A mile and a quarter of uphill walking separates you from one of the Sierra Nevada's clearest little lakes. Granite Lake sits high above Tahoe's South Shore, tucked between Eagle and Cascade Lakes at the foot of Maggie's Peak, and unlike its famous neighbour it rarely feels busy — largely because you have to earn it on foot.

The route in is the Bayview Trail, starting from a trailhead car park right off Highway 89, opposite Inspiration Point. It's a short out-and-back but not a stroll: roughly 1.25 miles each way with about 900 feet of elevation gain. The payoff is a small, strikingly clear pool ringed by pines and granite ledges. The clarity isn't a fluke — the whole basin shares the same geology, elevation and water sources that make Tahoe-area lakes famous for their transparency, according to the US Forest Service.

You'll need a day-use permit, but it's painless: grab one from the self-service station at the trailhead. If 900 vertical feet only whets your appetite, keep climbing to Maggie's Peak — about 4.3 miles round trip with 1,781 feet of gain, rewarded with sweeping 260-degree views over Granite Lake, Emerald Bay and the Desolation Wilderness. Keen hikers can also link the trip to nearby Eagle, Velma, Azure or Dick's Lakes for a longer day out.

Base yourself in South Lake Tahoe, about 10 miles away, where you'll find accommodation, restaurants and plenty of other trails and lakeside spots. The nearest airport is Reno-Tahoe International, roughly 70 miles from the trailhead.

Timing matters depending on what you want. Summer is the season for swimming — the water stays cold but the weather is warm and the trails busy. Spring and autumn bring fewer people and lower prices, with pleasant hiking weather and chillier water. Whenever you go, start early: parking at popular Tahoe trailheads fills fast in high season.

For travellers who love Tahoe's scenery but not its summer gridlock, Granite Lake hits a sweet spot — a genuine alpine swim spot and a summit viewpoint, all within a half-day's effort and a short drive of a well-served resort town.