Arizona's Memorial State Park Is A Somber Yet Beautiful Tribute In The Heart Of The State's Rugged Landscape

With iconic national park wonders like the Grand Canyon to compete with, Arizona's state park system often gets overlooked. Arizona, however, boasts some truly impressive state parks, with scenery and recreational opportunities that rival even top national parks. Across the state's acclaimed desert landscape, you can find a vibrant hiker's paradise in the desert of Lost Dutchman State Park and a thrilling natural waterslide tucked away in Slide Rock State Park's gorgeous red rock canyon. While virtually all of Arizona's state parks showcase beautiful natural scenery, some serve another purpose as well. Such is the case with Arizona's Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. This park features undeniable natural beauty. However, it also serves as one of the state's most moving memorial sites. 

At first glance, Granite Hotshots Memorial State Park is an alluring expanse of striking desert terrain in the arid mountains and valleys north of Phoenix. However, the word "memorial" in its name is a clue that the park has much greater significance than merely preserving a scenic stretch of land. It was established to memorialize one of the worst tragedies in Arizona's history. Despite its somber origins, Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park is simultaneously a beautiful and meditative monument where visitors can find peace, fulfillment, and the kind of life-affirming magic that can only be found in the Arizona desert. 

Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park sits within a scenic valley about an hour and a half north of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, at the confluence of the Weaver Mountains and the Bradshaw Mountains (two of the state's most underrated mountain ranges). With the magnificent Prescott National Forest not far away, Granite Hotshots Memorial State Park has no shortage of the epic desert vistas and distinctive biodiversity that you would expect from any Arizona park. 

This landscape is not without dangers, however, as the world tragically saw in 2013. In late June of that year, a lightning strike sparked a wildfire that eventually consumed more than 8,000 acres of land. With the fire threatening the nearby communities of Yarnell and Peeples Valley, several firefighter crews were dispatched to try to combat the blaze. One of these crews was the Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite team of firefighters who specialized in controlling wildfires in particularly difficult terrain. Unfortunately, even with their immense skill and experience, this particular fire would end in tragedy. 

On June 30, two days after the fire started, sudden wind shifts caused the rapidly-moving fire to unexpectedly change directions, trapping the hotshot crew. Despite last-minute emergency tactics, 19 of the 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots perished in what would be the deadliest firefighter event since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Soon after, the Arizona legislature passed a bill to establish the site of the fatalities as a new state memorial. After a year of development, Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park opened to the public in November 2016.

Today, a prominent memorial marks the spot where the bodies of the 19 hotshots were recovered. The memorial features stone gabions that honor each of the 19 fallen firefighters, forming a circle that stands out in the arid desert. The surrounding state park also features a tribute wall overlooking the site, where visitors can leave mementos in tribute to the fallen firefighters. Additionally, the park administers the Yarnell Hill Fire Memorial in the nearby town of Yarnell. 

The main hiking route through the park is a seven-mile out-and-back trail that covers much of the route that the hotshots themselves took on their final call. The trail begins with a rigorous climb up the Weaver Mountains, past an observation deck and placards providing information on each of the Hotshots. Eventually, the trail descends to the fatality site, where visitors can pay their respects. When visiting, you may see firefighters hiking the trail to honor the fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots — often wearing full gear!

During the summer, the Yarnell Fire Department operates a shuttle service from Yarnell to the park. Given its purpose, Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park is day-use only, with operating hours between sunrise and sunset. However, the surrounding communities have plenty of excellent overnight lodging options, both for campers and those looking for a more modern stay. Just 36 miles away is Arizona's breezy highland town of Prescott, rich in trails, saloons, and sunshine. The Prescott area has plenty more outdoor attractions and recreational opportunities near the memorial, so you can experience the landscape's beauty as well as its tragedies.