Hiking Granite Mt in the summer time!

Hiking Granite Mt in the summer may lose some of the cachet of reaching the summit in winter, but what the summer route lacks in bragging rights, it makes up in spectacular views and a great hiking experience.

Granite Mt is rumored to be the most popular summit hike off the Seattle I-90 corridor, and not without great reason. This fantastic hike is close to Seattle, very accessible and worth an annual visit.


Directions to the trail head (from Seattle) are the same as to the winter route:
Take I-90 East to exit 47
Head North across the freeway and take your first Left, (not the freeway on ramp).
About a mile down the road you come to the clearly marked Granite Mt. trail head.
On a nice day cars can line the road. Park as close as you can, and start your adventure.

The summer route is a bit longer and gentler than the winter route. While they start and end at the same place, the summer route takes you off a bit to the east and you make your way to the lookout tower via an open meadow and a scramble up a rocky ridge line. The winter route takes you directly up the face of the mountain.

Hike Stats:
8 miles round trip
3,800 ft vertical gain
7ish hours.

Trail description: You start your trip in the trees. After about a mile you reach a sign that tells you to go right to to reach Granite Mt. Go right at that sign. After another mile or so you reach a sign that says you are now in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Keep going. You break out of the trees not long after that sign and things get interesting.
After leaving the trees you cross what becomes in spring a wicked and potentially treacherous avalanche shoot (in early Spring check the trail conditions to assess safety 425.888.1421). Once across the avalanche shoot, you enter a picturesque meadow of waterfalls, wildflowers and views.

Corollary to being in this meadow is that the sun beats right down on you, so bring lots of water.

As you wind your way up the meadow on the well-trodden path, every once in a while you get a glimpse of where you are headed, and these glimpses may make you want to turn back. It seems steep and far but keep putting one foot in front of another; it really isn't that steep and you will make it. On your way up the meadow you traverse several switchbacks cut deep into the mountain side, as this trail is well loved.

You will pass several waterfalls on this hike. These are great places to splash cold water on your face and cool yourself off. It's really invigorating.

Pause while in the meadow to look around. The views are fantastic, and worth a gander.

Your final approach to the summit/lookout tower is a rough one. Once you climb out of the meadow you learn why Granite Mt. is named well.

The last roughly 250ft are attained by a scramble up a boulder field, or dropping over the back side of the mountain and climbing a snowfield. Well, rumor has it you can climb the snowfield, I saw a couple of attempts but zero successes via this route.

If you are traveling with small children, or small dogs this is where you should call it a day. The scramble to the top is of the all fours variety, and not for the faint of heart as it is a long steep way down in either direction should you stumble.
This is a look at the ridge line boulder field you need to pass to make the summit. The ridge is quite narrow here, maybe 25 ft across, and steep on both sides. The views from the absolute top aren't worlds different than those from the base of the boulder field, but climbing over the rocks is pretty fun - and you can say you did it!

Once at the top be sure to take the time to get a good look at the views off the back side of the mountain. They are pretty impressive and you have been staring at the other side all day.


Images from Granite Mt.

Granite Mt in the winter

Bandera Mt

Mailbox Peak

Kendal Catwalk

Mt. Maude

Goat Mt.

Hiking up Bandera Mt.

The day hike to the top of Bandera Mt is a solid workout, a short drive from Seattle and a quick high counntry fix.

Hike stats:

7 miles round trip

2,800 ft elevation gain (1,700 in the 'Deamon Mile')

High point of 5,240

Time: 6ish hours.

Directions from Seattle:

I-90 E to exit 45 (USFS Rd 9030)

N side of 90 take 9030 West .7 miles the rd split.

Follow signs to Mason Lake & Bandera Mt.

Trail head is about 4 miles ahead, but the road is washed out a bit before the official trailhead making the hike just over 8 miles.

This is why you can't drive to the trailhead. The road is full-gone on. The forest road crews have done a great job getting this road in shape, and a couple other roadblocks and washouts have been cleared. This one remains, atleast last I was there.

The Route: Past the trial head sign, the trail is quite straight forward and easy to follow. There are a couple of places where water runs over over the trail, but these are easily traversed. You start your hike in the trees, but quick break out and spend much of your ascent plodding up easy switchbacks with ample views. Much like the neighboring trail to Kendal Catwalk .

One point you where you need to pay attention is about 1/2 way up when the trail splits between Bandera Mt and Mason Lake. A handy way to remember is at this junction the Bandera Mt trail heads striaht up, while Mason Lake trail does not.

Just after this junction is the start of the Deamon Mile. A grueling trudge through a trench cut through wildflowers that will catapult you 1,700 vertical ft. That is grade of over 32%. Bring your A game for this part.

After the Deamon Mile the views get both great and varied and the terrain gets fun. From here Mason Lake is in view, most of the surrounding mountains are below you and you get scramble on some cool rocks.

To attain the summit head east up the ridge and through an open forest. Officially the trial hits a first summit here, and dips down to climb to a second, but I couldn't find any evidence of a trail after the first bump so I stopped for lunch.

Great hike, close to Seattle and offers varied terrain. Solid way to spend a day in the hills if you have plans later that day, so can't venture very far away.

Bandera Mt Photos

Other hikes you may like.

Kendal Catwalk Goat Mt. Mt Maude

http://www.teamramble.com/

Snowshoe Adventure up Granite Mountain.

Snowshoeing is a sport that is rapidly growing in popularity, especially among awesome people. This my account of hiking to the top of Granite Mt, just off I-90, not to far from Seattle WA. On this page you will find Directions to the Granite Mt trail head, route description and video footage of the snowshoe hike up Granite Mt.

Directions to the Granite Mountain Trailhead:


From Seattle:
Take I-90 East 17 miles past North Bend.
Take Exit 47 "Denny Creek".
Turn Left and cross over the freeway
Take the first left on the other side
Drive West as far as you can.
If the road is plowed, park at the trail head.

Route Description:
Round trip distance: 5 miles.
Elevation gain: 3,750
Time: 8 ish hours
Notes: REALLY STEEP!

In the dry season Granite Mt is a strenuous hike, that rewards you with panoramic vistas, and a great experience. In the snow Granite Mt is a rather angry hill that likes to steal puppies and milk money. The summer route takes long switchbacks up to a ridge line and leads to you to the top. The snow route takes you directly up the hill. No mercy. None asked, none given.

The snow route for Granite Mt starts at the above sign and takes you through the woods, this part isn't that bad. I have done this snow hike twice, once the route followed the trees to the end of timberline, the other time it took me out of the trees quite quickly and straight up an avalanche shoot.













Either way, once you leave the trees the trail becomes extra ordinarily steep. The hike on average is just about 1,500 vertical ft gain per mile. The early part of the hike, isn't that steep. What does that say about the rest?

The route is pretty simple, only 2.5 miles, and your end goal is an old lookout on top. It looks like this:
Thing is, you can't see this hut until you are right on top of it. The final crest of the hike is steep enough to give the illusion of a false summit.

Nearly broke my heart when I learned I wasn't there yet.

Even though the hike to the top of Granite Mt is not very long in terms of distance, it is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, as the views are fantastic. If you go, pack lots of water (you will be thirsty), a hearty lunch (you will be hungry) and a great camera.

To read about more and similar adventures click below.
Goat Mt. Kendal Catwalk Weekend at Mt Rainier

Video footage:
To view the video visit: http://www.teamramble.com/ The video will be on the right side. (Sorry about this, I can't seem to get Blogger to upload my video.)