![]() We gathered the brightest, quartz rocks we could find and formed an arrow to point out the trail. So, after soaking in the spirit of the Grandfather Juniper Tree, we decided to build a better trail marker so that those who followed would have an easier time finding it. These brave men battled one of the fiercest forces of Mother Nature to save homes, property, and our beautiful national forests. An immense feeling of gratitude overcame me. Once you turn off trail #39, it is a short walk to the monument erected in honor of those brave Granite Mountain Hotshots.įor me, the mood was both reverent and somber as I contemplated the lives lost and those people left to carry on without their husbands, their fathers, their sons. 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. After that stretch, the trail dips into a dry creek bed. 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. Turn left onto #39 White Rock Springs trail. After nearly a mile, you will come to the junction. There is a path around the gate to the right. You’ll see a brown marker for trail #38 and a wooden sign pointing out the direction for Upper Pasture Trail #38, Junction White Rock Springs Trail #39, and Junction Little Granite Mountain Trail #37. Look up the hill and you will see a gate. My husband, on the other hand, started walking then said, “I can drive up this.” And went back for our truck.įollow the road until you reach another flat, turnaround spot used as a cattle watering area. ![]() Park on the edge of the turnaround like I did and begin your hike. ![]() If you have a four-wheel drive or SUV with higher clearance you can drive up this road and park. There is a brown marker on the lefthand side of the road with the number 9261U.Īt that sign, turn right into the parking area and look for the rough road at the back of the turnaround. 7 miles on Contreras Road there is a dirt turnaround/parking area to your right. (The maps app on my iPhone took me right to Contreras Road, Prescott, AZ).Ĭheck your odometer because after. ![]() In the end, finding the tree some call The Old Juniper Tree, others call The Grandfather Juniper or Big Alligator Juniper, believed to be over 2,000 years old, became the highlight of our week-long journey across Arizona.įor anyone else out there who feels inspired by the sacrifice these nineteen men made and wants to honor them by visiting the famed tree, here is the information I wish I would have known sooner.ĭirections for the Hike: Head west out of Prescott on Iron Springs Road, then turn right onto Contreras Road. An older couple from Iowa was also hiking the trail. Then as we were hiking in, we crossed paths with a father and son who had hiked a mile past the turnoff to the tree and had to retrace their steps. We met another hiker from Colorado who was looking for the trail. Ultimately, we found it and began our hike. But the next morning, I missed the road on my first pass and had to make a U-turn. I did another internet search from the hotel that night and found some additional information, enough that I thought I could find the trailhead. When I asked a grocery store checker about hiking to the juniper tree, he gave me a blank expression and said, “I’ve never heard of it.” Maybe this wouldn’t be as easy as I thought. Prescott is a bigger town than I envisioned. Honestly, I didn’t know if we could find it, but I figured we could get to Prescott, AZ and then ask the locals. So, I took notes and dedicated a day of our itinerary for the “Hike to the juniper tree.” If nothing else, I figured searching for it would be something of a treasure hunt, and as an author I’m always up for an adventure. They both said it was their top priority. After telling my kids this and asking how important this was to them. I found two posts from individuals who had found the tree, but nothing ‘official’ looking. Plans were already underway to visit the Grand Canyon and other sights in Arizona over spring break, so I began an internet search to figure out where this juniper tree was exactly and could we possibly hike to it. When the movie came out, we knew it would be hard to watch, but we couldn’t not see it.Īfter watching Only the Brave, both of my kids said they wanted to hike to the famous juniper tree featured in the movie. Hearing that 19 men lost their lives left my heart breaking for them and their families. My son-in-law was living in Prescott, AZ at the time, one of the cities closest to the wildfires, so I kept tabs on the news story. A couple of months ago my teenage kids wanted to see the movie Only the Brave about the nineteen fire fighters who were killed in an Arizona wildfire in 2013.
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