Granite Mountain Hotshots
Arizona State Parks
Two years after the first meeting of the Yarnell Hill Memorial Site Board, and thanks to a generous donation from the Arizona Public Service Foundation, the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park is nearly ready to open to the public.
“The families and the communities of Prescott and Yarnell have worked hand-in-hand with the state to develop the Park,” said Sue Black, Executive Director of Arizona State Parks. “We truly want the memorial to be a place for healing and to honor the lives and legacy of 19 hotshots.”
Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Park, AZ opens
WHEN: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
WHERE: The Park is located two miles south of Yarnell on State Route 89.
PARKING: A Park-N-Ride is available in Yarnell at 116671 Shrine Dr., Yarnell, AZ and shuttle service will be available to transport visitors to the trailhead from 7a.m. to 4p.m. on November 30 - December 4, 2016. The trailhead has a small parking lot with limited space. Please carpool if possible.
HIKERS: The trail is seven miles round-trip, please dress appropriately, bring adequate water, food and plan for a four hour plus round-trip hike. There is no access to drinking water along the trail. Those making the seven-mile hike should begin before 12p.m. and carry a flashlight in the event hiking out after dark becomes necessary.
TRAIL DESCRIPTION: From the trailhead, the Hotshots Trail is a 2.85 mile path up to the Observation Deck. Every 600 feet, 19 granite plaques set into rocks share a photo and a story of each fallen Hotshot. Additional interpretive signage provides information about wildland firefighting.
From the Observation Deck, you can see the Fatality Site 400' below and the Town of Yarnell to the east. Additional interpretive signage outlines the tragic events of the Yarnell Hill Fire. A Tribute Wall will be available to leave stickers, patches and other mementos in honor of the sacrifice the Granite Mountain Hotshots made to protect our community.
The 3/4-mile Journey Trails 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 gabions, one for each Hotshot, are united by chains representing their eternal team. A path surrounds the gabions and a 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.
INFO: Details on shuttle service, locations and hours will be available at http://www.granitemountainhotshotsmemorial.org/news-and-events.