Cutthroat Pass via the Pacific Crest Trail — Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021

Went to see the larches with the 6 year old and dogs Saturday. Got to the trailhead around 9:30 am and found one of the last spots in the lot. Across the street at Maple Pass Loop people were already parking up and down Hwy 20. While there were plenty of people on the trail it never felt crowded and even at the pass there was room to spread out and enjoy.
This was our first time on Cutthroat despite having hiking many of the surrounding trails. I think we always gave it a pass due to the ‘hard’ rating and distance. However, this was not an overly hard hike! The tread on the trail is in excellent shape and while you do gain a good amount of elevation no section is overly steep. The (experienced hiker) 6 year old managed very well on this trail.
Weather wise there were some flurries as we set out and a dusting of snow down in the trees. This was all gone by the time we returned making for some muddy trail. There were also numerous waterfalls and streams to pass. All gorgeous and a nice change after so much dry hiking this summer. Make sure you have waterproof boots!
The payoff when you reach the larches at about 3.5 miles is well worth the effort. The trail goes right through numerous larches with a few primitive camp spots that make a good lunch stop if you don’t want to hold out for the top. The pass itself is stunning and opens up to take in all of the North Cascades glory.
Overall, if you’re considering this hike do it! The effort to reward is highly skewed towards reward and you won’t regret picking this one.