| | -
| |  |
|
2 |
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 3.39 Miles |
319 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.39 Miles | 1 Hour 57 Mns | | 1.80 mph |
| 319 ft AEG | 4 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Two routes were recorded on May 31, 2025, one uphill from the trailhead on Diamond Drive that is closest to the north end of Boy Scout Trail and the other downhill from Ranch Trail #62 to the Diamond Trailhead. On the uphill route, the first half is shared by Turley Trail and crosses three gullies with some briefly steep sections. This portion is chaparral with junipers providing the main shade. Near the middle of the route, there is a mix of junipers and Ponderosas as the trail flattens out and parallels a road. After passing through a gate on the uphill route, the trail turns left to begin following a gully up to Ranch Trail #62. There are a couple more gates, the last of which had new posts and a new chain secured by a carabiner the same color as the chain. The carabiner was hard to spot when connected to the end of the chain, so on the return trip I left a few links hanging down from the carabiner to make it easier for the next hiker to spot.
The upper half of Boy Scout Trail is along, and sometimes in, the gully which several times has steep rocky sides (see photos). This portion of the trail is mostly under and among Ponderosa and piñon pines with quite a few gambel oaks. The upper half of the trail has many rocky sections that reduce its use by mountain bikers. On the downhill route, near the exit from the gully that the trail follows from the top, the trail reaches a road, but turns away to pass through a gate (waypointed on downhill route) to continue following the valley at the bottom of the gully. The downhill route includes a missed turn with waypoints for a switchback and a sign showing the correct route.
The terrain on the top half closest to Ranch Trail is enchanting with the combination of pines and rocky outcroppings. On May 31, 2025, there were a few golden columbines in bloom and, at several areas along a 0.2 mile stretch starting at the 0.53 mile waypoint on the downhill route, fragrant Arizona roses were in bloom (see photos). In the last 1.5 miles of the downhill route, first Thumb Butte comes into view then buildings and finally, Granite Mountain (see photo).
The official route describes accessing Boy Scout Trail from the Turley Trailhead which has a parking lot that can accommodate several vehicles, including horse trailers. While the Turley Trailhead is easier to find using Google Maps, I prefer parking on Diamond Drive to eliminate a half mile or so of the same chaparral scenery as the north half of Boy Scout Trail. On the map, Diamond Drive is in the shape of a "C." What I call the Diamond Trailhead is at the tip of the bottom part of the "C." As waypointed on the uphill route, there is a gate 0.1 mile from the Diamond Trailhead just before reaching the junction with Turley Trail. |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
oxeye daisies, Arizona roses, golden columbines, pygmy bluet and likely a claret cup cactus on a rock outcrop 30 yards from the trail |
|
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 3.21 Miles |
893 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.21 Miles | 1 Hour 58 Mns | | 1.67 mph |
| 893 ft AEG | 3 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Two routes were recorded on May 31, 2025, one uphill from the trailhead on Diamond Drive that is closest to the north end of Boy Scout Trail and the other downhill from Ranch Trail #62 to the Diamond Trailhead. On the uphill route, the first half is shared by Turley Trail and crosses three gullies with some briefly steep sections. This portion is chaparral with junipers providing the main shade. Near the middle of the route, there is a mix of junipers and Ponderosas as the trail flattens out and parallels a road. After passing through a gate on the uphill route, the trail turns left to begin following a gully up to Ranch Trail #62. There are a couple more gates, the last of which had new posts and a new chain secured by a carabiner the same color as the chain. The carabiner was hard to spot when connected to the end of the chain, so on the return trip I left a few links hanging down from the carabiner to make it easier for the next hiker to spot.
The upper half of Boy Scout Trail is along, and sometimes in, the gully which several times has steep rocky sides (see photos). This portion of the trail is mostly under and among Ponderosa and piñon pines with quite a few gambel oaks. The upper half of the trail has many rocky sections that reduce its use by mountain bikers. On the downhill route, near the exit from the gully that the trail follows from the top, the trail reaches a road, but turns away to pass through a gate (waypointed on downhill route) to continue following the valley at the bottom of the gully. The downhill route includes a missed turn with waypoints for a switchback and a sign showing the correct route.
The terrain on the top half closest to Ranch Trail is enchanting with the combination of pines and rocky outcroppings. On May 31, 2025, there were a few golden columbines in bloom and, at several areas along a 0.2 mile stretch starting at the 0.53 mile waypoint on the downhill route, fragrant Arizona roses were in bloom (see photos). In the last 1.5 miles of the downhill route, first Thumb Butte comes into view then buildings and finally, Granite Mountain (see photo).
The official route describes accessing Boy Scout Trail from the Turley Trailhead which has a parking lot that can accommodate several vehicles, including horse trailers. While the Turley Trailhead is easier to find using Google Maps, I prefer parking on Diamond Drive to eliminate a half mile or so of the same chaparral scenery as the north half of Boy Scout Trail. On the map, Diamond Drive is in the shape of a "C." What I call the Diamond Trailhead is at the tip of the bottom part of the "C." As waypointed on the uphill route, there is a gate 0.1 mile from the Diamond Trailhead just before reaching the junction with Turley Trail. |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
oxeye daisies, Arizona roses, golden columbines, b*st*rd toadflax, pygmy bluet and likely a claret cup cactus on a rock outcrop 30 yards from the trail |
|
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
