This is the easiest way to get to the Granite Mountain summit.
The hike starts at an old mining road off Rodriguez canyon rd.
Start up the mining road for a gradual climb, a nice warm up.
At the point the mining road levels off and turns right, go up north on a steeper slope that leads to the ridge.
This steeper part is good for hiking, filled with enough sand to give good footing.
Once on the ridge, follow the ridge up, the only obstacles, a lot of relatively harmless cacti.
The ridge goes up gradually, close to the end of the ridge, one small obstacle a dike, looks more of problem from afar, from up close no problem to climb over.
Now head north/east heading for the summit, a bunch of huge boulders.
The climb up the peak boulder is a bit of a challenge and maybe easier to climb up from the east side.
You can head back the same way or continue towards Cool canyon. The last with a car shuttle.
Head south/east, meeting a couple of false peaks, this ridge is much steeper and filled with plenty of boulders, compared to the way up.
Going down in steeper terrain, with plenty of sand and boulders is much easier, than coming up, this is definitely the right direction to hike. (Clockwise)
Once on the saddle between Cool canyon and Hornblende canyon, head left (east) down the slope and over the left ridge.
Down into Cool canyon, a very scenic canyon with lots of dry falls, none problematic.
Hiking time up to the peak from Rodriguez: 2 hour, 40 minutes.
Hiking time further down to Cool canyon: 3 hours.
How to get here:
1)Take the unmarked park road (west) close to mile 21.5, drive the dirt road all the way to the end and leave one car behind.
2)Drive further south on the S2, take the marked exit Oriflamme (there is one mailbox), next at the next marked crossing, just before the farm, turn right.
Follow the wash road, cross the mostly dry wash a couple of times.
At the signed 3 way crossing Oriflamme / Rodriguez, keep right (Rodriguez) and after a short while take the sometimes almost invisible old mining road on the right.
Drive this old road for a very short while and park, driving further isn't possible and allowed.