Hike To Alligator Juniper On Granite Mountain

After about a half mile look for the white quartz rocks or maybe they are granite since it is part of the granite mountain range littering the trail.
Hike to alligator juniper on granite mountain. Just days before 19 members of the granite mountain hotshots died fighting the yarnell hill fire in june 2013 the crew saved a giant alligator juniper that was in the line of the doce fire in the. On the way to the junction for granite mountain trail a large switchback offers views straight up a steep debris filled avalanche chute. Granite mountain arizona trees prescott national forest hiking trails plants license purchase this photograph. There are three main hiking options to visit the granite mountain hotshots juniper.
There s a saddle at the pass which lies between granite basin and long canyon and it s a good place to gear up for the trail s primary ascent. From the saddle the route becomes a series of long moderate switchbacks and after about 20 minutes you ll come to a monstrous alligator juniper. 1 h 20 m. This wilderness is a protected area for the nesting of peregrine falcons which were almost extinct just a few years ago.
The hike begins as a shady wonderland with immediate views of the vertical rock ledges of the granite summit to your right. The trail is primarily used for hiking walking trail running and nature trips and is best used from march until may. Hiking to the granite mountain juniper tree in prescott az youtube hiking to the massive 2000 year old alligator juniper tree near prescott az. Arizona granite mountain photographs.
The trail to the tree is definitely the road less traveled and like that father and son we met as we hiked in we nearly missed it. 2 9 mi est. Alligator juniper tree near the top of granite mountain. Length 4 7 mi elevation gain 538 ft route type out back.
After that stretch the trail dips into a dry creek bed. It passes through a mixed forest of ponderosa pine and alligator juniper as it as it travels toward granite basin lake. Begin at the pratt lake trailhead in cool mossy forest where you hike along a wide moderately graded tread. West lake trail 351 begins at the cayuse equestrian trailhead within the granite basin recreation area.
It is believed to be the largest and oldest of.