Hiking Mount Grant in the Skagit Valley

Rated 4 out of 5

Mount Grant Hike Information

Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 14.75Km
Elevation Gain: 1,750m
Highest Elevation: 2,180m
Average Gradient: 23.72%

Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 12 Hours
– Moderate: 8.5 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 7.5 – 8.5 Hours

Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: ~May to October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: Simple scrambling, no exposure.

Mount Grant Trail

Trailhead Coordinates: 49°14’54.4″N 121°23’31.3″W

Mount Grant Overview

Mount Grant is a summit located slightly northeast of Eaton Lake in the Skagit Valley near Hope. Accessed via the Eaton Lake trail, the route beyond the lake is an unofficial but relatively established route that shouldn’t cause too much issue for experienced hikers used to navigating in the backcountry. Most of the route is just steep hiking, however there may be some simple, no exposure scrambling towards the summit.

Some parties will tackle Mount Grant as a big day hike, while others will prefer to camp at Eaton Lake and spread the hike over two days. The route to Eaton Lake is more established and shouldn’t cause too much issue, except for a few log creek crossings that can sometimes be finicky if there’s been any recent damage.

In terms of seasonality, Mount Grant is typically only climbed in the late spring and summer, mostly due to the massive stats that would make a winter ascent incredibly difficult. There would also be a decent amount of avalanche risk were a party to attempt it in the winter. With that said the season will generally run from around May to October, with the peak window being July to September.

In order to access the trailhead, hikers must drive down the groomed Silver Skagit FSR. The trail actually begins from a recreation site that can be somewhat popular with campers. Unfortunately it also has a history of attracting homeless encampments, so you may want to take care with leaving your vehicle with any valuables if so. Dogs are welcome on this route.

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Is Mount Grant worthwhile?

Rated 4 out of 5

Mount Grant is a big hike with a lot of elevation gain, much of which is spent in the forest. Thankfully most of the route is well maintained, so the trail is usually fairly straightforward the whole way up. The views from the summit (and the lake) are rewarding and absolutely worth the effort the get there, however it falls short of a 5* rating largely because of the significant amount of time spent grinding in the forest before getting any payoff.

How difficult is the hike to Mount Grant?

Obviously Mount Grant is a challenging hike, with over 1,750m of elevation gain and an average gradient of over 23%. These stats put it amongst some of the more physically demanding hikes on this website. With that said, it often doesn’t feel as challenging as the stats might suggest as the climbing is consistent but not outrageously steep, and there is little time wasted on flat or undulating terrain. This is an efficient, straight up and down affair.

Technically speaking Mount Grant poses some modest challenge, with a few tricky creek crossings (season depending – much easier in late summer) and a steep gully climb to reach the summit. In the spring you can expect to have to kick steps into the snow, and some parties may prefer to use microspikes/crampons and an ice axe, though we never felt this was necessary. In the summer you will likely face some simple scrambling with no real exposure, no more than Class 2.

Mount Grant Route Information

The trail begins from the Eaton Creek Recreation site along Silver Skagit Road. The road to here is generally in good condition and suitable for all vehicles. I have written a more detailed post about the route to Eaton Lake, so won’t go into too much detail here.

From the trailhead you will climb steadily in the forest (some of which is quite scenic), before beginning a series of creek crossings as you near the lake. Most of these are straightforward but the route is volunteer maintained, so conditions vary by year. After crossing a brief boulder field you’ll soon reach the lake, which is a good spot for a break before the real climbing begins. By now you will have climbed a little more than 900m over 4.3km.

From the lake you will need to (easily) locate a log crossing over the outflow of the lake after a short backtrack along the trail. This log crossing is trickier than any on the way to the lake, especially in the late spring/early summer when the outflow is rapid. There is no handline, so poles come in useful for balance. The log itself can sometimes be a little slick, so take care with your footing.

On the other side of the crossing you will want to pick up a faint trail leading into the forest, which shouldn’t be too difficult. In the forest you should be able to follow a general route (up!) which should be somewhat flagged. Keep an eye on your GPX and make any necessary corrections if you find yourself off the trail. It’s steep but largely straightforward travel.

After climbing around 200m from the lake (~1,600m) the forest will start to thin out and you’ll begin to get views of Eaton Peak and the lake below if you look back. You’ll soon reach a few boulder fields that you’ll need to ascend, keeping an eye out for flagging/cairns as you do to stay on the general route.

At around 1,800m you’ll begin a short sidehill traverse to the west, working your way towards the gully climb. After crossing over a creek you’ll reach the beginning of the gully. In snow we had to kick steps in for the steep climb, but in the summer it’ll likely just be steep hiking with the odd use of hands here and there for nothing more than stabilization. There is no exposure.

The gully climb is around 200m more of gain, topping out at around 2,000m. Once here, you’ll work through a few sparse tree bands and the remainder of the route to the top is straightforward, albeit continually steep.

The views from the top are of course panoramic 360 degree views, with particularly good views of the nearby Eaton Peak. Other notable peaks include the Cheam range, Mount Baker, Slesse Mountain, Mount Rexford, Silvertip Mountain and Mount Outram. You’ll also get a nice sightline of the elusive Swanee Lake.

After resting up at the summit and enjoying the scenery, you’ll simply reverse course back to the lake, then ultimately back to the trailhead. This can be a fairly gruelling descent, so you may want to take a half-time break at the lake on the way down as well.

When should I hike Mount Grant?

As noted, the best time to visit Mount Grant is between May and October. If you want to avoid snow entirely then you’ll want to stick to July to September for the best season. If you prefer a snowy gully than a rocky one, aim for late May / early June for the best conditions.