GRANITE MOUNTAIN 2038m 6686′
One of the two mountains that make up the Red Mountain Resort ski area, it makes for a good early season hike with good road access. Unfortunately, almost all the hike is on a road.
Location: Red Mountain Resort north of Rossland
Difficulty: C2
Elevation gain: 788m (2586′)
Key elevations: Red Mountain Resort lodge 1250m (4100′); Summit 2038m (6686′)
Distance: 7.5 km to the summit
Time: 3 hours up 1.5 hours down
Access: Any vehicle all year round
Season: May through October
Map: 82F/4 Rossland-Trail, Red Mountain Resort map
Drive: Drive north on Hwy 3B about 4 km and turn left into the resort. Park at the upper end of the condos.
Trail/Route: Take a shortcut under the Mother Lode chair. There are many options:
1. Go straight up the Mother Lode chair, then straight up Southern Comfort, traverse the ridgeline and scramble up to the summit. Total time up 3 hours.
2. Continue under Mother Lode to Southside Road, a green run with an easy grade. Have lunch at the Paradise Lodge. Take Board Walk to the summit. Reach the helipad with a brief scramble.
3. All roads. Southside Road just to the north goes past some maintenance sheds (posted “no access” etc.). Follow the road as it switchbacks up to the west. Keep left, pass under the Granite Chair and continue west up the West Little Sheep Creek valley.
4.4 km. A very bad road goes left and down to the bottom of the Paradise Chair.
6 km. A road goes right to the top of the Granite Chair – do not take this but instead go straight up grassy slopes to the Granite-Record col (km. 7, 6250′). Then take the ridge to the summit.
In season, 4WD high clearance low-range; the last 800 m is muddy and challenging.
Return on any of the ascent routes or go straight down the south and east slopes. Hike down Main Run and then bushwhack down to the service road.
There are non-stop panoramic mountain vistas for the entire descent, including a lovely, birds-eye view of the town of Trail, and several gushing waterfalls. Total descent time is about 1.5 hours.