Arizona · Hiking

Y Bar

3.7 mi
round trip
1,070 ft
climb
5,253 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–May, Oct
best months

Is Y Bar open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Tonto National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Tonto National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Y Bar is a moderate hike of about 3.7 miles on the Tonto National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back with a one-way climb of about 1,070 feet, taking you from a low point of roughly 4,190 feet to a high of about 5,253 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Payson weather station show April highs around 72°F and October highs around 76°F, while July averages about 93°F and August brings the most wet days of the year. Several other hikes sit close by. Barnhardt is about half a mile away, Half Moon is about a mile off, and Deer Creek and Brody Seep are both within about 4 miles.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Oct

    Best time to visit Y Bar

    Best months: March–May and October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      56° / 26°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      58° / 28°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      65° / 32°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      72° / 36°

      3 wet

    5. May

      80° / 43°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 51°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 60°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 59°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 52°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      76° / 41°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      64° / 31°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      55° / 26°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Payson, AZ, 10.6 mi away at 4,850 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

DiamondPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Diamond

~28 min drive

Diamond is a 4.22-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 749 ft of elevation gain.

Fig SpringPhoto: Tanque Verde, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Fig Spring

~31 min drive

7.13-mile out-and-back trail to Fig Spring in Arizona with 336 ft of elevation gain.

Bolder TrailPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bolder Trail

~21 min drive

2.58-mile loop in Arizona with 325 ft elevation gain and loss.

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Rock Creek

~7 min drive

8.21-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 2,643 ft elevation gain.

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Half Moon

~2 min drive

8.28-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 415 ft elevation gain.

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Barnhardt

Next door

11.74-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,864 ft gain.

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Lost Trail #279

~14 min drive

0.84-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 710 ft elevation gain

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Arizona Trail

~18 min drive

A 15.23-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona that connects to Passage 42, ideal for a full-day hiking adventure.

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Shake Tree Trail # 44

~6 min drive

Shake Tree Trail #44 is an 11.63-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 322 feet of elevation gain.

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Deer Creek

~6 min drive

17.20-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 3,612 ft elevation gain.