I only hiked Blue Lake but I wanted to comment on parking for Maple Pass and Cutthroat Pass since I drove right by then on the way there and back.
Parking - At 7:20am cars were lined on both sides of Highway 20 at Rainy Pass (Maple and Cutthroat trailhead) for less than a quarter of a mile. When I returned at 12:30, cars were lined on both sides for half a mile on the east side and one mile on the west side.
At Blue Lake there were a few spots in the lot when I got there at 7:30. By 7:45 when I hit the trail the lot was full. When I returned around noon there were cars parked on Highway 20 but not too far down the road.
On to the good stuff! I really love this trail. I love that it's beautiful but not too long or too steep and that there are so many amazing views here and there in the forest and especially in the last half mile.
The last half mile of the trail was VERY slippery today - there was only about an inch of new snow but it was packed and super icy especially when it warmed up enough to melt on top. I just had poles but I really wished I had remembered it was October and added my spikes!
The larches looked pretty peak to me - there are a few that are still a little green but overall they were beautiful. I think there should be at least another good week for larches. At the open area about a mile in when I looked up I thought there were going to still be more green but when I got there most of them were bright yellow.
There are a few rocks here and there and a few roots but overall the trail is in great condition just be ready for the slippery snow/icy bit towards the top.
Great views of all the mountains today!
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