Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park
Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Yavapai, Arizona, United States
Area	320 acres (130 ha)
Established	2016
Governing body	Arizona State Parks, U.S. Forest Service
Website	Hotshots Memorial Park

The Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park is a special park in Arizona. It was created to remember nineteen brave firefighters. These firefighters were part of the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew. They sadly lost their lives on June 30, 2013, while fighting a big wildfire called the Yarnell Hill Fire.

The park opened on November 30, 2016. It is located exactly where the firefighters were. To reach the main memorial, visitors hike a trail about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long. The park entrance is about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of a town called Yarnell.

History of the Memorial Park

How the Park Was Created

The idea for the park started in 2014. A bill, which is a proposed law, was introduced in the Arizona House of Representatives. Governor Jan Brewer signed this bill into law on April 30, 2014. This made the park officially approved.

Planning for the memorial began later that year. By April 2015, the board decided to buy the land for the park. On June 30, 2015, 320 acres (1.3 km²) of land were bought. This was also when the park got its official name.

Building the Trail and Memorial

Work on the main hiking trail started in January 2016. A group called the American Conservation Experience helped build it. A small parking lot was built in March. Then, special rock baskets, called gabions, were put in place for the memorial.

Most of the building work was finished by summer. Benches and signs with information were added in October and November. A special ceremony was held on November 29, 2016. Governor Doug Ducey and state senators Steve Pierce and Karen Fann were there. The park then opened to everyone the next day.

What You Will See at the Park

The Memorial Site

The main memorial has 19 rock baskets, or gabions. These baskets are connected by chains and form a circle. This circle is around the exact spot where the firefighters were. There is also a pathway and a flagpole at the site.

The Journey Trail

Along the hiking trail to the memorial, there are 19 special granite plaques. Each plaque has a photo of one of the Hotshots. It also tells a short story about them. There are benches along the trail where visitors can rest.

The trail first leads to an observation deck. This deck is about 400 feet (122 m) above the memorial. The last part of the trail, about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) long, goes down to the memorial circle. This section is called the Journey Trail. It reminds people of the firefighters' final journey.

The memorial plaques are placed into rock formations along the trail. They are about 600 feet (183 m) apart. They are arranged in the order of how long each crew member had served. The trail starts at 4,318 feet (1,316 m) high. It climbs to 5,460 feet (1,664 m) at the observation deck. The trail is steep and has over 200 steps carved into the rock.

The Granite Mountain Hotshots Crew

The Granite Mountain Hotshots were a special team of firefighters. They were trained to fight wildfires in difficult areas. They were known for their bravery and skill. The park honors the nineteen members who died while protecting others.