
Hiking along an old road for a few miles, Granite Mountain seen in the center somewhere.

We left the road and headed through the lumpy desert, generally going northwest toward a major wash draining from the peak.

View back into one of the many little drainages.

After a bunch of desert traversing, we dropped into the wash and headed north.

Often the wash was rocky, but never too bad.

View back toward the wash after we chose to leave it for easier terrain on its west bank.

Ascending via the standard ridge route.

View back into the wash. We picked up the ridge from the left. It was difficult to decide where to head up since as you can see, the ridge continues undulating on the right and it made more sense to skip that section and keep to the wash.

Class 2/2+ along the ridge.

View back at our progress.

Granite Mountain seen top right. The ridge ascends up to the left, then heads along the crest to the summit.

A notable rock outcropping that Tyler chose to scramble, but is easily avoidable on the right.

More Class 2 as we ascend.

A shot back as we progress up the ridge.

Class 2 fun.


The ridge bends northeast and becomes more rocky higher up.

Class 2/2+ ahead.

Avoiding the crest on the left seemed to be easiest, though the crest is only Class 2+/3 if you choose to stick to it.

View back along the ridge we ascended (right), the wash we started in seen left of center.

Granite Mountain seen on the left. Palen Mountain in the distance on the right.

Close-up of the ridgeline to gain the summit.

Granite Mountain summit view south. Palen right, Little Marias left.

Granite Mountain summit, view toward Palen Mountain above, and our approach route in on the mining road through the desert left of center.

Granite Mountain summit, view north.
Hire me or show me some love!
Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!