Trip Reports

8 miles roundtrip, 2000' elevation gain and loss. I took the Lake Ann loop, which is a more gradual climb, but a pretty steep return.

40 degrees to start the hike, probably never got above 50. With the cold weather there were no bugs.

Long drive from Seattle (3 1/2hrs) for a day hike, but well worth the effort. Great views from the top. The first 2 hours on the trail I did not run into another soul. Heard lots of whistling from Marmots, but never saw one. Wild flowers were still out but past their prime, expect fall colors to arrive in the next 2 weeks.

We hiked this trail after it was highlighted in the August issue of Washington Trails. It was ALL that it was reported to be! We hiked counter-clockwise, as advised, and agreed that this is the best approach in terms of the ever-unfolding views. There were flower varieties, too many to mention, cascading waterfalls, lake-views and all without thigh-burning effort. This is definitely a primo hike. The trail is in excellent condition.

Nifty Sixties

Did the Maple Pass Loop clockwise (Rainy Lake to Lake Ann). Started by walking on the paved path to Rainy Lake where a few patches of fall color stained the cirque walls. The three miles to the shoulder of Frisco Mtn, the high point of the hike, were steep in forest until breaking into wonderful views eastward including glimpses into Rainy Lake. After a bit of trail congestion around Frisco Mtn, it was mostly lonesome hiking back down around Lake Ann. Views to both the north and south along the ridge were fantastic between Frisco Mtn and Maple Pass. Two hikers reported seeing a bear and cub in the woods a switchback or two below Heather Pass but I saw neither.

Our annual trip to Washington pass to see the fall color. We were a little early, but with the good weather, we thought, ""better go now!"" We camped at Lone Fir campground, so got an early start on this hike. We like to hike the loop clockwise, up the steeper route and down the gentler side. The larches are just turning, with a mix of gold and chartreuse. The blueberries and Mt. Ash are in their full glory now, reds, purples, and oranges, contrasting with the yellow of the dying herbaceous plants and the golden larches. With the warm, sunny weather and the blue skies, it made for a perfect fall hike.

There's a big fire burning near Winthrop right now. Today the wind was blowing from east to west, and from Maple Pass I could see smoke drifting towards Washington Pass. I didn't notice any nearby, but the wind wasn't blowing very hard today. I suppose if the wind speed and direction were right, there could be smoke blown into this area.

On the plus side, the cool weather earlier this week seems to have finished off the bugs, at least in this area.

MAPLE PASS LOOP 7/29/06

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CONDITIONS

Sunny, cool breeze, few bugs, no trail obstacles,

two tiny snow patches to cross, flowers slightly past mid

summer peak bloom, views incredible in all directions

and abundant wildlife.

NARRATIVE

I've wanted to hike this trail for many years,

ever since I first read about it in ""Don't Waste Your Time

In The North Cascades"". But it's just too far away , too

long a drive for me to handle as a day trip. So this year

I used a vacation day and drove up on Friday to camp

at Colonial Creek; the closest campground to the trail-

head. The other people in my Mountaineers group

arrived to meet me at the campground entrance on

Saturday morning. It was a great group: Heidi,

Cynthia, Yelena, Dave, Kendra, Elaine, Bill, Paula,

and Linda. We had 6 photographers amongst us and

we all shot a lot of images. Resulting in good photos

and a slow hike. A fine excuse to enjoy the trail

longer. We carpooled the remaining 28

miles up Hiway 20 to the Rainy Pass trailhead at

4850 ft. It's a beautiful drive through the National

Park.

There were mosquitoes in the parking lot

but we soon left them behind. Hiking about a mile

up in cool forest we came to the first meadows and

a steep rockfall area with views of a basin below and

eastern peaks beyond. Wonderful flowers here but

this was just a taste of what was to come later. We

proceeded up thru more forest past the junction to

Lake Ann and then broke out into the open on a steep

rocky, flowery slope that the trail traverses across,

climbing, climbing with the views of emerald /

sapphire colored Lake Ann constantly improving and

changing. We passed several serious photographers

as we made our way to Heather Meadow just below

Heather Pass (6200 ft.) Great views to the southwest

open up from the meadow and were even better from

the pass. Little Louis lake is a bright, bright turquoise

just below Black Peak. We had a snack here and

3 friendly deer joined us (the deer ate the flowers).

Some flies bothered us at the meadow but the breeze

picked up at the pass and blew them away !

Dominant meadow flowers were pink heather and

a small low white Indian Paintbrush variety.

Refueled and refreshed we ascended the

trail now switchbacking thru meadows loaded with

mid summer wildflower bloom. Our trail skirted

some drop-offs on this stretch to Maple Pass (6600 ft.).

The views of the Northern peaks expanded dramatically

as we climbed and then at Maple we topped out on

the ridge and suddenly also had views of southern

peaks equally majestic. Maple Pass was our lunching

spot.

From this mid point of our loop we continued

about 1/2 mile east on the ridge, crossing a tiny bit

of snow and then ascended to the high point of the

trail, 6850 ft. on the knife edge ridge line that

separates the Lake Ann drainage and bowl from

the Rainy Lake drainage and bowl. Rainy Lake

still has a glacier (Lyle) above it on Frisco Mtn.

supplying water. This 1/2 mile was thru a true

alpine tundra environment high above the treeline.

Only scattered low growing flowers bloomed

here. The ridge was very windy (no surprise)

but it felt invigorating and we lingered enjoying

the 270 degree panorama of hundreds of Cascade

peaks spread out around us.

The descent: We headed steeply

downward switchbacking thru varied meadows

above the Rainy Lake bowl. Here the trail was full

of surprises and would give us views of Lake

Ann and then Rainy Lake and then back again

all the while descending the narrow ridge

between the two lakes. At first view it seemed

Rainy Lake was straight down beneath us so

steep was the ridge side. Rainy is down low at

4800 ft. so we were almost 2000 ft. above at

first sight. It had the same beautiful blue/green

as Ann. But a bonus was the large two tier

waterfall feeding Rainy Lake from the

glacier above on the north side of Frisco

Mtn. This was an 800 ft. falls but it appeared

tiny below. At the point of many switchbacks

there were great vistas as the trail touched the left

and right edges of the steep ridgeline. At the

last good viewpoint we encountered a friendly

marmot who stopped eating to pose. After

dropping over 1000 ft. we entered open forest

and descended the last mile in the cool green

trees.

FLORA

There was no single dominant flower in

bloom. Over 30 identifiable species shared the

glory. Most prominent were the heathers, paint

brush in several colors, fireweed, valerian, aster,

columbine, giant hellebore , arnica, penstemon,

veronica, pussytoes and the daisy family. All colors

were represented except black and brown.

PROBLEMS

One of my hikers had old boots whose soles started

to delaminate between Heather and Maple passes. Linda

patched the other gal's boots with duct tape. It worked!

and she got down OK. One of my group had knee

surgery in May and was not in good shape yet. On the

last steep climb up from the Maple Pass plateau up to

our high point ridge she ran out of gas and felt a little

dizzy (could have been the altitude too). After resting

and drinking and having her load lightened she made it to

to the top and was then fine the rest of the way down.

We couldn't leave her there and rejoin her

on the descent because this was a loop trip and we

weren't coming back down the way we went up.

OPINION

The Maple Pass loop is without question the

most beautiful and scenic day hike in North Cascades

National Park (Other authors agree). But it is for the most

part just OUTSIDE the park boundaries and in the

Okanogan National forest. Land must be included

in Congressionally declared national parks or

wilderness areas to be truly safe from development.

Why this area around Rainy and Washington passes

was left out of the park is a political and beauracratic

mystery. It's squeezed between the park and the

Pasayten wilderness and should have been included

in one or the other.

STATISTICS: 7 miles, 2050 ft. gain

6 1/2 hours total time (deliberately slow)

Max temp. 58 degrees at Maple Pass

Max wind speed 20 MPH at Hi Point

Visibility 50 miles plus

Blue sky 95 %

165 miles from my north Seattle home

104 miles east of I-5



Robert Michelson

As with Hidden Lake Lookout hike yesterday I was surprised by how advanced conditions were in the high country. Very little snow left on the trail--just a few easily-negotiated patches between Maple

Pass and the shoulder of Frisco Mt. Wildflowers were gorgeous, as usual, but I've seen better displays up here. They almost seemed a little past prime, at least on the east side of the Frisco. We were absolutely shocked all day by the almost eerie absence of other hikers--saw only one other hiker all day. A late afternoon start may have had something to do with it, but still....this is late July on a very popular hike. Impressed by views of the expanding plume of the Tripod fire north of Winthrop. We were worried about the bugs as noted in WTA report a week plus back and they were noxious in the woods both climbing and dropping, but in the high country the stiff wind kept them grounded. I have to say that I take exception to the advice of most hiking books to do the loop counterclockwise. Doing it clockwise allows you do get the unpleasant steep part out of the way first and saves the knees of aging hikers the stress of that jarring descent. It's steep, but slow and steady gets the job done. Then once to Frisco Mt. you can coast downhill on much gentler grades and purely enjoy the awesome scenery. And awesome in it!!!!

We did the Maple Pass loop for the first time on a very warm Thursday. Decided to follow Harvey Manning's advice and do the loop counter-clockwise-I would HIGHLY recommend this! We prepared ourselves quickly in the parking lot as the bugs were ferocious, this would prove to be an ominous omen. We skipped going to Lake Ann, opting instead to just enjoy it from the trail heading to the passes. It was very beautiful, with a nice island in the middle. The views in all directions were awesome. When we reached Heather Pass, we looked for a place for a rest break. Picked a spot looking toward Lewis Lake and Black Peak. We had rested for mere seconds when the flies found us. The heck with resting then, we proceeded on to Maple Pass. The views there of Glacier Peak and surrounding mountains were spectacular. We looked for a spot for lunch...but the flies there were thicker than at Heather, so on we went. Found a bit of a breeze on the shoulder of Frisco mountain(the high point of the loop), but it wasn't enough to ward of our attackers. Ah, who needs lunch anyway?? From here, it was a very steep descent towards Rainy Lake and the car. We saw many people coming up who questioned us about the flies...we could offer no good news.

Overall, the trail was in great shape, 99% snowfree(just two small patches to ascend that will probably not last the weekend), one blowdown, and the scenery was beyond our expectations. I'll definitely return...in mid-September, when it's cooler and bug-free! If the flies are this bad all summer, this will be another banner year for the sport of trail running!

After a phenomenal climb of South Early Winters Spire on Saturday, I was in the mood for a shorter but view filled day hike. The Lake Ann-Maple Pass trail fit the bill nicely.

The trail starts out in lovely and cool woods. There are four places on the trail impacted by blow downs. Fortunately the downed trees are relatively easy to climb over and are limited to the first mile of the trip.

Flowers are abundant both in the woods and on the open slopes higher up. Queen's Cup lilies will be blooming within a week.

Patchy snow is melting quickly below Heather Pass. However, above Heather Pass, snow is still quite abundant. Most of the route is obscured, but it is possible to find the way without too much difficulty as long as you have a map.

Much of the trail offers views down to Lake Ann - a sparkling jewel of rich color nestled in the curving arms of an ancient cirque. The views grow more expansive the higher you climb, each direction offering a visual feast of peaks, snow, waterfalls, flowers, and critters. Gray Jays greeted me enthusiastically at the pass - no doubt hoping I would open up my lunch and share a few tidbits.

However, while the trip up was relatively easy to manage going up, the snow is melting quickly making the route somewhat dangerous as I headed back down from Maple Pass around Noon. The soft snow was filled with hidden melt pockets and was very slippery in sections. I needed my ice axe to arrest on a steep section of the slope. The wet snow actually stuck to the bottom of my boot (no crampons)and I lost my footing. With such soft snow, I slid for nearly 20 feet before my axe held. Without the axe, I would have become a statistic rather than a happy hiker. PLEASE USE CAUTION!

Mercifully, other than some postholing, the rest of the trip down was safe and uneventful.

Please note, that the side trail to Lake Ann is snow covered where it meets the main trail. I met several hikers on my way down that had missed the way-trail. If you read the route description in the Mountaineers 100 Hikes in the North Cascades book before going, you should find the way-trail without too much difficulty despite the snow.

Happy Hiking!

Trail was pretty much snowfree up to Heather Pass. Then the trail was pretty snow-covered from there up to Maple Pass, but not hard to find our way. Walking poles helped on the steeper slopes we had to traverse - and we kicked in some good steps. Our group of 5 was likely the 1st hikers to do the loop this season, as the middle third of the trail is completely snow-covered with no steps in evidence. Several parties turned back at Heather Pass, due to the snow and slope angle. But, it's very do-able to do the full loop. Weather was superb (sunny, clear skies, breezy to keep the bugs away).

4 friends and I decided to enjoy some beautiful weather and hike the Maple Pass Loop. Partly cloudy gave us some mountains out (not all that you can see from this hike) but it was still a great day. There was no snow on the trail at all (first time I've never encountered on this trail) and the trail was in very good condition. Our group chose to hike the loop clockwise so make sure you look for trail off of the ""asphalt trail"" to Rainy Lake about 1/2 mile from the start. Look for a small footbridge off of the trail with a sign behind it (we walked by it the first time). We saw about a dozen other groups and quite a few dogs. The larch trees are really starting to change colors and the berries are just about done. Overall, a great place to go for a hike.

Maple Pass is all about fall colors, blueberries, and great views. We had all 3 on this great loop trip which we did in a counter clockwise direction which is less steep uphill but steeper downhill. The colors in the meadow below Maple Pass and at Heather Pass were superb. The blueberries at both of those passes were at their peak and the 360 degree views from the pass were great. The larch trees are just starting to turn color - only a few were partly yellow. After the hike, we detoured to the Washington Pass Overlook for the great views of Liberty Bell.

We had a very late start. Jon forgot his boots and had to go back, traffic was slowed by an apartment fire on Bothell Way, and then more traffic delays for construction on Highway 20. So we didn't start up until 1:30, after we ate lunch at Rainy Pass trailhead. Probably not a good destination for a day hike from Seattle.

The trail is in excellent condition. We did the loop counter-clockwise, going up to Heather Pass, looking down at Lake Ann with its little island, then coming down on the steeper east side of the loop eventually looking down at Rainy Lake. At one point, on a ridge, we could see both lakes.

This was a very cloudy day, and Maple Pass was in fog when we reached the crossing point between the up side and the down side. We did not see the vistas that I remember from an earlier visit; in fact, I was a little concerned, since Don and I were the only persons in our group who had been there before, and we were supposed to know where we were going in the dense fog and all the social trails at the top of the pass. It seemed to me there was much more climbing at the top then there had been the earlier time, but we came out at just the right place to start down, and once we dropped out of the cloud, the views to the north were outstanding. We could also see a glacier and a waterfall, a small un-named lake and of course Rainy Lake. After we came home, we read that there are two batholiths visible from Maple Pass. We didn't know about them, but we probably wouldn't have been able to see them.

Rainy Pass Trailhead - Heather Pass - Maple Pass- Rainy Pass Trailhead : Surpisingly few people on this loop hike with alpine views at their best. Too many peaks to count. Only four people all day. Trail very dusty. Flowers well beyond their prime. Green and glistening Rainy Lake 1000 feet below the narrow and often very steep trail.

On the way to a three day weekend of hiking in the North Cascades we decided to take in the Maple Pass Loop. There were quite a few people on the popular trail, but the abundance of views allows them to be well distributed along the length instead of being crowded onto a tiny summit. The larches were nearing peak, and the undergrowth a flaming red this sunny early fall day. The trail is well maintained with good views over much of its length. We walked the trail in the counterclockwise direction, which gives a more gradual ascent with a steeper descent on the back side. A beautiful late season hike!

We drove entirely on pavement to the trailhead near Rainy Pass (3 hours from Everett, some rubbernecking at the big slide area on the highway, and gawking at fall colours). The trail is in excellent condition the entire way.

We took the detour to Lake Ann. It's a loverly lake but the shoreline has little accessibility due to brush. Then we backtracked and headed to Heather Pass. Here we saw a few larches, starting to turn yellow. Taking the right turn over Heather Pass, we admired massive peaks such as Black and Corteo. After a snack, we backtracked and hiked up to Maple Pass. Here are more larches (not a tremendous quantity, but sufficient to enjoy), and grand views of Glacier Peak and the Ptarmigan Traverse peaks. Way down below is the valley where the PCT hikes. Apparently this trail was slated to be the PCT for a while, but considered too easily damaged for horse travel. Thus, no built trail drops down to the PCT.

We continued the loop, on much steeper but well-maintained trail back to the car. Views of the highway much of the way, so if you don't care for a loop, take the first portion back down.

Access trails at the highest part of the North Cascades Highway are truly a national treasure. Hikers can enjoy all of the splendor of high elevation alpine-relief, without having to commit to overnight trips. The dark side of this story would is that this same highway is frequently in-your-face. Included in this report is a NorthEast view from the highest point of the Maple Pass Trail, revealing a distant glimpse of the impressive Liberty Bell, but also the intursive Highway 20. A simple line-of-sight view would be ok, but it is highway-noise that seems to travel around corners. Cars, trucks, and most especially, mortorcycles, constantly cleave any expectation of the sounds of nature. Most certainly, wildlife is frightened-off by these out place throaty testosterone-substitutes that might be more at home on a developed commercial strip. Regardless, we continue to enjoy what most of us can not deny is a good thing, high speed highway not withstanding. I hasten to add that the Park Service has always done a tasteful job of providing comfortable, driver-friendly amenities, and the Maple Pass trail-head and parking facility is an excellent example of their work.

Can't top this loop for maximum vistas to miles-hiked ratio. Flowers are just superb and the skeeters think the same for warm-blooded visitors. Did the loop the counter-clockwise direction with a stop at pretty Lake Ann. Mosquitoes won out and it was adios to pretty Lk. Ann, the temptress.

Have I mentioned the flowers yet? They are out in force- from elephant head to lupine to lots of paintbrush and oodles more varieties. After a mandatory stop at Heather Pass and views toward Lewis Lk under the shadow of Black Pk. (a future trip there beckons) I wandered along atop the Lk. Ann cirque lip with ever-increasing views of the N. Cascade's sea of peaks until just before Maple Pass I ran into as delightful a couple as can be resting a spell. Klaus and Parvin are a 50ish couple who emigrated from Germany in 1987 and now reside in Sequim. I discovered that their travels have ranged from Everest base camp, the Alps, to New Zealand over the years. Summits from Mt. Blanc to Hood. So when they waxed poetic about the N. Cascades, that seemed like very high praise! With the views we had that day very easy to do.

They went ahead to Maple Pass while I did some photographing and when I made the pass they were nowhere to be seen- until I caught a glimpse of a tiny figure atop Frisco Mtn.- holy cow that Klaus was half goat. I curiously climbed up the narrow ridge between the pass and Frisco and what a delightful ridge ramble that was along the rocky spine until I saw Parvin at the furthest point on the ridge that most folks would venture to, sitting and nervously watching her husband way above. It looked way above our comfort levels but when Klaus returned he said I could have done it no problem- not that bad.

We had lunch together in the nice sun and noticed some haze and smoke build-up especially south towards Glacier Pk., undoubtably from nearby wildfires. But the wind kept the haze for the most part away from the area thankfully.

The continuation of the loop followed, we dropped down on a steeper grade along the ridge separating Ann and Rainy Lks until a magnificent waterfall came into view flowing into Rainy Lk. I wish it hadn't been partly in shadow and I had a tripod for what could have been a great photograph. Ah well. After that the trail enters woods and the shade was very welcome as we quickly dropped down to finally intersect with the paved Rainy Lk. trail and shortly

Last day of the larching weekend, I needed my larch fix. Hart's Pass was still closed due to the fires, so driving up to the larches was not an option.

DAR and SIE took their time to Heather Pass, while I,laden with camera & tripod, hustled up the first part of the trail. Just past the Lake Ann junction, the trail breaks out in the open to contour the cirque. With the sun reflecting off the rocks, this was hotter than the trip up North Creek the day before.

Several switchbacks near the cirque's end brings one to Heather Pass and the first of the larches. I was positioning the tripod when SIE and DAR arrived at the pass below me. They hung out there while I rambled and roamed the larch groves. The larch are best between Heather and Maple Passes, but despite the almost annual trip here, I could not pass up Maple Pass. I trudged up the last little bit and grabbed a quick bite before heading down. The fall color was not the best this year, too hot and dry this summer I think, so I hustled back to meet the others at the car at our agreed upon time, only arriving 10 minutes late.

Hiked the Maple Pass Loop yesterday. I hiked in the Rainy Lake way which I think is a much better way to go. It is steep but it gets you into the high country fast. The trail going down from Heather Pass is much easier to negotiate on your knees. Everyone I met seem to be doing the loop in the other direction but I disagree!! Anyway the flowers in the high country were awesome!!! Everything seemed to be fresh! I found a great side trail at the top of Maple Pass that I explored. Very little snow in the passes, just a few patches, enought to replenish your water bottle with. The views were great in every direction! A bit smokey to the north but to be expected. I also climbed the ""bump"" above Heather Pass and found some great camp spots if you wanted to camp up there and be 1/4 miles away from the trail. Had a great view looking down into Wing and Lewis Lake. The horsefly's were awful but kept me moving. I completed the loop in 4 hours and had time to go to the Methow River to cool off. This is one of my favorite high country hikes and I never get tired of it! It is the North Cascades version of the ""High Divide"" trail in the Olympics.

This hike has everything you could possibly want from a jaunt in the North Cascades...spectacular views of jagged, snowy peaks and pristine lakes, an incredible array of wildflowers, and entertaining animal sightings (marmot, pika, lots of chipmunks). The only drawback, and it was a biggie for this family foursome, was the bugs. During the heat of the day, we were buzzed by flies both large and small; as evening approached, the mosquitoes arrived in droves (our eucalyptus spray wasn't quite as effective as we'd hoped). With the record heatwave we're having, lack of shade along parts of the trail was also an issue. Make sure to take lots of water (we did find a few small streams along the trail and below the snowfields between Heather Pass and Lewis Lake, from which one could pump water, but these are likely to be dry later in the summer). This is a five-star hike, but a tough dayhike for the under-twelve set...taking along some special treats to bribe them through the challenging bits might be just the ticket!

This was our {my wife an I} first time on the loop hike that begins at the Rainy Pass picnic area off highway 29. I am suprised I had missed this one in the past. I started on the right segment and worked my way up past Lake Ann to Maple Pass. Views were outstanding and the trail was in great shape. There was some snow near the pass and the trail can be a little confusing due to the snow and the many offshoot trails at the pass. However, finding ones way is just following the general direction you were going over the pass until you see the trail going down the opposite side. The snow was easy to traverse and is nearly gone. Bugs were a minor problem in certain areas. We had plenty of company along with some well mannered canine on this ideal day. Met a nice couple from Pittsburg and directed them to Visconti's in Leavenworth to experience good food and then some of the hike around that area.

Great Hike! A crystal clear autumn day. All the colors of the rainbow. Incredible vistas. Words fail me.

The small amount of snow dusting parts of the trail was not a problem. Where the sun had melted the snow, it created slick sticky mudholes in the trail. Otherwise trail was in good shape.

Golden Larches looked to be right at peak color. Purple and crimson shrubs everywhere. Even a few Genitians struggling to stave off winter.

Fall colors seemed to be at their peak. I found that the light passing through the needles on the larch trees and the leaves on the huckleberry bushes is what gives the bright colors. Otherwise, the leaves and needles were somewhat dull. The huckleberries were giving off the deepest red color I have ever seen. The view from the top is much better than I expected, but the earlier you can get up there, the better. Great views of Dome peak and Glacier Peak. We didn't take the rough trail leading from the pass down to Rainy Lake, but the trail around lake Ann is well-graded and anyone in reasonable condition can make it with no problem. Interestingly, the highway noise is considerable up to about 1/2 mile from the trailhead, but after that there is none.

This trail by far has been the best one we have taken in the North Cascades region. Beautiful colors and wonderfull views. The trail is well maintained. The view of Lake Ann on the way up was awesome! Take a lunch and enjoy!I would go up the trail counter clockwse and come down the same way. Going up and down clockwise is very tough on the body! It took us 2 hours up and 1 1/2 hours down. We took our time and enjoyed. Make sure you have lot's of film. You'll take ton's of pictures of the views!!

Enjoy and be safe!

Wow, what a dramatic hike! Next time you drive by Rainey Pass on Highway 20 be sure to check this one out. Driving east turn right at the Pass to the trailhead marked ""Rainey Lake"".

Technically this is a loop. But next time I would avoid the 46 steep, dusty switchbacks coming down the less traveled part of the loop. It is better to come back the way you went up on the Heather Pass side.

The trail starts in lovely forest and soon climbs to the open and sometimes rocky traverse of this magnificent valley. Lake Ann lies at the head of the cirque a thousand feet below you. Be sure to take the short turnoff to Heather Pass. There are wonderful views into the adjoining valley, which holds green Lewis Lake.

After Heather Pass the trail ascends in several switchbacks and across rocky ledges to the summit--Maple Pass. The 360 degree view is breathtaking! There are peaks near and far still dotted with small snow patches and glaciers. You can even see Glacier Peak. But don't stop at Maple Pass. Continue on around and take the spectacular trail on to the highest point. The view keeps expanding and the marmots will whistle at you. But after traveling on around, it would be better to return the way you came. The trail is much better graded and faster than the newer section.

To high point (about 6800 ft)and return is 8 miles round trip. It took us 5 hours, as we had to stop and stare so often.

Took my East Coast parents up the Maple Pass loop, they were awestruck at the beauty up there. Unfortunately, all kinds of bugs at the top made for a short viewing session. Return trail views of Rainy Lake and Lake Anne are incredible. Perhaps the very best trail I've hiked in the Cascades.

Had a beautiful day up on the Maple Pass/Heather Trail system... The blowdowns have been cleared away, still some snow up near the passes.

There seems to be more bugs up at the top, make sure to bring bug spray! Great views of North Cascades NP, Glacier Peak, Rainey Lake, etc. A must-see!

After spending the night at the somewhat noisy Newhalem Campground, we decided to get above it all the next morning by taking a high elevation hike. We chose the Maple Pass Loop Trail that begins at Rainy Pass Picnic Area, just off the North Cascades Highway. Expecting rain showers, we were rewarded with a nice mix of sun and clouds all day. The trail itself is in pretty good shape. Once we reached the higher elevations of the loop, we encountered snow drifts. We found no difficulty getting over and around them. Ski poles would come in handy, even though we did fine without them. At any rate, caution should be used when crossing the snow. The flowers are very nice right now along the trail--heather, lupine, indian paintbrush, pentsemon, fireweed and monkeyweed, to name a few. The flowers, combined with the spectacular alpine scenery, had me scanning the hills for a twirling Julie Andrews singing ""The Sound of Music""!

If you are looking for a very scenic trail with a medium effort, then this is your trail. We were amazed at the mountains. From Maple Pass all you see is mountains for 360 degrees. And, I haven't even mentioned the lakes! You pass two lakes on this loop--Lake Ann and the larger, more accessible Rainy Lake. Both lakes are very beautiful and have cascading waterfalls draining into them. We also saw plenty of marmots and chipmunks and I would even guess there are pika and mountain goats nearby too. The flies and mosquitos are out, of course, but they weren't so bad once on the trail. The worst attack was encountered in the parking lot at Rainy Pass. There was a nice breeze all day on the trail and that kept most of the insects away.

This trail should not be missed; you will not be disappointed!

TRAIL CONDITION: The trail is in good shape with a few blow-downs, which were easy to climb over/under. A few snow fields remain - they were slick but relatively easy to cross in normal hiking boots if one is cautious. WEATHER: Can be cold and windy at the top - even snowed a little, though none of the snowflakes ""stuck"". BUGS: Some persistent mosquitos at the parking-lot level, which disappear as you gain elevation. TIPS: I recommend hiking the loop ""counterclockwise"" - that way, you get the reward of fabulous views as you are chugging uphill. It's quite a climb - not for children or novices. A reasonable weekend hiker will do just fine. Took us middle-aged gals about 4.5 hours round trip, with a little time for lunch.

A couple of inches of snow at the trailhead (Rainy Pass picnic area) ~4800ft. By Maple Pass (6600ft) it was about a foot deep and crusty, making for difficult travel off the boot path. Headed up to the 7000ft level below the main bulk of Corteo. Up to 18 inches of snow here. Skies cleared in the mid-afternoon. Amazing views.

My boyfriend and I wanted to go on a hike, but which one' He picked up my hiking books and came up with three choices (Maple Pass, Park Butte and Easy Pass of which we have not hiked either pass). We went to REI and looked at the map for the two trails and decided to hike Maple Pass. A friend hiked that trail the week prior and came back reporting that it is now one of her favorite hikes.

Knowing that the drive will be very long from Federal Way, we decided to stay overnight somewhere on Saturday and hike on Sunday. We stayed at a motel just outside of Marblemount with 200 bunnies running around the property.

Sunday was an absolutely great day. We reached the trailhead at 11:00 a.m. (too late for me) and it was already warm. We lathered more sunscreen on and headed out. You start out on switchbacks through forest and at a mile you enter an opening with Picas singing! You go back into a forest area again, but quickly come out. The trail is just a steady, but slight incline until Heather Pass. We stopped at this first pass and loved the views. We stayed there for a bit and headed up more switchbacks. The fall colors from the berry bushes were absolutely wonderful! You then crossed above Lake Ann through a rock slide area. Although I'm afraid of heights it didn't bother me too much.

We finally made it to Maple Pass and could see all the way to Glacier Peak. The views were so wonderful. We lounged around eating our lunch and taking many photos. But because we had such a late start and had a long drive back home we only spent an hour exploring.

After returning to the parking area, we decided to drive to the Washington Pass Overlook and take in the views. While there, we pulled out our maps to see if there were trails to these wonderful peaks we were looking at. Maybe someday.....

My parents and I decided to head up to Maple Pass from the North Cascades Highway. Please note that the trailhead parking area is closed so you'll need to park on the North Cascades Highway or in the Pacific Crest Trail Parking lot on the other side of the highway.

Trail is in great shape. My guess is the next few weeks will be perfect to go out and see the Larch trees changing color. Saw a few others that day, but had the top all to ourselves. Also no bugs, which is a wonderful thing in itself!

An excellent hike that is fairly easy with a gradual route you can use up and down from the pass.

Arrived at trailhead parking lot was crowded. Worried that the trail would be too. To our surprise it wasn't .. What a great hike up through the trees till you get a great view of Lk Ann water looked low in the lake color was a beautiful blue-green. Countinued hiking up to Maple pass the veiws were good a little hazey because of the fires that were beginging but still pretty clear. We did the loop trail so we countinued up to the top of the pass where the trail loops down . There were NO flys what a treat a few horsey ones easy to swat away.. The trail down is a little steep in parts . passes through some medows that still have flowers . the trees and black moss are nice up here. saw the road way before we got there. about 6 hr rt. Bring plenty of water the air is a little thiner up there. It look pretty smokey today as we drove home .