Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Trail

On June 30, 2013, the Yarnell Hill Fire  killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. It was one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires. To memorialize the horrific events of that day, the Arizona Public Service Foundation invested in the Hotshot Memorial Trail as a place to remember and heal. As you walk up the trail, there are memorials to each of the Hotshots. Every 600 feet, there are granite plaques for each of the Hotshots. 

The Hotshots Memorial Trail is about 90 miles from Phoenix so makes a great day trip. We happened across it on an overnight trip from the Phoenix area to Prescott.

The hike trail has steps cut into it to make it easier to navigate. We hiked up the front of the mountain up to the first mountain pass, and then turned around and came back down. The entire trail is almost three miles of hiking.

There is no charge for parking, but the small parking lot at the trail can be full. If that is the case then you park your car in the nearby city of Yarnell and take a bus to the hike. We were lucky and found a parking spot.

Hats Off, America, to Jared Welsh, the ranger assigned to the park. He was particularly helpful. He answered questions about the Hotshots Memorial Trail as well as about the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

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Map and Directions

Interested in fun things to do in Arizona? Check out our other Arizona stories.

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