Day Hike - Granite Lakes via Granite Creek

The trail starts out pretty steep and narrow as it is starting to be overgrown by salmonberry. But at least there are some salmonberry flowers to accompany them, and even some ripe fruit! There are four iconic carved log sofas along the trail, and after a half mile or so, you reach the second one and a majestic view. The trail widens and becomes less steep from here on. The trail is in great condition with hard packed dirt and not too many rocks and roots. The trail roughly follows Granite Creek. You can sometimes see the creek roaring in the ravine below, and you can hear it in the background for much of the way. At 1.1 miles from the trailhead you reach the intersection with the Granite Creek Connector trail, and at 1.6 miles, you reach the bridge across the Granite Creek. This is a great place to take a break, and the fourth carved sofa is here. Beyond here there are several stream crossings, but they all have well-placed stepping stones, so you don't get your feet wet. In about a mile further, you will be high enough that the trees start to thin out, and you start to get peek-a-boo views of the surrounding mountain peaks (Dirtybox, Mailbox, Dirty Harry's?). The views keep you company, and then you soon reach peak elevation at the intersection to Thompson Lake. The last half mile is a descent down to the Granite Lakes. We did not see the Lower Granite Lake, as it is quite overgrown. To get to Upper Granite Lake, follow the obvious path across a small log bridge and through some mud and beyond until you reach the lake shore. There are lots of little nooks at the lake shore to hang out in, stretching a third of the way around the lake. There were 10 or so groups there already, so you may have to search a ways around the lake until you find the best spot. We had a large group, but found a good spot near some large rocks at the shore and a shade tree. The lake was quite majestic and surrounded by mountains. The water was clean and clear and a good place to swim if you can stand the cold (though if you pick a sunny spot on the lake, wading in might be necessary). Even with all of the streams along the hike and the still sunny lake, there were no annoying bugs to be found! 

• P.S. We arrived at the parking lot at 8:20am, and the lot was less than half full. When we returned at 2pm, it was overflowing with cars parked along most of the access road down to the Middle Fork Road. The pit toilet at the parking lot is still closed, but there is one a mile or so back on the Middle Fork Road.