Back to index Granite Lake Hike
Trip Date:  06/26/2015

Distance: 4.5 Miles

Vertical Gain: 600'

Group Size: 2

Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard    Strenuous		 Granite Lake Route
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Granite Lake Profile
Start Coordinates:   N 38 37.751, W 119 56.345     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates  
Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Highway 88 to Blue Lakes road and turn south.  Follow the road for a little more than 13 miles to the parking area on the left between the two lakes.    After 11 1/2 miles the road turns to the north, and becomes dirt for the last few miles.   Park in the dirt lot near the dam for Upper Blue Lake.
Hazards of Note:   Bears, mosquitos at Granite Lake.

 Crowd Factor:   Moderate.  
General Notes:
From the parking area you will immediately cross over a metal bridge, spanning the overflow for the Upper Blue Lake.  Soon after you will see a sign for the start of the trail, pointing you off to the left through a forested area.  There is a water crossing over a log fairly soon in the hike, but it is easy and has been well traversed.  The trail turns to the left again after this point, and continues through the forested area.  After about a mile you will pass a small, unnamed lake on the right side of the trail, and then start a gradual climb of about 300' over the next mile to Granite Lake.  The trail passes along the south end of Granite Lake within inches of the water, you can continue clockwise around the lake to a nice fishing or overlook spot on the north side of the lake across from the trail.

Upper Blue Lake, near the dam at the south end which is the starting point of the Grouse Lake Trail. Blue Lake
Heading across the spillway at the south end of Upper Blue Lake.  Don't continue along the dam from here, but make a left at the sign just across this spillway bridge. Across the spillway 
The start of the actual trail just across the spillway. Sign
A mile into the hike is where you officially cross into the Mokelumne Wilderness. Wilderness boundary
Almost to the first lake, the trail emerges from the forest for a little while.  There are great views to the southeast of the central Sierras on days not filled with smoke. Almost to the first lake 
A tough tree that has figured out how to survive! Tough Tree
Passing the first, unnamed lake along the trail. First Lake
There is about 300' of elevation gain to Granite Lake, two miles into the hike.  Most of it occurs in the last 3/4 mile before the lake. Starting to climb
There were tons of wildflowers along the way, both in the forested areas and even up near the peak. Lots of wildflowers on the way.
Colors everywhere along the trail. More flowers
A first look at Granite Lake, as the trail passes along the southern border very close to the water. Granite Lake
Lots of little fish swimming around near the shore. Fish in Granite
Another look back at Granite Lake from near where the trail jogs left and climbs up and away from the lake. Another Look
GPS Track of the full hike. GPS Track of Hike