’s a great rock to take pictures. Also crossing the river can be a little tricky to get to the trail without getting wet plan on taking your shoes off to get across, park in the campground parking lot. It is five dollars trail is a little overgrown but marked well enough you can get where you need to.
Trail is in excellent shape. Crossing Oak Creek is not so obvious but look for the signs on the trees. We did this June 6th during a heat wave. Started at 4:45 am and headed back down before 8: am. Still, it was deadly hot and full sun exposure. Recommend waiting until the monsoon starts or fall before attempting. If you do attempt, be kind to your dogs, leave them at home.
This is not an easy trail, but not impossible either. Best to go in cool weather or very early, as I did on this last day of May. I was on the trail at 6:15am. Temperature was 55° F when I started; much warmer when I finished. The cool creek water felt great on my hot feet at the end of the hike. I covered 8 miles in total due to some exploration beyond the East Pocket Lookout Tower.
As of May 9th - Trail is nonexistent… directions way off. Very overgrown & downed trees. Experienced hiker here and couldn’t find the path. Stream is nice but very rocky so be careful. Parking is available but is a daily fee of ~ $5 or free to park pass holders. Lots of better spots in the area. Avoid this one.
Great trail a little rocky very steep going up but the trail is well defined so as long as you stay on the trail anybody should be able to do it. Just keep in mind. It’s 1000 feet per mile up.
Very exposed trail with little to no shade, so bring lots of water and plan to go early or late in the day. Gorgeous views, quiet trail, worth the effort!
It’s a private road from Junipine so you can only do this route if staying at the resort, otherwise you start at the “normal” trailhead. The creek crossing is a bridge from Junipine. The trail is definitely steep but not as precipitous as some reviews let on, watch your step and there’s not much chance of falling any further than the trail you’re standing on. Hiked on a sunny morning in April and the trail wasn’t overgrown and easy to follow. At the top of the switchbacks you think you’ve summitted but there is still 1/6th of the vertical ascent to go. However the trail changes from rocky steepness to more gentle earth track so is a nice change and the relative shelter from the woods a relief from the sun. The tower at the end isn’t much of a payoff apart from finishing the climb.
Snowy at the top mid-March! The hike stats aren’t loading right- it took us 4.5 hours and 2000ft elevation gain.
Hit the trail
Frequently asked questions
How to get to AB Young Trail #100?
What is the expected weather this week for AB Young Trail #100?
- Mon, June 9 - 99 degrees/clear
- Tue, June 10 - 98 degrees/clear
- Wed, June 11 - 100 degrees/clear
- Thu, June 12 - 97 degrees/clear
- Fri, June 13 - 94 degrees/clear