Visit Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park, Arizona

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Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park was dedicated in 2016 as a place to remember the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot Firefighters who were lost on June 30, 2013, while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. We invite you to hike the trail to better understand the experience of these men as well as to appreciate the beauty of the town of Yarnell and the surrounding areas. Hike the Hotshots Trail from the parking lot trailhead up to the overlook where you'll see sweeping views in every direction, and perhaps leave a memento on our rememberance wall. Or continue your hike down the Memorial Trail where you can pay your respects at the site where the Hotshots were recovered. The hike is approximately 3.5 miles long from the trailhead to the fatailty site for a full length of about 7 miles. Please bring adequate food and water. There is no access to drinking water along the trail. Those making the sevenmile hike should begin before 12p.m. and carry a flashlight in the event hiking out after dark becomes necessary. The park entrance is located two miles south of Yarnell on Highway 89 (White Spar). Seasonal Park Rangers are available at the trailhead with maps and information and temporary portable restrooms are also available. There are no trash facilities, so please pack out your trash. The trailhead has a small parking lot with limited spots. The parking lot includes 15 spots; please carpool to conserve space. The Hotshots Trail takes you through the Weaver Mountains and includes a 1,200 ft. elevation gain with a 5-8 percent grade. As you make your way, you will encounter 200+ stairs carved from the surrounding rock, interpretive signs, benches and 19 memorial plaques. From the trailhead, the 2.85-mile path will lead you up to the observation deck. Every 600 feet, 19 granite plaques set into rocks share a photo and a story of each fallen Hotshot. Four interpretive signs paired with memorial benches provides information about wildland firefighting. Once you reach the observation deck, you can see the fatality site 400’ below and the Town of Yarnell to the east. Additional interpretive signs here, outline the tragic events of the Yarnell Hill Fire. A Tribute Wall at the Observation Deck will soon be available to leave stickers, patches and other mementos in honor of the sacrifice the Granite Mountain Hotshots made to protect our community. Once at the observation deck, the 3/4-mile Journey Trail allows you to follow the last steps of the Hotshots down to the Fatality Site where they made their last stand. Encircling the fatality site, 19 gabion baskets, one for each Hotshot, are united by chains representing their eternal team. A short path surrounds the gabions and the nearby memorial flagpole. Please, take a moment to pay your respects, but remain outside of the gabion enclosure out of respect for the Hotshots and their families.

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