Maple Pass is one of the most popular trails in the North Cascades National Park in Washington. The loop hike features ridgelines covered in wildflowers, beautiful lakes, and dramatic views. The trail starts at 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) elevation and gains 2,150 feet (655 meters) as we climb to the pass.
Our first visit to the trailhead in the spring provides notice that the trail is covered in snow and not accessible until the snowman at the entrance melts.
Come back when I'm melted
In the fall, the snowman is long gone; the the trail is open. We start up through the forest, with an hour-long diversion to Lake Ann about a mile or so down a side trail. We view the lake and return to the main trail that will offer us other views of the lake from 1,000 - 2,000 feet (305 - 610 meters) above it as we climb.
Along the trail
Views of where we're going
Fields of wildflowers
Lake Ann from the shore
The trail starts to climb steeply toward Maple Pass.
Hiking up
Views of nearby ridges
Looking down at Lake Ann
More fields of wildflowers
The wildflower and heather communities through which we pass have developed over thousands of years. Heather is one of the first plants to colonize rocky mountain slopes, blowing in on the wind and settling and growing where it finds soil.
We are getting higher on the mountain and starting to see spectacular views of nearby peaks.
Nearby scenery
As we approach the pass, at an elevation of 6,650 feet (2,025 meters), the view expands and we spend a lot of time admiring the the sights as we proceed up the trail.
Approaching the top
Great views
Eventually, it is time to start down and we follow the trail initially along a cliff descending on the other side of Maple Pass.
Trail down
More great view on the way down
We reach the bottom and a gentle path finishes the loop, leading us to the parking lot.
Paved path to the parking lot
Maple Pass is a great hike with lots of dramatic scenery and fabulous trails up to the pass (and back down).
