HEATHER MAPLE LOOP PASS
Some of the best bang-for-your-buck hiking in the North Cascades! This is a fairly mellow hike that rewards you with amazing views nearly the entire time. It’s easy to see why this hike is so popular, so either embrace the crowds or go on a weekday to avoid them.
Quick Facts:
Distance: 6.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 2500 feet
Location: Rainy Pass Trailhead, Highway 20, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Season: Late Summer-Fall
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
Check the weather: mountain-forecast, weather.gov
Check for recent trip reports: WTA, AllTrails
Getting there:
Click here for the TH location on Google Maps
This trailhead is right off of Highway 20, so any car should be able to make the drive. A portion of Highway 20 closes every winter due to snow, but if the highway is still closed it is way too early in the season to be hiking this trail unless you have extensive snow travel and avalanche training. Definitely make time either before or after your hike to visit nearby Washington Pass and Diable Lakes overlook while you’re in the area!
Looking back on the trail up to Heather Pass, September 2019
View from Maple Pass, September 2019
Hike description:
This hike is a loop, so you’ll need to start off picking a direction to do it. I recommend going counterclockwise, so you’ll take the righthand trail coming out of the parking lot. The trail is moderately inclined as you climb through the woods for about the first 0.75 miles, before popping out into some open slopes. You’ll begin to get some views of nearby peaks, and soon will be able to see much of the trail ahead of you. As you continue to gradually climb the views will only get better in all directions and soon Lake Ann below will come into view. Early in the season these slopes are filled with wildflowers, while in the fall the huckleberry bushes and larches create amazing autumnal colors.
Just past 2 miles, you’ll reach Heather Pass, which provides sweeping views to the north. Take a quick scenery break here before continuing to climb up to Maple Pass, on the border of North Cascades National Park. This spot provides amazing views both back in the direction you came over Lake Ann and into the national park. The trail continues along a ridge here, and this can be a great place to stop and eat lunch as the views are incredible and there are a number of large rocks you can sit on to not be on the trail.
Rainy Lake, September 2019
View from Maple Pass into North Cascades National Park, September 2019
After a final climb at the end of this ridge you reach the high point of the hike and then begin the descent back to the trailhead. The trail drops down a few switchbacks before following another ridge for what starts as a gradual descent. The views on the ridge are beautiful as you can look across Lake Ann to the trail you hiked on the way up to Maple Pass, and in front of you across Highway 20 to the Cutthroat Pass area.
At around 5 miles the trail begins to descend more steeply, and you re-enter the woods for a series of switchbacks. Except for some short views of Rainy Lake below, the views on this final portion are pretty scarce. Finally at about 6 miles you’ll meet the paved Rainy Lake trail, where you’ll stay to the left for a final flat 0.5 miles back to your car.