Then you’ll reach a trail fork, offering you 2 options. Enjoy the rustling of the blanket of leaves under your feet, but don’t forget to watch your steps as the path has sometimes rocks and exposed roots on it. The understorey, which has already started to change its somewhat dull green color for the different golden hues, gives the forest a festive look. This first part of the trail, which is a well maintained path going gradually upward, will lead you for about 1.3 mile through a dense second-growth forest, where you’ll be able to see spruces, fir-trees and hemlock trees. If you decide to take the counter-clockwise route (which is more popular, by the way), you should leave directly from the Rainy Pass parking lot and follow Trail # 740 (leading to Lake Ann). But whichever route you chose, you’ll be delighted by the loveliness and enchantment of the nature surrounding you. Counter-clockwise route is easier with ascent being more gradual the clockwise route is great for more experienced hikers, as the grade of the ascent during the first part of the hike is quite steep. The trail is beautiful at any season: full of wildflowers in blossom in summer and amazingly decorated with various colors in autumn.īefore starting the trip you should make a decision concerning which route to take: clockwise or counter-clockwise. Along its entire length of about 7 miles (roundtrip) it provides the hikers with unforgettable views. The Heather-Maple Pass Loop Trail is fairly deemed to be one of the most amazing and most visited trails in Washington. And the best place for this, to our opinion, is the Heather-Maple Pass Loop Trail. Quiet, sun-drenched, autumn days are the best time to get immersed in nature and enjoy the elegancy of unforgettably beautiful fall landscapes. Autumn is impregnated with tenderness, delicacy and with some wisdom. The beauty of autumn nature brings in the romance to the mood and light sadness to reflections. Autumn forest reminds a beautiful colorful painting of a skilled artist.Īutumn is the most vivid season that has been glorified by many poets, praised by prose writers autumn nature is depicted in paintings of a great number of artists. Trees, before falling into a long deep sleep, attire in garment of gold, quickly yellowing leaves. There comes the brightest part of autumn - the golden autumn. Enjoy the beauty of autumn scenery! General Information: Once you reached the paved road it's only 1 mile back to your car.Īlso, if you take highway 20 west after the hike, the Cascade Farm Organic ice cream shack makes the very best chocolate shakes.Pictures below will take you along a fantastically scenic trail. Going back down via the switch-backs is not too bad and first, but the final 2.5 miles is tougher, dropping about 1700ft. Time for a snack/ lunch or at least more water. Take in this amazing view at 6,650ft with the Corteo, Frisco, Goode, Stiletto, Black Peak mountains in the background.with the Liberty Bell group even further out. Getting back on trail, it goes left on the ridge line and up to Maple Pass (which you will see NCNP signs). The trail is 0.6 miles round trip and really stunning (so kind of a no-brainer) and you can also see to where you are heading.Ġ.75 miles past the Lake Ann detour is when you'll reach Heathers Pass, where you can see Lewis Lake, Wing Lake and Black Peak. In roughly 1.25 miles after starting there is a trail that branches left to take you to Lake Ann (really beautiful). There is a laminated sign on a tree that says Lake Ann/ Maple Pass. I will describe the counter-clockwise route which you take the path directly behind fee/ sign-in station. Both starts are beautiful, just depends on your skill level. To the left, the trail takes a steep start all the way to the ridge line. To the right (the pathway that is not paved) is the counter-clockwise route, a little less steep and more scenic at the start. The trailhead has 2 trail points of entrance. Note to any hikers taking on this trail, this is a non-repeating trail meaning it goes in a big loop. If you love wildflowers, Maple Pass's annual flower show is UNREAL! Heather-Maple Pass Loop is a loop trail offering stunning views of the North Cascades in Washington.
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