What a beautiful hike! We hiked counterclockwise with the views expanding with every step! The wildflowers were spectacular and the hikers were few! We had lunch at Maple Pass and then Bob continued another mile to the 6850 foot shoulder of Frisco Mt. I have been nursing bursitis in my left hip so remained at the pass. We returned to the TH the way we came enjoying the views in reverse and avoiding the steep downhill on the return loop! Many large, biting flies accompanied us most of the way and were especially annoying during our lunch break! . Orange agoseris, campion, fireweed, red paintbrush, stonecrop, small-flowered penstemon, and asters were some of the flowers seen. Many butterflies were enjoying the flowers!

Hiked this for the first time on Wednesday and what a beautiful hike! Trail was in excellent condition the entire way. Walked it counter clockwise the way down this way is pretty steep I recommend good shoes. Mine weren't so great (left my new hiking shoes in the car because I was so excited to be there I forgot to put them on) and I ended the day with a blister but totally worth it! Only drawback on this hike were the giant biting flies, they were not too bad while moving but whenever we wanted to stop for pictures or just take in the scenery they were there. Bring bug repellent. Cannot wait to see this trail in the fall!

Today was not just a great day to be in the mountains, it was a great day to be counting butterflies. Maple Pass just happens to be one of the study sites Cascades Butterfly Project experts and volunteers are monitoring for changes in the populations and distribution of these charismatic insects and their host plants. Just google the CBP to find out more about them. No snow is left on the full loop hike, and the trail is well-used and in good condition. Stunning 360-degree views, wildflowers and butterflies galore make it obvious why this is such a favored destination.

The Maple Pass Loop more than lived up to its billing as one of the nicest hikes in Washington. But, first the details... The trail is sunny and dry with just two small snow patches. We found plenty of fresh water for our dog. Our group included small five children, all who made the loop easily. There were some biting flies near the pass, but they weren't really bad at all. My GPS registered a total distance of 7.8 miles, which is much closer to the reported distance than normal. Most hikes around here are actually a little longer than reported by the WTA... We saw one marmot, a few deer, and one bear. Because the hike is a loop, it feels less crowded than other similar trails. Definitely follow the signs and hike counter-clockwise for the best experience. Beautiful views the whole way.