Hike To Alligator Juniper On Granite Mountain

On the way to the junction for granite mountain trail a large switchback offers views straight up a steep debris filled avalanche chute.

Hike to alligator juniper on granite mountain.

Alligator juniper tree near the top of granite mountain. It passes through a mixed forest of ponderosa pine and alligator juniper as it as it travels toward granite basin lake. 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. 2 9 mi est.

Visiting the juniper during a loop hike of upper pasture trail 38 little granite mountain trail 37 and white rock spring trail 39 is 6 6 mi. Granite mountain arizona trees prescott national forest hiking trails plants license purchase this photograph. This wilderness is a protected area for the nesting of peregrine falcons which were almost extinct just a few years ago. 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.

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. It is believed to be the largest and oldest of. Length 4 7 mi elevation gain 538 ft route type out back. 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.

The hike begins as a shady wonderland with immediate views of the vertical rock ledges of the granite summit to your right. 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. West lake trail 351 begins at the cayuse equestrian trailhead within the granite basin recreation area. The trail is primarily used for hiking walking trail running and nature trips and is best used from march until may.

There are three main hiking options to visit the granite mountain hotshots juniper. Arizona granite mountain photographs. 1 h 20 m. Hiking to the granite mountain juniper tree in prescott az youtube hiking to the massive 2000 year old alligator juniper tree near prescott az.

Straight to the juniper is a 3 2 mi 375 aeg round trip hike.