Windy Pass — Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

Took my friend from California on a golden larch adventure - stayed two nights in Winthrop and decided to head up to Harts Pass our second day to avoid the crowds on the Hwy 20 hikes further southwest. This is a hidden gem! Truly an amazingly gorgeous hike that takes minimal effort once you get there - just a relatively flat trail along the ridge. As always the PCT is very well-maintained and takes you through the best parts of the cascades. True, the road to Harts Pass is a bit adventurous, but not as bad as other forest roads I've bounced along. The most nerve-wracking part is making sure there aren't any cars coming the other direction along the 1/2 mile that's narrow with a steep drop-off. I recommend sounding your horn before coming around the sharp corners and just taking it very slowly. Met several PCT hikers - starting this year they aren't allowed to enter Canada so they have to turn around and go 30 miles back to Harts Pass, where there are were folks waiting to pick them up. Likely some need rides to Mazama if you're open to that. The day turned out to be sunnier than expected, though the wind kicked up at times so dressing warm is recommended. Just jaw-dropping views from start to finish, and more and more larches the closer you get to Windy Pass. Larches are a variety of shades from lime to deep gold right now, with whole mountainsides turning gold and red. At Windy Pass there are a TON of huckleberries still. Makes me sigh just remembering how perfect of a day it was.