Left and center: The Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial( left) is a powerful tribute to 13 fallen firefighters. It sits in the middle of the winding tarmac of Yarnell Hill( center). Right: The views on the various mountains on the ride are awe-inspiring. This one is on the decent of SR-89A on Mingus Mountain.
is mitigated. Additionally, the uphill portion is now two lanes, so there is little risk of getting stuck behind traffic.
After a few miles of wonderfully coiled road, I decided to make a crossover for a short visit to the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. The powerful memorial pays tribute to the heroes who lost their lives in 2013 fighting a wildfire that threatened the town of Yarnell. A roadside display serves as access to a longer tribute walk. The hike is not really suitable for motorcycle gear and boots, though.
There is no direct access back onto the uphill stretch of the 89, but this is a blessing in disguise. I made my way down the road, which is a single lane on the downhill stretch. It offers a unique experience of hairpins and forever
RIDERMAGAZINE. COM / OCTOBER 2026 / 55