AB Young Trail: Oak Creek Canyon's Earn-the-View Rim Climb

5.4 miles round trip, hard, 2,000 feet of gain to the East Pocket Knob fire lookout at 7,196 feet. About 30 switchbacks on volcanic scree in the crux mile. No Red Rock Pass required. The quietest hard climb out of Oak Creek Canyon and the only Sedona-area trail that ends at a staffed fire lookout.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Visited April 2026 · Updated May 2026

Trail Stats

  • Distance5.4 mi RT
  • DifficultyHard
  • Elevation Gain~2,000 ft
  • Summit7,196 ft — East Pocket fire lookout
  • Parking~12 spots, fills before 8 AM (Apr-Oct)
  • Pass RequiredNo — free pullout
  • TrailheadBootlegger Campground, MM 383, AZ-89A
  • Time3.5-5 hours RT
The Lowdown Verdict: AB Young Trail is the hardest classic Oak Creek Canyon climb and the only Sedona-area hike that ends at a staffed fire lookout. For hikers who have already done Wilson Mountain and want a quieter rim climb with a different character, AB Young is the answer. The 30 switchbacks on volcanic scree from miles 0.4 to 1.2 are the defining crux; above them, the trail crosses old logging road and opens onto the rim for a flat 0.8-mile approach to the East Pocket Knob tower. If the flag is flying when you arrive, someone is home and the lookout is open to visitors. This is a genuine earn-the-view hike for hikers who want empty trail, real elevation, and a destination that rewards the effort.

Bootlegger Campground Trailhead: Access and Parking

The AB Young trailhead is at Bootlegger Campground on AZ-89A in Oak Creek Canyon, at mile marker 383, approximately 9 miles north of Sedona. The pullout is small—approximately 12 vehicles—and positioned on the west side of the highway. Bootlegger Campground itself is a small Coconino National Forest campground; the trail begins at the campground entrance. No Red Rock Pass is required here because this is a highway pullout, not a designated Forest Service fee site.

From April through October, the pullout fills before 8 AM on weekends and frequently before 7:30 AM during peak spring season. AZ-89A is a fast two-lane highway through Oak Creek Canyon; approaching and leaving the pullout requires care. There is no overflow parking nearby—if the pullout is full, you will need to return earlier another day. Do not park on the highway shoulder. The campground itself may have additional spots if sites are unoccupied, but these are technically reserved for campers.

Do not confuse AB Young Trail with Telephone Trail. Telephone Trail leads to a different lookout via an easier route from a different trailhead. AB Young is the more demanding route, climbs the steeper face, and ends at East Pocket specifically—a critical distinction since both trails summit the rim escarpment. The signed AB Young trailhead at Bootlegger Campground is the correct starting point.

The 30 Switchbacks: Volcanic Scree and the Crux Mile

The first 0.4 miles of AB Young Trail is a manageable canyon-floor approach through riparian vegetation at the base of the Oak Creek Canyon wall. Then the switchbacks begin. From mile 0.4 to mile 1.2, approximately 30 switchbacks climb the canyon wall through loose volcanic scree at a sustained steep grade. This 0.8-mile section gains the majority of the trail's elevation—roughly 1,400 feet in that distance. The scree is composed of loose angular volcanic rock that shifts underfoot, making traction unpredictable even in dry conditions.

From November through March, this section accumulates snow and ice that makes the already-loose scree genuinely dangerous. Microspikes are strongly recommended for any AB Young Trail visit from November through March—not full crampons, but microspikes with real bite. The switchback section is in shadow through much of the morning due to the canyon wall orientation, which means morning ice lingers longer here than on south-facing trails. Do not attempt the switchback section in winter without traction devices.

At the top of the switchbacks around mile 1.2, the trail intersects an old logging road. Cross the road and continue west toward the rim. The character changes completely at this point—the steep scree climb gives way to flat ponderosa pine forest on the rim plateau, and the remaining 0.8 miles to the East Pocket Knob lookout is pleasant and easy walking. Most hikers who have survived the switchbacks feel the rim section is a reward in itself before even reaching the tower.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

0.0–0.4 mi

Canyon Floor Approach

Riparian vegetation at Oak Creek Canyon floor. Relatively flat warm-up. Oak Creek canyon walls rise on both sides. Trail is shaded and cool. This is the calm before the switchbacks begin at mile 0.4.

0.4–1.2 mi

The 30 Switchbacks — Volcanic Scree Crux

Approximately 30 switchbacks on loose volcanic scree. ~1,400 ft of gain in 0.8 miles. Unstable footing. Microspikes required Nov-Mar. Canyon-shaded morning shadow delays ice melt. This is the defining challenge of the trail. Take deliberate steps; the scree shifts.

1.2 mi

Old Logging Road Crossing

Trail tops out of the switchbacks and crosses a flat old logging road. Cross the road and continue west toward the rim. Grade eases dramatically at this junction. The ponderosa pine rim environment begins here—temperature drops noticeably.

1.2–2.0 mi

Rim Plateau — Ponderosa Pine Walk

Flat 0.8-mile approach to East Pocket Knob through ponderosa pine forest on the West Fork rim. The hard climbing is done. Views begin to open as the tower comes into sight. Snow possible Nov-Mar on this section too. The lookout flag is visible from approximately 0.3 miles out.

2.7 mi

East Pocket Knob Lookout — 7,196 ft

Staffed fire lookout on the West Fork rim. 360-degree views across Mogollon Rim, Oak Creek Canyon, and San Francisco Peaks. If flag is flying, lookout is staffed and visitors may climb. One of only two staffed lookouts in Coconino NF. Return via same route.

The East Pocket Lookout and the Oak Creek Canyon Rim Context

East Pocket Knob is one of only two staffed fire lookouts in Coconino National Forest. When the flag flies at the tower—which is visible from a quarter mile away on the rim approach—a lookout is on duty. Visitors are welcome to climb the exterior stairs and see the cab interior if someone is home. The lookout staffers are typically experienced Coconino NF employees who can answer questions about the landscape, fire history, and canyon geology. This interaction is one of the most distinctive experiences available at the end of any hike in the Sedona area.

The summit provides 360-degree views: Oak Creek Canyon directly below and to the south, the Mogollon Rim plateau stretching east and west, and on clear days the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff prominent to the north. AB Young Trail and Wilson Mountain North Trail both summit the same Mogollon Rim escarpment from opposite directions. If you have done Wilson Mountain and want to approach the same geological feature from a completely different canyon—quieter trailhead, different climb character, unique lookout destination—AB Young is the logical next step.

For the broader Oak Creek Canyon hiking context, AB Young pairs naturally with West Fork Oak Creek Trail (easy, canyon floor, no elevation gain) as a two-day Oak Creek Canyon program: West Fork on day one for the riparian canyon experience, AB Young on day two for the rim climb. Sterling Pass Trail is the third Oak Creek Canyon hard hike and can round out a dedicated canyon trip. See our passes guide for pass and fee details across the area.

Guided Hiking Tours in Oak Creek Canyon

Viator lists guided hiking tours in the Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon area. A local guide on AB Young Trail can help manage the volcanic scree switchbacks safely, provide geological and ecological context for the canyon climb and rim transition, and explain the fire lookout system and its role in Coconino National Forest fire management.

Find Sedona Hiking Tours on Viator →

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Editorial note: Visited April 2026 by The Lowdown Guide editorial team. Switchback count and scree characterization sourced from on-site observation and Coconino National Forest trail data. East Pocket Knob staffing information confirmed with USFS current guidance. Lookout visitation protocol reflects standard Coconino NF staffed-lookout visitor policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is AB Young Trail in Oak Creek Canyon? +
AB Young Trail is rated hard. The trail is 5.4 miles round trip with 2,000 feet of elevation gain to the East Pocket Knob fire lookout at 7,196 feet. The crux is the switchback section from mile 0.4 to mile 1.2, where approximately 30 switchbacks climb through loose volcanic scree at a sustained steep grade. Above the switchbacks, the trail crosses a flat old logging road then continues 0.8 miles across the rim to the lookout. Most fit hikers take 3.5 to 5 hours round trip. Microspikes are needed from November through March on the scree sections.
Where is the AB Young trailhead in Oak Creek Canyon? +
The AB Young trailhead is at Bootlegger Campground on AZ-89A in Oak Creek Canyon, at mile marker 383, approximately 9 miles north of Sedona. The small pullout holds approximately 12 vehicles. It fills before 8 AM from April through October. No Red Rock Pass is required at this trailhead because it is a Coconino National Forest free pullout on AZ-89A, not a developed fee site. The trail begins on the west side of the highway at the campground entrance.
What is the East Pocket Knob fire lookout on AB Young Trail? +
East Pocket Knob is a staffed fire lookout tower at 7,196 feet on the West Fork rim of the Mogollon Rim escarpment above Oak Creek Canyon. It is one of only two staffed lookouts in Coconino National Forest. When the flag is flying at the tower, a lookout is on duty and visitors are welcome to climb the stairs and see the interior cab. The lookout offers 360-degree views across the Mogollon Rim, down into Oak Creek Canyon, and north toward the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff.
Is there snow on AB Young Trail in winter? +
Yes. The switchback section from miles 0.4 to 1.2 crosses loose volcanic scree that holds snow and ice from November through March. The scree is unstable in dry conditions and becomes genuinely dangerous when icy. Microspikes are strongly recommended for any visit from December through February. The rim section above the switchbacks can also hold snow well into spring. Check Coconino National Forest trail conditions before any winter or early spring AB Young Trail attempt.
How does AB Young Trail compare to Wilson Mountain? +
AB Young Trail and Wilson Mountain North Trail both summit the same Mogollon Rim escarpment from opposite directions. AB Young climbs from Oak Creek Canyon on the west side at Bootlegger Campground; Wilson Mountain climbs from the Midgley Bridge area on the south. AB Young is slightly shorter (5.4 miles RT vs 5.6 miles RT) but gains similar elevation (2,000 ft vs 2,300 ft) and is significantly quieter. The East Pocket fire lookout is AB Young's unique reward. Wilson Mountain has the higher summit at 7,122 feet and broader summit views. Both are hard full-day hikes.