Granite Mountain, a peak in Washington’s Cascade Range about 16 miles east of North Bend, is known for the fire lookout on its summit and the trail that leads to it. First built in 1924 and rebuilt 31 years later, the lookout still operates through volunteer maintenance from June through September, preserving a link to the Cascades’ fire detection tradition. The mountain also reflects the western Cascades’ marine west coast climate, with heavy winter rain and snow, frequent cold-season cloudiness, clearer summer weather, and notable avalanche danger from wet, dense snow. Today it remains a popular hiking destination and a recognizable mountain east of Seattle.