Protecting Maple Pass Loop

Author: Edith Han

Deep in the heart of the North Cascades just off Route 20 lies the beloved Maple Pass. Known as one of Washington’s most iconic hikes, this 7.2-mile loop takes the hiker from evergreen forests up to subalpine ecosystems. With around 2,000 feet of elevation gain, this trail rewards hikers every step of the way. 

Visitors get a little bit of everything on this loop: old-growth forests, wildflower meadows, alpine lakes, and stunning ridge views of the Cascade Range. In the fall, deep evergreens contrast with the pop of reds and oranges of the huckleberry bushes and maple trees. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the brilliance of the golden larches lining the subalpine landscapes.

Going counter-clockwise, the trail starts in the forested Rainy Pass Picnic area before steadily climbing up to Heather Pass. Here, the terrain opens up dramatically to expansive views overlooking Lake Ann and the surrounding peaks of the Cascade Mountains. From there, travelers continue up past the heather meadows before topping out at Maple Pass.

Hikers that get to Maple Pass are rewarded by views of the giants: Black Peak, Corteo Peak, and the layers of jagged ridges that the North Cascades is known for. From there, hikers head back down to the trailhead. This section between Maple Pass back down to the trailhead is prime “larch madness” territory where you can find golden alpine larches lighting up the hillside in late September to mid-October.

Unfortunately, this area lies in a roadless area that is now under threat. The Trump administration has begun the process to eliminate the essential 2001 Roadless Rule. The proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule jeopardizes nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), representing a third of the territory in our national forest system. These forests have only remained intact because of USFS’s nearly 25-year-old commitment to not build roads in these areas for harmful activities like major logging operations or drilling.

At Washington Wild, we are fighting for Maple Pass and the 2 million acres of National Forest land protected by the Roadless Rule in Washington State. Sign up to receive important updates and support our work.

All photos provided by Chris Chappell for Washington Wild.