Colorado · Hiking · Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness · Near Leadville

Granite Lake

11.4 mi
round trip
2,807 ft
climb
11,610 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 12 h ago

Is Granite Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

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

Granite Lake is a hard hike in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness, part of the Sopris Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. The trail is about 11 miles long, with a one-way climb of roughly 2,800 feet from a low point of about 8,777 feet to a high of about 11,610 feet. The nearest town is Nast, less than a mile away. The route is an out-and-back on natural surface, and it is open to horses. Bikes are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F, while winter brings highs in the mid-20s and frequent snow days. The Fryingpan River is about half a mile away. Nast E Lake and Chapman Lake are both within about 2.5 miles, and Chapman Group Campground is about 3 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Chapman Group Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    La Mina Tacos Y Mariscos

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 16 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Craig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Granite Lake

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    2. Feb

      29° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    3. Mar

      35° / 8°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    4. Apr

      40° / 15°

      13 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      49° / 25°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    6. Jun

      61° / 34°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      67° / 40°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      64° / 39°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      58° / 32°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      47° / 21°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    11. Nov

      35° / 11°

      12 wet · 12 snow

    12. Dec

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 22.2 mi away at 11,344 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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