A historic fire look-out tops the boulder garden at the summit of Granite Mountain. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.
With nearly its top third above the treeline, Granite Mountain offers an alpine experience without travelling too far or climbing too high. Its trail climbs steeply through several distinct montane layers, graduating from leafy, mixed forest to diminishing coniferous woodland, stone-strewn meadows carpeted with shrubs and wildflowers, and finally, a boulder-heaped summit topped by a ranger lookout with views of Mt. Rainier and numerous other surrounding peaks. The mountain’s vast blueberry meadows offer double treats each year: first the luscious fruits of mid- to late summer and then the fiery foliage of autumn. From the summit and various points along the trail, Interstate 90 can also be seen — and heard — snaking its way up the South Fork Snoqualmie River Valley below. Given its many attributes and easy access, one should expect to encounter other hikers along this popular trail.
The Granite Mountain Trail shares a trailhead with the Pratt Lake Trail. At 1.00 mile/1.60 km from the trailhead, the trails diverge, the path to Granite Mountain veering steeply up a hairpin curve to the right while the Pratt Lake Trail continues straight. The junction is marked by an easily missed sign on the slope above a rocky, wide spot in the trail. The entire trail is rugged with stones and roots and crosses snowfields near the summit as late as July. Be sure to read trip reports at the “Additional Trail Info” links above for current trail conditions and be prepared with your traction gear of choice. Moreover, the trail crisscrosses the mountain’s winter avalanche chute many times throughout its ascent — hikers are warned to avoid the trail altogether when snow is present in the chute, as avalanches here have proven deadly. Enjoy the mountain’s alpine grandeur in the mild days of summer and leave it to its moody maleficence in winter.
The trail begins beneath a soaring woodland canopy upheld by slender conifer columns and laced here and there with delicately arching branches of vine maple (Acer circinatum). Watch as the rigors of increasing elevation stunt the forest until it gives way to stony alpine meadows at the summit. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.The trail crisscrosses Granite Mountain’s winter avalanche chute for much of its distance. Seen here from the Pratt Lake Trail just before its junction with the Granite Mountain Trail, the debris-strewn swath is testament to the destructive power of a mountaintop’s snowpack funneled down a steep ravine. Because past avalanches on Granite Mountain have had deadly consequences, hikers and snowshoers are advised not to use the Granite Mountain Trail between November and May or when snow is visible in the chute. (The Pratt Lake Trail enters the chute only briefly at the end of one switchback before veering back into forest.) Pratt Lake Trail, Washington.Summer wildflowers bloom throughout the woodlands and alpine meadows, including, top row, left to right, fool’s-huckleberries (Rhododendron menziesii), common cow-parsnips (Heracleum maximum syn. Heracleum lanatum), western pearly everlastings (Anaphalis margaritacea), Columbia lilies (Lilium columbianum), rose spirea, or, hardhack (Spiraea douglasii), western rattlesnake plaintains, or, rattlesnake orchids (Goodyera oblongifolia), one-sided, or, sidebells pyrolas (Orthilia secunda), western bunchberries (Cornus unalaschkensis), liverleaf wintergreens (Pryola asarifolia), giant mountain asters (Canadanthus modestus), queen’s cups (Clintonia uniflora), broadleaf lupines (Lupinus latifolius var. subalpinus), broadleaf arnicas (Arnica latifolia), and edible thistles (Cirsium edule); center row, left to right, white mountain heather or western moss heather (Cassiope mertensiana), high mountain cinquefoils (Potentilla flabellifolia), cut-leaved foamflowers (Tiarella trifoliata), Sitka valerians (Valeriana sitchensis), wood roses (Rosa gymnocarpa), common beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax), small-flowered, or, pincushion penstemons Penstemon procerus), sylvan goatsbeards (Aruncus dioicus), and scarlet paintbrushes (Castilleja miniata); and bottom row, left to right, woodland beardtongues (Nothochelone nemorosa), thimbleberries (Rubus parviflorus), Cooley’s hedge-nettles (Stachys cooleyae), salal (Gaultheria shallon), Sitka, or, western mountain ash (Sorbus sitchensis), American twinflowers (Linnaea borealis), dwarf brambles (Rubus lasiococcus), subalpine spiraea (Spiraea splendens), partridgefoots (Luetkea pectinata), Canada goldenrods (Solidago canadensis syn. Solidago lepida), little pipsissewas, or, little prince’s-pines (Chimaphila menziesii), fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium syn. Chamerion angustifolium), white-coiled beak louseworts (Pedicularis contorta), and pink mountain heaths (Phyllodoce empetriformis). Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.At approximately 2.50 miles/4.00 km from the trailhead, the trail breaks out of forest and into the mountain’s alpine meadows, where trees dwindle in number and size and views reach to far-off peaks. On clear days, Mt. Rainier dominates the southern view. Here, blazing autumn leaves of Sitka, or western, mountain ash (Sorbus sitchensis) and Cascade blueberry (Vaccinium deliciosum) frame the mountain’s cool, contrasting blue. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.Carpeting the alpine heights, Granite Mountain’s signature blueberries reward the arduous climb with varied offerings throughout the seasons. First, the luminous blossoms of spring (which comes in mid-summer near the summit), followed in short order by the fruits of summer and early autumn, and finally the finale of fiery foliage — often accompanied by lingering berries sweetened by early frosts. The primary blueberry species on the mountain is the Cascade blueberry (Vaccinium deliciosum) (upper right), which bears downward facing, powder-coated berries that are almost hidden by its leaves. Similar looking and equally tasty blueberry cousins are also present, including the tall, or, black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) (lower right), which is distinguished by its purple-hued berries that lack a powdery bloom and are borne upward and outward above its leaves. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.As the trail climbs the alpine steeps, it rounds and quickly overlooks a boggy hollow. From here, the trail enters the mountaintop “Rock Garden of the Gods”, strewn in autumn with molten hues. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.Keep and eye — and ear — out for the marmots that sun themselves atop the Rock Garden’s boulders. Marmots are ground squirrels that can reach sizes larger than domestic cats. Their distinctive, high-pitched calls sound much like humans whistling through their teeth and often announce their presence long before they are seen. These are hoary marmots (Marmota caligata). (Look closely — there are more than one in this photo!) Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.Above the Rock Garden, a bouldered ridge leads directly to the summit. Some hikers prefer to scramble up the ridge, rather than take the more roundabout main trail that switchbacks up the summit’s north side. In this view from the summit, the main trail is visible snaking along the base of the ridge before veering northward to its final ascent. Keechelus Lake curves into the horizon on the right. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.On the trail’s final ascent, views open in every direction. The northeastern view encompasses an array of peaks across the horizon, including Big Snow Mountain (far left), Snoqualmie Mountain (center left), Overcoat Peak, Chimney Rock, Lemah Mountain, Chikamin Peak, and Four Brothers (center), and Three Queens, Mount Stuart, and Hibox Mountain (right). Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.As the trail nears the summit, Crystal and Tuscohatchie lakes come into view far below. They are part of a clutch of lakes collectively called Granite Mountain Lakes (but not to be confused with the nearby Granite Lakes). Kaleetan, Chair, and Bryant peaks crown the northern horizon above Tuscohatchie Lake. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.Granite Mountain’s final destination is a heap of boulders topped by a 1955 fire lookout. The foundation of the first 1924 lookout is still visible a little east of the current one (here, on the right). Mt. Rainier rides the southern horizon beyond. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.The lookout is still staffed and maintained on occasion by volunteer rangers who open it to hikers. Granite Mountain Trail, Washington.Winter’s sunset tinges Granite Mountain in this view from the Annette Lake Trail. The mountain’s funnel-like avalanche chute is clearly visible plunging into the forest below the summit. (The Annette Lake Trail itself is raked by avalanches that descend several chutes along the slopes of Silver Peak. When entering alpine and subalpine elevations in winter, always know the terrain and avalanche forecasts.) Annette Lake Trail, Washington.
