Trail Report: Granite Mountain

One of the most spectacular hikes within an hour of Seattle. However, it’s not an easy one.

Trailhead Location:

Exit 47 off I-90

Trail Stats:

8.6 miles round trip, 3800 feet of elevation gain.

Directions:

From Seattle, take I-90 east to exit 47. Take a left at the end off the off-ramp. At the T intersection at the end of the road, take a left. After approximately .4 miles, the road will end in a parking lot. Find a spot and you’re there.

Trail:

If you’re looking for one of those exposed hikes with a bit of difficulty, you could do far worse than Granite Mountain. Sure, it’s not an easy peak and chances are you’ll have to deal with snow if you climb before mid summer. However, you’ll be rewarded with some fantastic views along the way.

At the parking lot, look for the latrine. Follow the path on the left to the Alpine Meadows pass boxes. Fill out a pass for your party and start your hike. This trailhead leads to quite a few different areas. So, you’re going to have to watch out for a turn or two.

The first mile of the hike meanders through the woods without much elevation gain (300ft or so). Just after a mile, the trail forks. There’s a sign marking it, but I almost missed the junction when I hiked Granite Mountain. So, be sure to look out for the fork. Take a right on the trail up the mountain and continue your climb.

After 1300 ft of elevation gain, the trees start to thin out a bit and you’ll be able to see the surrounding mountains. At around 2000ft, you’ll finally break out of the trees and the view will really open up. On a clear day you’ll be able to see Rainier looming in the distance.

If you haven’t noticed by this point, this is a pretty steep trail. After you clear the trees, it only gets steeper. If you’re climbing any time before mid summer, plan on snow for a good portion of your ascent.

If there’s snow, try to show up as early as possible to avoid the effects of soft snow on your descent. When I climbed Granite Mountain, the snow was already starting to get too soft to be safe around 1pm. So, we ended up turning around a couple hundred feet from the summit.

Plan on bringing gaiters, good hiking boots, and maybe some microspikes for decent traction. Do not attempt this hike in running shoes. Later in the summer, expect a lot of dust and no reliable water sources. So, be sure to bring plenty of water.

If it’s still early though, you won’t be able to see the trail. Thankfully this is a pretty popular hike so expect a well worth path in the snow to the summit. If all else fails, you should be able to see the lookout building at the summit.

As with most trails in the I-90 corridor, once you’re ready to head back to the car, head back the way you came.