Heather - Maple Pass Loop — Sunday, Jul. 3, 2016

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

The Maple Pass loop trail is a fabulous day hike, with great views, blooming wildflowers, and enough elevation to make even the most experienced trail runner sweat. A word of caution: once you reach Heather Pass, the trail is essentially snow-covered. I was able to traverse the loop with good hiking boots and trekking poles without much worry, but gaiters and yak tracks would've made my trip much more comfortable. Safety wise, there's only 2-3 steep sections that could pose a fall risk, but they're short and there's a solid boot track left in the snow to provide some footholds. With the recent rain and snowmelt, it was sometimes difficult to find the route in the snow, so bring a map so you have some idea of the course. As far as route direction, I would *definitely* recommend going counter-clockwise. The ascent is gentler, with stunning views the whole way up. Even if you have to turn around because of snow, you will still have a solid 2.5-3 miles to enjoy the panoramic vista. On the other hand, the clockwise route is a great trail if you're training for an ultra-marathon: super steep and shaded by trees. No views, but a great workout. I consider myself an experienced hiker, but the snow definitely slowed me down; the entire loop took about 3 hours with snack and photo breaks. Please note that a NW Forest Pass (or a $5 parking fee) is required; the State Parks Discover Pass is not accepted at this trail head.