Granite Lake-Horseshoe Lake Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Swift Creek Trailhead
- End point: Swift Creek Trailhead
- Trail log: Trinity Alps Granite Lake Horseshoe Lake Hike/Log
- Distance: 39.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 2000 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year round, very hot in summer
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: Busy during the summer
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Hike Description
The Trinity Alps is one of the priemier hiking areas in the galaxy. Not as famous as the Sierras, but everyone should do a hike in this area at least once.
There are large areas of alpine granite. The trails here are a little more rugged than typical Columbia Gorge or Cascades trails. There are many spectacular peaks and ridges and little alpine lakes. It is a long drive from Portland though, but at least it's not as far away as the Sierras. The Trinities have a fairly narrow spine of alpine granite compared to the Sierras, which are really uncomparable. The Trinites are somewhat similar to the Wallowas.
This is quite a bit South of Portland so somewhat warmer. Sometimes, the weather systems firehose is pointed at Portland and Northern California has nice weather, but sometimes it's vice versa, and sometimes it's nice or bad both places simultaneously, so you just have to check the weather report. This is a nice area to have in your repertoire
The Granite Lake Horseshoe Lake loop is nice, but I don't know that this is the best of the Trinities. I don't have a lot of experience there. This definitely offered some very nice scenery and there are a couple of extensions you could do if this isn't enough miles. I really enjoyed this so unless you know better, this would be a good introduction.
The hike up to Granite Lake is through trees. Above there you get into alpine granite - up a ridge, down into Deer Creek Valley, and up to Deer Lake. You could go further. I went back down a ways to camp in a more sheltered location, then back up through the alpine Mumsford Basin on a not maintained trail and back down to Swift Creek to camp at a more sheltered location. Then I went up to Horseshoe Lake - more alpine granite before returning to the trailhead.
Detailed Description
Start at the Swift Creek trailhead at 4000 feet elevation.
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- retiredjerry (creator)