Granite Hot Shots Memorial

This hike honors 19 hotshot firefighters that were killed while trying to contain the Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013. The hike has stunning views and is a beautiful way to remember the wild land fire fighters who passed in service for their communities. The hike is 6.5 miles out and back and leads hikers to the spot where the firefighters passed where there is a tribute memorial. Hikers will also pass 19 memorial placards that remember each of the young men. The hike starts from the trailhead and immediately climbs via a series of long meandering switchbacks. The trail climbs roughly 1400ft in the mile and a half. The trail has mild markers as well as a halfway point. When hikers reach the halfway point the trail climbs for another quarter mile and then levels out. The next half mile the trail flattens out and ever so slightly descends. 2.5 miles from the trailhead is an operation point for hikers who don't want to make the decent to the fatality site, the observation point is a good place to turn around. At the observation point there is also a tribute wall where firefighters from across the country have brought their own departments patches to leave in support. For hikers continuing to the fatality site, they will descend over three quarter of a mile through a series of tight switchbacks. Once hikers get to the memorial they can spend as long as they would like to pay tribute to the firefighters. When they are ready to head back to the trailhead, they will leave the same way they came. The trail is well maintained however there are limited facilities at the trailhead. There is limited parking so hikers hoping to get a spot in the lot will need to arrive early. This is a beautiful hike for people to enjoy.