#MAPLE PASS LOOP SERIES#

Looking at it from that high point was even better than being at water level, if I were to be honest. At that point, I was treated to views of Lake Ann like a little jewel down below. Back on the main trail, I continued walking a little bit more until I reached the treeline. Veer left for Lake Ann, continue straight for Heather Pass! Shrubby… Lake Ann, looking towards Heather Pass.Ī brief daydream was all it was.

From there, I traced the water to the other side of the lake, which rose into a mountain, and there it was at the tip: the Heather and Maple Pass. After a tiny bit of bushwhacking, I stood at the edge of the lake, where the sparkling water flooded the shore. Closer to the lake, lots of fallen logs floating on mud became the trail, and it wasn’t clear where exactly the trail led to. The spur to Lake Ann was shrubby and the further I hiked, the more shrubby it became. Since it was only a 0.6-mile roundtrip to see Lake Ann, I thought might as well! How often do I get to hike anyway. About 1.5 miles since starting the hike, I arrived at a section of the trail where a spur to the left led to Lake Ann. Walking through an open meadow, wildflowers native to the pacific northwest like pacific lupine and alpine aster tickled my bare arms as I found my way on the trail through the shrubs and back into the forest again. Look afar and this is what you might see. Maple and Heather Pass Loop Trail! The wildflowers were parading the hillside. Having just finished the Wonderland Trail five days prior, my legs still retained the strength I gained from backpacking that 100-mile trail, so much so that this trail felt more like an uphill walk rather than a hike. During that time, I rejoiced at the freedom of hiking without a big pack.

#MAPLE PASS LOOP SERIES#

The first part is a series of switchbacks along a hillside leading to an open area with blooming wildflowers. The trail to Lake Ann starts behind the self-pay station at the parking lot. America the Beautiful National Park Pass works here as well – make sure to display it on the front window of your car to avoid fines. Trailhead: Westside of Highway 20 (the only highway through the park), at the Rainy Pass stop.Ħ. I did it counter-clockwise, starting with Lake Ann, passing Heather Pass, Maple Pass, and then Rainy Lake, in that order in one big loop! You could also do clockwise, but a very steep uphill awaits you!ĥ.

Since this is a loop, you could hike clockwise or counter-clockwise.

After witnessing how the clouds were changing every second, I realized it was all a crapshoot, so I decided to do the Maple and Heather Pass Loop Trail regardless of how gloomy it looked! That morning, I had hiked the Blue Lake Trail first, a short 4-mile trail that I could easily bail out of should the weather go bad. What a view! Diablo Lake! It was even prettier in person. Cruising along windy Highway 20 at North Cascades National Park. You’ll pass by Newhalem where there is a Visitor Center, then the ever popular Diablo Lake, Ross Dam, and finally a long stretch of scenic windy road towards Rainy Pass where the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail crosses the highway. Once at Marblemount, continue on Highway 20 into the park. And when I looked down into the valley, shimmering sapphire lakes sealed the deal for me.Ĭoming from Seattle, Marblemount is the nearest town to North Cascades National Park. The ridges gave way to vistas of heavy clouds looming over alpine meadows, while my mind holds the memory of the distant peaks that occasionally revealed itself between breaks in the clouds.

While views of surrounding peaks were absent and lost in the clouds, the hillside on which I walked was decorated with a parade of magical wildflowers. I wasn’t so lucky, but I’d take what I could. On a clear day, I have no doubt that this trail would offer a hiker stunning panoramic views all the way. It only made me want to return to hike this trail again. Despite the fog and cold, I’m still glad I did it, because during those rare instances of sunshine it offered me glimpses of what it could have been. The weather wasn’t great, but I took a chance on the weather hoping it would improve as I hiked. The Maple and Heather Pass Loop Trail was one of three hikes that I was able to squeeze in during my two rainy days at North Cascades National Park.

Maple pass loop