Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Granite Mountain Wilderness (
map) in 1984 and it now has a total of
9,762 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
Arizona and is managed by the Forest Service.
Description
Ragged boulders, some as big as a house, stack on top of each other to an elevation of 7,626 feet in Granite Mountain Wilderness, an area about eight miles away from Prescott. From the summit of Granite Mountain itself you can look across the entire city of Prescott, as well as the towns of Chino Valley and Skull Valley. On southern slopes chaparral (a community of plants including shrub live oak, mountain mahogany, manzanita, and lemonade berry bush) dominates with scattered stands of pinion and juniper. On northern slopes you'll also find pinion, juniper, and some pine and oak higher up. Mule deer and javelina inhabit the area, along with an occasional mountain lion, bobcat, badger, fox, skunk, coyote, rabbit, and smaller rodents. Hikers, horseback riders, and hunters may be found here in abundance, on the three trails totaling 12 miles. Make sure to take plenty of water when hiking in Granite Mountain Wilderness.
