Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park — Attraction in Wickenburg

I visited the Granite Mountain Hotshots memorial park on my way back to Phoenix from Flagstaff arriving at about 1pm. I had read a little about the experience so I was prepared for the hike out (more on that at the end). The parking area has information about the hotshots crew & each individual crew member as well as information about the trail. This is probably as far as many people make it into this park judging by the others that I saw come and go, which is absolutely fine. I met one person who stopped just to ring the bell located in the parking lot, telling me that he stops to do this every time he passes by. The experience of the hike into the Weaver Mountains out to the location where the hotshot made their final stand is both parts somber and peaceful. The trail starts immediately after a set of stairs from the parking lot, and located every 600 ft for the next two miles are plaques for each firefighter, 19 in total. At the end of two miles, you will reach the overlook, which looks down upon the sight where the hotshots passed away. For me, seeing this site, which is a ring of monuments surrounding the location of their final moments on earth, was a very emotional experience to say the least. There is a cross for the location where each of hotshots was recovered. The memorial is only another 0.7 miles down the hill from the overlook, but when I was about half way down, I stopped and felt that I was close enough. From the overlook down, there are displays detailing the story of how the hotshots ended up at this location and how they were overtaken by the fire, which puts the experience into perspective. One thing that shocked me was how close to the town of Yarnell the hotshots were; they were only 600 yards from the closest structure. After the long hike to the memorial, I was surprised that it was this close to the town. Regarding the hike itself, it would definitely be a challenge for the average person and should be taken seriously. Don’t get me wrong… anyone in decent shape should be able to do it, but it is not easy, especially if it is warm outside. It was 94 the day that I made the hike, but there was a steady wind that helped keep me cool. The first two miles is 100% uphill, no exaggeration. Most of this (about 1.75 miles) is fairly steady switchbacks on good quality trail, but the next quarter mile is steeper with some decent rocks to hike around/over. The total elevation gain is over 1200 ft, so you should be sure to have the right hiking gear and plenty of water. Given the remote location of this park in the desert, at times it feels as though you are very far from any civilization. The final half mile to the overlook is relatively flat, and the views from the top are absolute stunning. Then, the final descent to the site is another 0.7 miles and about 700 vertical feet. As I mentioned above, the end of the trail is so close to Yarnell that you might wonder why the park creators made the trail start in such a remote location. My thinking is that this process allows us to better understand, just slightly and very briefly, how difficult it is to be a hotshot moving through this unforgiving terrain. These men died doing what they loved, which is more than most of us can say. The fact that they met their end in the middle of nowhere protecting this tiny town made me feel sadness, but at the same time, happiness in knowing that there are still people like the Granite Mountain 19...

I stopped here on 10 October. The site has a small parking lot off of the main road. I didn't know this place existed until I watched the movie, Only the Brave. I noticed a couple of signs as I was approaching the site which asks that you to use the shuttle in Yarnell to get there rather than using your own vehicle. There are informational signs with descriptions of what had taken place. A park guide was there to greet visitors but only during regular hours. The actual memorial site is over 3 miles away and if you choose to do so, you will have to hike to get there. The trail is 7 miles round trip and they ask that you give yourself 4 + hours to complete the hike. Yes, you should take plenty of water, they say at least two 2 liter bottles of water, but I would suggest more. You will need a very good pair of hiking or walking shoes with good traction. I would strongly suggest you go in pairs, just to keep an eye on one another. At least one review said the trail is moderate. I would have to disagree. Out of a scale from 1-10 with 1 being the easiest I would give it a difficulty of 7+. I did not complete the trail due to the time frame I had. I made it to the third viewing bench. I do not consider myself a person who is in shape but I do like to go walking. For me the trail was fine up until the second viewing bench, but after that it became increasingly, slowly, but increasingly more difficult. You are continuously and slowly walking up a mountain. I would love to go back again but I would strongly advise that you try and accomplish the trail in the early to mid morning hours. Just about every person I encountered coming back, while heading in, looked exhausted, weary, and tired. I was informed that even some individuals who considered themselves in-shape, had some difficulty with the trail. As you walk the trail you encounter small plaques of each of the individuals that perished. I thought it was very moving. I remember the day I heard that 19 fire fighters had perished. It was a very sad day for all of us. I was informed that the trail was almost just as hard coming back down as it was going up. When I began my return trip I thought nothing of it but by the time I finished I could understand why. I would definitely recommend at least stopping by to...

This trail is teeming with wildlife! While embarking on the Granite Mountain HotShots Memorial Trail on a Wednesday, mid-April, 2019, my boyfriend and I came across several encounters within the hike that really made the trail feel alive, despite the tragedy and loss of life that occurred during the fire in 2013. The entrance to the park was extremely well-maintained; signage, sculptures, benches, parking lot, staircase, and educational information. Placards among the trail highlight the lives of the fallen firefighters. One can sense upon reading each story that family members truly loved and miss the brave men for whom the trail is named for. Small tokens of admirations for the fallen heroes can be found around each placard. Take the time to read each placard, you will learn a lot about the HotShots and what made them so special. Locals in this community can attest to how much of an impact the Granite Mountain HotShots had in the region. From the local Shell station cashier to the Trail Log, tips from other visitors were kindly shared. Even a bottle of (much needed) sunscreen is available for use. The Tribute Wall has mementos from departments, organizations, and people all over North America. Vibrant wildflowers in every color of the rainbow were abundant along the trail. I plucked a few of Mother Nature’s finest to bring home in remembrance of the day. Wildlife along the trail was bounteous! Mid-April in Arizona’s Weaver Mountains is a spectacular scene: We personally came eye-to-eye with several different species of reptiles, including collared lizards in many different sizes, colors, and varieties, an aggravated rattlesnake at the base of a stone step, and several hawks circling above and diving for food. This trail will have an impact on you: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Plan a day trip and take your time to experience and appreciate such a...