At 7 am, we will meet at the Home Depot 13760 W Bell Rd Surprise 85374 to group up & car pool. We will depart the Home Depot at 7:30 am SHARP!
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 provide 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.
Seasonal Park Rangers are available at the trailhead with maps and information and temporary portable restrooms are 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.
This one-way trail is seven miles round-trip; you must hike up and back to the parking area. Plan on approximately 5 hours for the hike; bring adequate water, snacks, sunscreen, hat and good shoes for hiking. There is no access to drinking water along the trail. Please pack in and pack out any trash. Please leave your dogs at home.
After the hike, we will have a bite to eat at The Ranch House
RanchHouseRestaurantYarnell.com
Your hike leader for the Granite Mountain Hotshots/Journey Trail Hike is Bruce who can be reached via email or phone, which you will receive once you register.
