Granite Mountain, Mountain summit in King County, Washington.

Granite Mountain is a peak in the Cascade Range of King County, Washington, 16 miles (26 km) east of North Bend, reaching 1,716.96 m. Its upper slope is a steep pile of loose, angular gray rock mottled with pale green lichen, broken into irregular blocks and slabs with no visible path or soil. A small square lookout with a flat roof, dark windows and a railed catwalk stands on the pointed crest, with a few sparse evergreens near the top.

A fire lookout station was built on the summit in 1924 to help monitor forest fires in the region. The structure underwent a major rebuild in 1955 to improve its function and longevity.

Volunteers dedicate their time from June through September to maintain and operate the fire lookout station at the mountain summit.

The summit trail climbs from forest into the open rock slope seen in the photograph, ending at the lookout's railed catwalk. Snow lingers late and is wet and heavy, raising avalanche danger on the upper slopes in winter and spring. Plan for cloud cover and rain most of the year; clear skies are most likely in summer.

The area receives heavy, wet snowfall during winter months because of maritime influences from the Pacific Ocean. Summer brings clear skies and excellent visibility on the summit due to pressure systems that develop over the water.