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Visitors to the Crazy Mountains will almost undoubtedly see this peak as it lies between Twin Lakes and Granite Lake. Steep sides and loose rock make this peak challenging, but non-technical routes exist. More info to come as I get time to post it.

Crazy Mountains panorama from the summit of Granite Peak.

Getting There

Of the two main trailheads for accessing the Crazies, the Half Moon Campground/Trailhead is your best option for climbing Granite Peak. From I-90, take the Big Timber exit and head north on Hwy. 191. Drive about 8 miles from downtown Big Timber and turn left onto Wormser Road (Note: on Google Maps the road is called Big Timber Canyon Road, but if I remember correctly, the actual road sign is Wormser Road). Drive 3.5 miles on the dirt road and look for a sign denoting "Forest Service Access." Turn left and follow the road to the trailhead. There is a fork in the road about 6 miles from this last turn, stay to the right and you'll be fine. The road passes through private land and you will go through a gate. Please leave the gate as you found it, which is most likely closed. Hike up Big Timber Canyon and depending on how you want to ascend the peak, head towards either Twin Lakes or Granite and Blue Lake.

Night shot from Twin Lakes. Photo taken by Tie-Dye Mike

Granite Peak from lower Twin Lakes. Photo taken by bigsky801

Red Tape

Watch out for loose rock! The Crazy Mountains have a "crazy" amount of loose rock so try your best not to send a rock slide onto people below you. Also, there is currently a fire ban within 1/4 mile of Granite, Blue, and Twin Lakes. This is to protect the delicate alpine forest around the lakes. The ban does not apply to stoves. There are no wilderness areas in the Crazies, but use your common sense when camping in the backcountry and try to preserve this area for future visitors.

Camping

Great camp sites exist around Blue Lake, Granite Lake, and Twin Lakes. Be mindful of other campers and check up on any fire restrictions.

South face with Pear Lake in the lower left. Photo taken by Tie-Dye Mike

External Links

USGS Crazy Peak Quad
NOAA Weather
Gallatin National Forest

Looking east down Big Timber Canyon from the trail to the Sweetgrass Divide. August 2008.

Routes

There are numerous route possibilities for this mountain. If you have climbed any of them, please contact me or add a route page. The route I climbed left from the Granite/Blue Lakes area and ascended one of the many rock couliors to the summit ridge, which I traversed to the true summit. Loose rock was the biggest concern, but be ready to possibly do some 4th class climbing. Basic route finding is all you really need, just look for the line of least resistance. I'm not providing specifics because they're not really necessary, so get out there and have an adventure!