Granite Mountain Trail

Granite Mountain is the great boulder-crowned peak that dominates Prescott’s northwestern skyline, and Granite Mountain Trail #261 is the classic way to get up close. It’s a real workout, climbing about 1,450 feet over 4 miles into the Granite Mountain Wilderness, and the payoff is a vista over Granite Basin, the Granite Dells, and the Bradshaw Mountains. This is our guide to hiking Granite Mountain: the route, the rules, and how to plan your day.

What to expect on the trail

Trail #261 runs 4.1 miles one way (about 8.2 miles round trip), climbing from about 5,600 feet at the trailhead to roughly 7,100 feet at the Granite Mountain Vista at the trail’s end. The Forest Service sums it up as an easy first mile, followed by a difficult climb to the top. Along the way the trail passes through Blair Pass, a saddle between Granite Basin and Long Canyon, before switchbacking up the mountain. If you want a shorter outing, turning around at the Granite Mountain saddle makes it about 6.2 miles round trip.

Expect natural dirt and granite underfoot, exposed chaparral and boulders lower down, and pinyon, juniper, and ponderosa pine higher up. There’s no water on the trail, and one steep section has no shade at all. The summit itself (about 7,626 feet) is off-trail; the vista is the hiker’s destination. This is a hike for fit adults and experienced older kids, not young children.

Highlights

• The view. From the vista you look out over Granite Basin Lake, the Granite Dells, and the Bradshaw Mountains.
• Ancient rock. Arizona Highways describes the mountain’s granite as about 2 billion years old, with some boulders the size of a boxcar.
• Big alligator junipers line parts of the route, with their distinctive checkered bark.
• Peregrine falcons have nested on the mountain’s south flank for more than 25 years.
• Wilderness. The Granite Mountain Wilderness, designated by Congress in 1984, covers 9,799 acres.

A name Prescott remembers

For Prescott, Granite Mountain carries special weight. The Prescott Fire Department’s Granite Mountain Hotshots carried the mountain’s name, and 19 members of the crew died fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013. Many hikers on this trail pause to remember them.

Wilderness rules and closures

Because this is designated wilderness, Trail #261 is for hikers and horseback riders only: no bikes or other mechanized equipment. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Hiking groups are limited to 15 people (10 animals for horse groups), campfires aren’t allowed (camp stoves are), and camping isn’t permitted within 200 feet of the trail. To protect nesting peregrine falcons, the Forest Service closes the cliff faces and rim every year from February 1 through July 15; the trail itself stays open, but hikers should stay on it during the closure.

Getting there, parking, and fees

The trail starts across the road from the Metate Trailhead in the Granite Basin Recreation Area. From Iron Springs Road and Williamson Valley Road, take Iron Springs Road northwest about 3 miles, turn right on Granite Basin Road (Forest Road 374), and drive about 3.8 miles to the Metate lot on the left. Parking is $5 per vehicle per day, free on Wednesdays, and Prescott National Forest and America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Metate has vault toilets and picnic tables.

Insider Tip: Start early and carry at least 2 to 3 liters of water per person. The climb is exposed, and in summer you’ll want to be off the mountain before afternoon monsoon storms build. It’s also worth checking when the gates close; winter hours end as early as 5 p.m.

When to go

Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. Summer works with a very early start. In winter, the upper trail can hold snow and ice, so check conditions with the Bradshaw Ranger District before heading up.

Make a day of it

Cool off afterward with an easy stroll around Granite Basin Lake, right next to the trailhead. Experienced hikers can make a 6-mile loop around Little Granite Mountain by linking Trail #261 with Trails #37 and #40. For gentler options, see our beginner hikes or the Trail Finder.