Heather - Maple Pass Loop — Saturday, Aug. 30, 1997

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

We just tried the Maple Pass Loop trail for the first time. This is a splendid little trip. It provides nice views of Corteo, Glacier Peak, etc. for a modest amount of effort--around 2000 ft. of gain on a nice trail. Doing the loop counterclockwise is probably more pleasant. Doing it that way, the climb is done on an easy grade and the return is a beautiful ridge walk followed by a long set of reasonably steep switchbacks. The trail was in excellent condition, and the bugs weren't as bad as they've been most places we've been this summer. Take a tasty lunch--you'll want to spend a lot of time gawking from Maple Pass....