Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
Post Reply
User avatar
r888888888
Topix Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 5:17 pm
Experience: Level 2 Backpacker

Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by r888888888 »

This will be in late June. Two hikers. We'll be spending the night before in Fresno and driving in early morning to hopefully start at 7 AM.

Experience: level 2, did some backpacking in Tuolumne and lots of hiking/camping in the bay area.
Main interests: Alpine scenery, solitude, lakes.
Duration: 2 nights, 3 days. Tentatively expecting to camp at tent meadow, but if we have enough gas in the tank we may attempt to go further.

I'm curious if people would recommend staying at Grouse Lake, or is it worth the extra two miles (of relatively flat trail it looks like) to make it to Granite Lake. I really enjoyed camping at Young Lake in Yosemite and am looking for a similar experience.
User avatar
mort
Topix Regular
Posts: 160
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2013 2:47 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by mort »

Hello r8...
Well, there are 3 Young Lakes . The lowest is pretty forested, and the highest is on a large alpine bench. Grouse lake, near the outlet, is more lower Young Lake. Granite Lake is more like upper Young Lake. I think Grouse gets fewer visitors. Both are glacially scoured granite benches, lots of slabs and boulders. Beautiful country!
-mort
User avatar
thegib
Topix Regular
Posts: 293
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:37 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Berkeley

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by thegib »

I recommend Granite lake. I want to like Grouse cuz it's closer and more 'on' route for me, as I usually head north, but it's marshy leading to reeds at the water edge. Granite (and the little lake above it) are beautiful.
User avatar
cgundersen
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1338
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:07 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by cgundersen »

Hi R8,
I'm with the Granite camp. It's simply the prettier of the two lakes and worth the extra effort. Plus, if you're feeling your mojo, a walk up the northern ridge above Granitew affords great views of the Volcanic lakes, as well as incredible distant views toward Goddard and across Kings canyon. Cameron
User avatar
commonloon
Topix Regular
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:32 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by commonloon »

Both are nice, maybe Granite is a little nicer. The area between them can be super bad for mosquitoes, so be prepared. Enjoy!
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11823
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by maverick »

Another vote for Granite Lake and a peek into Volcanic Lakes. :thumbsup: :nod:
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
thegib
Topix Regular
Posts: 293
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:37 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Berkeley

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by thegib »

Super true about the mosquitos en route.
User avatar
Wandering Daisy
Topix Docent
Posts: 6641
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:19 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento area)
Contact:

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by Wandering Daisy »

If you can get to Granite Lake the first day, a day-hike to Volcano Lakes is worthwhile. In fact, on a past trip, mosquitoes were so bad at States Lakes, that I bailed out and camped on the ridge, near Volcano Lakes, west of Granite Pass. It was windy up there and few mosquitoes. Volcanic Lakes are a great place to explore! I have never camped at Granite Lake, but if the big meadow below it is still wet, you may get a lot of mosquitoes. But this year is not normal. Hopefully the mosquitoes may have come and gone.
User avatar
TehipiteTom
Founding Member
Posts: 953
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:42 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by TehipiteTom »

I haven't been to Granite Lake since 1980, so I don't have the clearest memory of it. I do remember there were a lot of other people there, and my guess would be that you'll still run into more people there than at Grouse.

Granite may well be the prettier lake in itself. The side of Grouse Lake nearest the best camping is reedy, with a bunch of little pools, though the north shore is pleasantly beachy. What Grouse Lake does have over Granite is the view from the ridgelet just southeast of the lake.
Image

As always, the choice is a question of what matters most to you.
User avatar
sekihiker
Founding Member
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:47 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Fresno
Contact:

Re: Route advice: Copper Creek Trail - Grouse Lake or Granite Lake?

Post by sekihiker »

You didn't mention which Tent Mdw. Since Lower Tent Mdw is so close to the trailhead, I'll assume you meant you might stay at Upper Tent. Decent camp spots are scarce at Upper Tent.
The hike to the lip of Granite Basin is very difficult for most hikers. There is maintained trail to Granite Lake but not to Grouse Lake. The use trail to Grouse is not hard to find, though.
Either way, unless you are in great shape, be prepared for a very strenuous hike.
Grouse Lake would be the easier trip and I would choose it for a first trip up the Copper Creek trail.

For a report on a trip in the general area, see: http://www.sierrahiker.com/MonarchDivide/index.html

Do Granite Lake next time. Once you have peeked into the Granite Basin, you'll know you have to return.
Image
Lower Granite Lakes - When I first saw this lake in the lower Granite Basin in 1957, I was hooked on exploring the Sierra Nevada.

Image
Grouse Lake - Munger Peak, Mungoat Pass, and Goat Peak form the backdrop for beautiful Grouse Lake.

Image
Granite Lakes from the Monarch Divide.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Harlen, Rutrho and 159 guests