Granite Chief

Region: Lake Tahoe
Distance: 10 miles
Elevation: 6,200 to 9,000 feet
Vegetation: Pine Forest
Last Visit: September 2018

Granite Chief is the tallest peak on the northwest corner of Lake Tahoe.  It's the shortest of the four major peaks I think of as bracketing the Tahoe Basin - Freel (10881'), Rose (10736'), and Tallac (9735') are all taller.  But only Tallac boasts a better view from the summit and the hike up the Granite Chief trail is at least comparably nice to the ascent of Tallac.  The only thing this hike has going against it is that near the summit you have to pass under and around a ski lift, and the blight of Squaw Valley Ski resort mars part of the view from the summit.

Rules

This hike is in the Tahoe National Forest.  Dogs OK off leash under voice control.  No wilderness permits are required for day trips or overnight camping in most areas.  As always, a California Wildfire Permit is required to operate a camp stove or build a camp fire.

Trailhead

Trailhead parking is super easy and a bit tricky.  The Granite Chief trail starts just behind the fire station across from the main Squaw Valley parking lot.  Another large parking lot is just to the east towards the Olympic Village Inn.  There are bunch of signs around warning against parking here.  But I think those are mostly in effect during the ski season.  On summer weekends there are often folks parking in these mostly empty lots and obviously heading out to hike and bike in the valley.

Little trailhead sign next to the fire house on Squaw Valley Road.

Route

Caltopo Map: https://caltopo.com/m/3BK1

In the past this route could be unexpectedly difficult due to some inconsistent mapping and poor trail marking, but on our last visit some improved signage around the Squaw Valley Creek really helped.

The trail starts out looping around behind Olympic Village Inn and climbing slightly to the Squaw Valley Creek.  The creek here has some small cascades and pools, so it is a popular quick destination for family hikes.  That means there are lots of small use trails around the creek and it's easy to get confused and end up ascending the the Shirley Canyon Trail, which follows Squaw Creek up the valley.  Just keep to the right of the flowing creeks and follow the occasional sign to the Granite Chief Trail.  From there, navigation is pretty easy as the trail climbs the north side of the canyon with several great views down the valley from rocky benches.   At around three miles in, the trail meets the PCT and turns south.  The PCT runs under a ski lift running near the peak, and passes on south with out hitting the peak.  To reach the summit, leave the maintained trail and find the use trail up the last bit of south-east ridge to the summit.

Elevation profile for the Granite Chief Trail

Topographic map for the Granite Chief Trail.

Looking back down the valley from the Granite Chief Trail

Some September ice on the marshy pond just under the peak

Use trail to the summit looping around to the south of the ski lift.

Looking back down the use trail from near the summit.