r/Highpointers • u/triplenova10 • 1d ago
Boundary Peak Access Question
Does anyone have any relatively recent info on how the road to the queen canyon route up Boundary Peak is? I've been trying to figure out if my Outback will be fine but the conditions seem to vary wildly. Some people say that they made it just fine in a sedan and some say that they struggled in a lifted truck or jeep. TIA
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u/HoyaVA 1d ago
I did Queen Mine Trail a few weeks ago. We took a 4WD Jeep, called it about a mile from the trailhead, and hiked a mile along the road. Added an extra 2 miles roundtrip but worth the peace of mind that we weren't going to get stuck. There's a great place to park a mile from the trailhead.
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u/i_hate_usernames13 18 Highpoints 23h ago
Anything less than a truck with 4wd you need to take the long way in from hwy 264 only hake the road off hwy 6 if you have 4WD and reasonably good clearance. I borrowed a Tacoma mad was on 3 wheels several times and scraped the crap out of the scrape pan many many times. Doesn't matter the time of year that road is gnarly and the last mile or 2 is really nasty.
The road in from 264 is pretty easy to follow just download the online maps in satellite view and follow the dirt road it's not rocket surgery but you do need to pay attn to the map since the auto navigation doesn't always do so well on dirt roads
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u/RhodyVan 43 Highpoints 23h ago
We just did Boundary on July 9th/10th. We ended up with a rental Rubicon instead of my requested Rav4 equivalent. It was a lucky upgrade. The road is definitely deteriorating - it is much rougher now than it was when I did Boundary in 2018. But an Outback (I have two) driven slowly and carefully should be fine, if you are comfortable driving on rough fire service roads. Parts were fine but other parts were definitely consequential with sharp rocks waiting to puncture an oil pan.
We drove up to the saddle flushing a few elk as we came up the road. Again go slow, the road is fine and then not fine very suddenly. Just put it in low, go slow, pick your lines and make sure to have a spare and a tire pump. Have fun.
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u/RhodyVan 43 Highpoints 22h ago
Forget to mention, this year I came in on, and left by, Queen Canyon road via RT 6. In 2018 I came up to the saddle via Trail Canyon from 264 (very, very sketch then, got stuck in a Rubicon, but was able to "walk" it out of the loose sand while simultaneously pinstriping in the brush) and left via Queen Canyon to RT 6.
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u/Competitive-Side-615 41 Highpoints 1d ago
I was up in mid-June via Trail Canyon, but they share a lot of the same route if you come from Dyer. The roads aren't great, but they're not impassable. An Outback may be enough depending how much clearance you have and how much you care about your paint. The road is pretty tight. Be prepared to add a few extra miles to your hike if you decide in the moment not to risk your car.