Boulder Bypass

4/5 (6 reviews)
Young, Arizona (Gila County)
Last Updated: 07/07/2021

Trail Information

Highlights

Young, Arizona is one of those isolated towns in the mountains that time has almost forgotten. The region is scattered with wonderful easy 4x4 trails that may hold hidden secrets. This particular by-pass trail from Haigler to Young, allows you to avoid the pavement through town but also catch a glimpse of some very unique and massively large boulders. They seem to have fallen out of the sky and landed in this small area. You can park or camp nearby to explore some of these large anomalies. Boulder Bypass is a locals shortcut to get into Young without having to travel on Hwy. 288. While the trail may not be challenging, it's a great location for a remote camping experience while having access to Young and the Haigler Creek area.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4/5 (6)
Official Crew
67750
Open
Visited: 07/07/2021

Arizona National Forests and State Lands are back open for travel. There are still some very important fire restrictions in place. These restrictions can often change by specific areas.
Official Crew
67750
Temporary Closure
Visited: 06/25/2021

Tonto National Forest officials will close the state’s largest national forest due to ongoing extreme fire danger beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 25. The forest is implementing this forest closure as a precaution to protect the health and safety of the public, employees and firefighters by reducing the risk of human-caused fires. No one is allowed in the closure area, including Forest Service personnel, unless they are responding to a wildfire or other emergency or patrolling to ensure enforcement of the closure. The order shall remain in effect until July 31, 2021 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first. Residents or businesses using roads in the restricted area to the extent necessary to access their private property are exempt.
15500
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 04/23/2021

This was the last trail we ran after spending three days in the Payson/Heber area running some of the newer trails posted by Trails Offroad. It was our second best favorite trail for the trip. Loved the peace and quiet around the boulder area ... they are truly massive.
Official Crew
67750
Temporary Closure
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/03/2020

Tonto National Forest has been temporarily closed because of extreme fire conditions. This is a link to the official closure notice https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD759503
Open
Rated 3/5
Visited: 04/02/2020

We visited this trail mainly to spend some more time off-road while making our way towards the Haigler Creek/ Colcord falls area. We came in from the South side of the trail and honestly I didn't pay attention to what side the boulders were closest to. The area has some pretty steep ravines that make it interesting and break up the monotony of a bumpy ranch road. I didn't have high expectations of the boulders but when we finally found them we were pleasantly surprised at how cool the spot was. Took a little lunch break in the shade, climbed around like kids at a jungle gym, and then hit the trail again. Overall it's worth the time to check it out if you're in the area. If you just want to see the boulders then I recommend coming in from FR 200 (the North side) since they are closer to that side and the road is pretty easy.

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