Trip Report
CHS 2 Hike - Thompson Point, Granite Lake
Outstanding team of 6 strong hikers covered 18 miles and 5000' gain at a 2.4 mph average pace - with almost an hour at Granite Lakes. Pipits, a Great Blue Heron, and fantastic views despite some smoky haze early and high winds made for a wonderful day.
Courtenay Schurman
- Tue, Sep 16, 2025
- CHS 2 Hike - Thompson Point
- Granite Creek Trail
- Day Hiking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Our group met at Mailbox at 6:15 and carpooled the .7 miles to the Granite Creek Connector to start our 18 mile CHS-2 graduation hike. 7 strong and fast. There was only one other car at the trailhead (no facilities); Mailbox upper parking lot was already open so some of our group used the facilities there, some at a local gas station.
There is some mud in spots leading up to the junction with Thompson and Granite, and it gets worse in two spots beyond the sign leading to Thompson Lake. I joked about almost bringing loppers with me, as I had read about overgrowth. It would have taken me hours. At places the trail looked like it jogged left but we were fortunate enough to have members thinking of each other and staying behind to flag the way. An example:
An even better example: Yes, straight through that, I promise.
We had high winds that threw dust in our eyes, and smoky conditions that shifted around 10 a.m. but blue, blue skies and wonderful views. Very little in the way of "stream crossings" - still some running water but we totally bypassed the "waterfall" between the bridge and the Granite-Thompson junction because there just wasn't anything to see. Great conditions leading down the Granite Lakes and low levels made for easy crossing into the basin for a deliciously refreshing swim.
I couldn't have asked for a much better trip. Everyone was on time, we all rotated hike leads so nobody had the "breathing down my neck" syndrome for every long. We completed the first 5 miles in 2.5 mph pace, and enjoyed our first longer break at the junction between Thompson and Granite Lakes. Our next short break was at the "rock bench" before we veered north at the Thompson Lake sign which, prior to yesterday, I thought was a really strange place to put a sign. Now I get it; coming DOWN from Thompson Point, you can turn left toward Thompson Lake or right toward Granite Lakes.
I'd never been to Thompson Point before and it's worth every step of the extra 3.5 miles to get to it. Cool remains of a lookout tower. Views of Granite and Thompson (and more!) lakes. Rainier and Mailbox and McClellan Butte to the south. West toward Si and Teneriffe. And a smattering of fall wildflowers to make it pretty and fragile despite the high gusting winds.
The one difficult decision we faced was whether to continue down from the ridge to Thompson Lake. Gusts were crazy high and I was concerned that we might have tree branches falling on and hurting someone. After a "teaching moment" we decided to trust my spidey sense and backtracked to the Thompson Point/Thompson Lake junction for lunch. Even there, we had pretty high gusts.
By the time we got to Granite Lakes at 1:30 -- where it was beautiful, vacant, clean clear water and windy but not frighteningly so, I knew I'd made the right decision. As long as this group had time at a lake, we'd have to be satisfied. Three of us swam 3/4 of the way across and got tons of cool pictures before leaving at 2:20 and covering the remaining 5+ miles in just under 2 hours.
Rock stars, every one of them. Generous with their food (when I left 2/3 of mine in my car in the dark). And so caring of everyone on the team. Fabulous memories to end the CHS-2 2025 season.