Heather-Maple Pass Loop - Washington
I love the state of Washington and I love the North Cascade Mountains in the northern part of the state. This time last year (Sept 2021) I drove clear across the state, first visiting friends in Spokane, then driving to visit friends north of Seattle. I, of course, had to make some stops in between, one of which was the Methow Valley on the eastern side of the Cascades.
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I've wanted to visit the cute town of Mazama since my old boss in Chicago moved there several years ago. She worked at the Mazama Store in their bakery and I loved seeing this area through her photos on social media. She has since moved again but this place has always made me curious. I was smitten the second I drove into town.
This was my first big trip since the Covid pandemic and I was very much out of hiking shape. I knew I couldn't pass up a chance to hike in the North Cascades but I was worried about biting off more than I could currently chew. The Heather Pass - Maple Pass Loop was recommended to me the last time I was in the Cascades for Kulapalooza in the fall of 2019. I chose to tag along with friends to a different hike that time and knew that this time I couldn't skip the much praised Heather - Maple Pass Loop. I checked trail reports on the Washington Trails Association website to get better acquainted with this trail since it was my first time.
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I knew it was going to be a steady climb and a full day of hiking so I made sure to fuel up with a good breakfast at the Mazama Store before driving west on Hwy 20 to the trailhead. There were plenty of parking spots and I made sure to take the 10 essentials plus my Garmin InReach since I was by myself. There were still plenty of other people hiking on the trail so I wasn't alone for too much of my hike, although after almost 2 years of not much hiking and not much solo travel I was a little hesitant to get back out on the trails by myself, especially in a state so far from home. But once my boots hit the dirt most of those worries and insecurities vanished. I was about to go hiking in the North Cascades!
Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe the beauty of this trail. I was grinning the entire time, I could. not. stop. grinning!! And also crying every now and then, from pure amazement of the scenery and also of my body slowly taking me up the trail. I decided to hike the loop counterclockwise as many people on WTA's website recommended. You get great views of Ann Lake (pictured above) going both directions.
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After taking many breaks and huffing and puffing my way up the first few miles and thousand feet of elevation, it felt amazing to reach that first pass, Heather Pass, named for the pink flower that can usually be found at this higher elevation. I stopped to see the layers and layers of huge snow covered mountains in all directions. That feeling of being small is one of my favorite feelings while being out in nature, especially in a place like the North Cascades. After taking a snack break I continued on to the next pass, Maple Pass.
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After taking in the views for a good 30 minutes and chatting with other hikers, it was time to start hiking down. It was fun to see bear grass in person for the first time and I just loved how colorful the slopes were! I also took a moment for a little photoshoot with my Sonoran Desert Kula Cloth, she doesn't get to see big mountains like this very often so I had to commemorate it.
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I was juuuust a bit too early to see the larches turn yellow. I saw early signs of them changing but they still had a few weeks to go before the mountains turned a beautiful yellow with these trees. I'll have to plan another trip later in September or early October to get the full effect.
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That smile on my face stayed until the very last mile as I made my way back to the parking lot. My legs were sore from descending, my feet were achy from the rocky trail, but my spirit was high and I felt so much gratitude for this place, this trip, and for always following my heart that leads me to the most amazing places.
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Heather Pass - Maple Pass Loop Trail (counterclockwise)
Date hiked: September 8, 2021
Total miles: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Total time: 5.5 hours
Land Acknowledgement: Ancestral lands of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Samish Indian Nation, Nooksack Tribe, Lummi Nation, Stó:lō Nation, Nlaka’pamux Nation, Colville Confederated Tribes, Syilx/Okanagan Nation.