The memorial is made of 19 rock baskets or gabions connected by chains forming a circle around the fatality site. It is surround by a pathway and includes a flagpole. Along the trail to the site are 19 granite memorial plaques, each with a photo of a hotshot and a short biography. There are also memorial benches along the trail.[3] The trail first reaches an observation deck 400 feet (120 m) above the memorial.[5] The portion of the trail from the observation deck down to the memorial circle is 0.75 miles (1.21 km) and is named the Journey trail, a reference to the hotshots' final journey.[6]