California · Hiking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Big Granite

11.0 mi
round trip
3,511 ft
climb
6,603 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is marginal · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 10 h ago

Is Big Granite open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.

  • Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts

    Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Big Granite is a hard hike in the American River Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest, about 2 miles from the town of Cisco, California. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from a low point of about 3,134 feet to a high of about 6,603 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 3,511 feet over roughly 11 miles. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Lake Spaulding weather station, which sits about 1,400 feet lower than the summit, show July and August highs around 82°F with lows in the upper 40s. Winter is cold, with January highs in the mid-40s and lows near 25°F. The trail is on natural surface and bikes are allowed. Salmon Lake Trail starts just 0.4 miles away, and the Salmon Lake climbing area is about 0.9 miles off. For an overnight base, Big Bend Campground is about 2.3 miles away and Hampshire Rocks Campground is about 3 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Loch Leven Lakes Dispersed Camping

    Campground

    Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    On your way back · 2 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Big Granite

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      44° / 25°

    2. Feb

      46° / 26°

    3. Mar

      51° / 27°

    4. Apr

      56° / 30°

    5. May

      64° / 37°

    6. Jun

      75° / 43°

    7. Jul

      82° / 48°

    8. Aug

      82° / 47°

    9. Sep

      76° / 44°

    10. Oct

      65° / 37°

    11. Nov

      51° / 30°

    12. Dec

      43° / 25°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Spaulding, CA, 6.5 mi away at 5,156 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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