California · Hiking · Near Bear Valley

Granite Lake

Granite LakePhoto: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.8 mi
round trip
193 ft
climb
7,622 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Granite Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.

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

Granite Lake is a 3.8-mile out-and-back hike on natural trail in California's Eldorado National Forest, within the Amador Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land. The trail rises from a low point of 7,469 feet to a high of 7,622 feet, with a total elevation gain of 193 feet over the course of the route. It is rated moderate, and horses are allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station run to a high of 75°F and a low of 49°F, and the trail stays open year-round. The Minkalo and East Silver Lake hikes both lie within about a mile, and Silver Lake Campground is about 1.4 miles away. Climbers can find Old Camp Bluff roughly 1.5 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Ridge Camp

    Campground

    Campground · 1.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Kit Carson Restaurant

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Alpine County Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 18 mi from Bear Valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Bear Valley

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Granite Lake

    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

      36° / 23°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 26°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

      5 wet

    5. May

      56° / 35°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 36°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 25.4 mi away at 7,334 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide

      Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

MinkaloPhoto: sarahstierch, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Minkalo

Next door

4.26-mile out-and-back trail in California with 439 ft elevation gain.

East Silver LakePhoto: sarahstierch, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

East Silver Lake

~2 min drive

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Silver Lake-Horse Canyon TrailPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Silver Lake-Horse Canyon Trail

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HIKE

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THUNDER MOUNTAIN LOOPPhoto: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

THUNDER MOUNTAIN LOOP

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Shealor LakePhoto: ray_explores, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Shealor Lake

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Silver Lake-Horse Canyon TrailPhoto: JLH PHOTO, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Silver Lake-Horse Canyon Trail

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Carson Emigrant National Recreational TrailPhoto: JLH PHOTO, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Carson Emigrant National Recreational Trail

~7 min drive

5.74-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,349 ft elevation gain.

GRANITE LAKEPhoto: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

GRANITE LAKE

~2 min drive

2.54-mile out-and-back hike to Granite Lake in California with 746 ft gain.

Thunder Mountain LoopPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Thunder Mountain Loop

~6 min drive

9.51-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,820 ft gain.