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Trip Report    

CHS 2 Hike - Granite Lakes via Granite Creek

8 early birds completed this hike on a day that had some of everything: mist, mud, sleet, drizzle, sun, and some hairy woodpecker chicks. We traveled at a 2.25 mph average pace over 8.8 miles and were back to the cars before noon, only seeing 4 other people the whole morning.

Courtenay Schurman Courtenay Schurman
May 20, 2025
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Toilets remain closed due to fire in November so plan on using alternate facilities before you arrive. A Discovery Pass is required for parking.  There are a few muddy spots that are pretty slick, so watch your foot placement (recent rains including this morning) but the streams were all cross-able without any mishaps. Just take your time. Everyone had poles; I only used one of mine for the final stream crossing and log crossing dropping into the basin.  Snow is visible up high but none on the trail or at the lake. I'm thinking Thompson Lake trail may still have a bit.

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8 of us left the Granite Lakes trailhead at 7:10 this morning and had the trail almost entirely to ourselves on this rainy-sleety-sunny morning except for a solo hiker and 3 backpackers coming in as we descended from the bridge.

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The trail is lovely, lush, and green with trilliums, bleeding hearts, ferns galore, violets, Devil's club and skunk cabbage notably in bloom. We also had 21 unique bird species including migrating warblers and flycatchers, a Canada jay at the lake begging for food, and a pair of hairy woodpeckers with at least 2 chicks in a tree cavity.

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Our average pace for this Mountaineers CHS-2 hike was 2-2.2 mph ascending (lake obstacles and stream crossings slowed our total travel pace a bit) and 2.5 mph out, with a 23-minute break at the lake. 

Two of us enjoyed sticking our feet in the water and wading for a few minutes. C-C-C-COLD! but also very refreshing. About the time I put my boots back on, it started to sleet and rain, but fortunately it was short-lived. Total moving time for 8.8 miles was 3:47 and at least one person agreed this was her new favorite hike. LOVE introducing people to my favorites! There are SO MANY!! Strong performance by all.