Granite Mountain Trail #261 is the first leg of a 6-mile loop starting near Granite Basin Lake and traveling counter-clockwise around Little Granite Mountain using Little Granite Mountain Trail #37 and Clark Spring Trail #40. Granite Mountain Trail #261 also provides a day trip from the Granite Basin Recreation Area up to Blair Pass and into the heart of Granite Mountain Wilderness. Despite its proximity to the city of Prescott, this area is a sanctuary for a diversity of wildlife. You may see javelina, deer, and foxes along the trail, as well as snakes, lizards, and a variety of Southwestern birds.
A short distance past the trailhead, the trail travels upward through open chaparral and boulders before climbing steeply into pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine forest. There are a number of remarkable vistas that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding topography. This trail goes past peregrine falcon nesting sites on the south flank of Granite Mountain. Please stay on the trail during nesting season, from February 1st through July 31st.
