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. I still remember that fateful day. 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. Hearing that 19 men lost their lives left my heart breaking for them and their families. When the movie came out, we knew it would be hard to watch, but we couldn’t not see it.
After watching Only the Brave, both of my kids said they wanted to hike to the famous juniper tree featured in the movie. 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.
I found two posts from individuals who had found the tree, but nothing ‘official’ looking. After telling my kids this and asking how important this was to them. They both said it was their top priority. 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. Honestly, I didn’t know if we could find it, but I figured we could get to Prescott, AZ and then ask the locals.
Prescott is a bigger town than I envisioned. 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.
I did another internet search from the hotel that night and found some additional information, enough that I thought I could find the trailhead. But the next morning, I missed the road on my first pass and had to make a U-turn.
Ultimately, we found it and began our hike. We met another hiker from Colorado who was looking for 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. An older couple from Iowa was also hiking the trail. 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.
For 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.
Directions for the Hike: Head west out of Prescott on Iron Springs Road, then turn right onto Contreras Road. (The maps app on my iPhone took me right to Contreras Road, Prescott, AZ).
Check your odometer because after .7 miles on Contreras Road there is a dirt turnaround/parking area to your right.
There is a brown marker on the lefthand side of the road with the number 9261U.
At that sign, turn right into the parking area and look for the rough road at the back of the turnaround. It looks more like a long driveway.
This is where you want to go. If you have a four-wheel drive or SUV with higher clearance you can drive up this road and park .8 of a mile closer to the trailhead. If not, no worries. Park on the edge of the turnaround like I did and begin your hike. My husband, on the other hand, started walking then said, “I can drive up this.” And went back for our truck.
Follow the road until you reach another flat, turnaround spot used as a cattle watering area. Look up the hill and you will see a gate. Follow the road to that gate.
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. There is a path around the gate to the right.
Here, you are on trail #38. After nearly a mile, you will come to the junction. Watch for the brown markers. This fork in the road is well-marked.
Look for burn scars from the fire. We saw several charred trees. Turn left onto #39 White Rock Springs trail. 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. After that stretch, the trail dips into a dry creek bed. 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.
Once you turn off trail #39, it is a short walk to the monument erected in honor of those brave Granite Mountain Hotshots.
For 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. An immense feeling of gratitude overcame me.
These brave men battled one of the fiercest forces of Mother Nature to save homes, property, and our beautiful national forests.
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.
We gathered the brightest, quartz rocks we could find and formed an arrow to point out the trail. We shall see whether it stands the test of time, or not.
Depending on where you park, this hike is 3.5-5 miles long and fairly easy going with a minimal incline. If you plan to visit the Grand Canyon, the Grandfather Juniper Tree is a little over two hours south and well worth the trip, especially if you have seen the movie.
