Standing in contrast to the surrounding Prescott National Forest, the aptly named Granite Mountain, is an iconic feature of Prescott, Arizona.
It may be best known for the namesake Granite Mountain Hotshots who tragically lost 19 of 20 crew members in the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire. Foreshadowing this tragedy - weeks before the Yarnell Hill Fire the Doce Fire claimed a section of the Granite Mountain Wilderness. Remnants of this fire remain today.
The trail to the summit begins at the Metate Trailhead. It is eight miles, or so, out and back on Granite Mountain Trail #261. There is about 1,600’ in elevation gain. The summit height is 7,628’.
(Note: Click on any picture to expand and start a slide show.)
The first two miles are easy and non-technical. With a gentle rise through a ponderosa pine forest and chaparral to the base of the mountain.
The next mile is the crux of the course. Rising over 900’ in one mile on boulder strewn switch-backs.
With the gain in elevation the wilderness area and the expansive Prescott National Forest come into view.
After grinding through this challenging section, the trail arrives at Blair Pass with a north-east sight line towards Chino Valley.
Turning right at the pass the trail remained boulder strewn but the elevation gain eased. Parts of the trail hugged some steep cliffs.
Viewing Granite Mountain from the City of Prescott and Chino Valley I had expected the summit would present as a jagged ridge line. Boy, was i wrong. The trail flattened out and began to turn inward. Splitting two large boulder piles.
Heading through this gap an extensive plateau availed itself. It felt like an island oasis in the sky. There was a creek and large boulder slabs to chill on.
It would have been fulfilling to call it the day after reaching the plateau. It is the heart of Granite Mountain. However, the actual summit is about another quarter mile away. The trail is up and over some gigantic boulders then through a short section with heavy brush. Achieving the actual summit requires ropes and bouldering. So I settled for the “traditional” summit just below.
