Maybe The Best Day Hike in Washington // North Cascades NP - Maple Pass Loop Trail

We've visited all of Washington's National Parks, some more than once, and we've hiked many of the best trails in each park. The Maple Pass Loop Trail in North Cascades National Park ranks in the top tier of all we've stepped foot on in the state. The 7 mile loop with 2,200 ft of elevation gain provides spectacular views of the Cascade Mountain Range. We hope you enjoy the beauty of our country through this video. Trige and Lezli
Video shot early July 2023

[@kw2764]

You got all the most beautiful views--which means every direction. I can't wait to get on this---someday. I like your video style--thanks so much!

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

I hope you can make it there someday! We winter in FL but we’ve made it a point to travel all the way to WA on two different occasions and we would go again in a heartbeat. That’s how much we like it there! Thanks for the kind comment and we wish you the best in your future adventures 👍.

[@MarymayL]

Beautiful ❤

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

We love North Cascades ❤️

[@jenellebarkley]

Thanks so much for sharing this hike, it's been on my list for a long time. Beautiful!

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Hello! I hope you can check this hike off your list someday. It would create a memory you'd always cherish. Thanks for watching and happy trails!

[@hjr2693]

This is my favorite day hike too!

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

It’s a great one! Thanks for watching and we appreciate the remark. Happy trails!

[@OuachitaMtn]

Did this on a Fall color day mid week pre-social media, truly one of the most scenic day hikes anywhere. Serious mental cleansing on a hike this gorgeous

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Would love to see the fall color on this hike. We typically hike very early in the day so many times we have the trails to ourselves.

[@kimrandall281]

Another great video - thank you!

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Thanks for the kind words. It's a beautiful part of our great country.

[@leestamm3187]

In the course of 30 years of hiking in the North Cascades, I did this trip numerous times. It's definitely one of the best day hikes around. The counterclockwise direction climbs a gently graded tread that was originally built to be part of the PCT between Rainy Pass and Maple Pass. The route was planned to extend from Maple Pass, down Maple Creek to Bridge Creek, but the idea was abandoned due to heavy brush and rough terrain. For years the trail ended at Maple Pass, with boot tracks extending up to what is now the high point of the loop trail. Years later, the trail was extended to follow the ridge above Rainy Lake, then steeply down through the forest to join the Rainy Lake Trail and complete the circuit. If energy or ability is limited, you can always return from the high point the way you came up, down the gentler grade, rather than taking the steep, hard on the knees way down above Rainy Lake. Either way, the scenery is sublime, especially around the 1st of October when the Fall colors are peaking, with the larch trees glowing gold.

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Thank you for the wonderful information. The North Cascades has a special place in our hearts. I wouldn’t be surprised if we return again someday. Best wishes to you!

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Beautiful video. Thanks for sharing. Sub & 👍39

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Thank you. We’ve hiked nearly all of the NP’s in the lower 48 and North Cascades has some of the best views you can find anywhere. Happy trails!

[@shawnzhang13]

It's been a while since your last video, beautiful view and great motivation for my 2024 adventures into the parks!

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Hello! Thanks for the kind remark and it makes us happy to hear we might give you a little encouragement to get out and enjoy our beautiful parks. We still have adventures to share from our 2023 travels but we've slowed down our release of them so we can continue putting out content through the winter/early spring since we stay put in FL for 5-6 months during the winter. I (Trige) had knee replacement surgery last month so we'll be getting a delayed start to our summer adventures but we do plan on hiking the western US later in the summer. Happy Trails!

[@shawnzhang13]

@@BuckeyeDrifters Recover soon and hope to watch more great videos from you!

[@pmm1044]

Suggest Old Snowy Mtn from Snowgrass Flats in Goat Rocks Wilderness

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Appreciate the recommendations! Happy Trails to you!

[@rcwilson9510]

We are going there this year! My wife and I have been trying to decide between the Maple Pass loop and the Cutthroat Pass hike. We are in our 60's and are fine with long trails but not so great with steep trails. Based on your videos of those two hikes we are leaning toward Cutthroat Pass because it has a gentler grade. If we did that, we were thinking we could hike to Lake Ann and Rainy Lake on a different day and avoid the steep part of the Maple Pass loop. Does that sound like a good plan to you? Also, your hike of Cutthroat Pass was on 4th of July weekend. Was your Maple Pass hike about the same time?

[@cindykuhlman2927]

You can definitely get to Rainy Lake. We were there in late June 2022 and there was still about 9 feet of snow on the ground so sadly didn't make it to Maple Pass, but did hike the mile (if I remember correctly) to Rainy Lake. And while the trail was still buried under the snow, what ocassionally peaked out looked like mostly boardwalk.

[@rcwilson9510]

@@cindykuhlman2927 Thanks for the info. We will be there the first week of Aug. so we are not expecting snow to be a problem. Happy trails!

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

We're anxious for your trip to NCNP. Cutthroat Pass is definitely an easier hike with a gradual grade like you stated. Maple Pass has a section that's quite steep and hard on the knees. If you go counterclockwise, the steepness starts after the pass when you get back into the forest. Your idea of checking out Lake Ann and Rainy Lake makes sense to me. Here's another consideration.......Blue Lake is a nice 4.5 mile gently sloped trail in the same vicinity. It's known to have a good chance for mountain goat encounters. The lake and mountains are beautiful and we lucked out with the mountain goats. It's our next video by the way. You might consider doing Rainy Lake and then doing Blue Lake instead of Lake Ann. Whatever you choose, you won't be disappointed. Oh, yes we did all the NCNP hikes within about a weeks timeframe.

[@pmm1044]

No steep trail sections on Cutthroat pass approaching from Cutthroat lake

[@rcwilson9510]

@@BuckeyeDrifters Yes, it looks like you read our minds! We are planning to do the Blue Lake hike in the AM, have lunch at the Rainy Pass picnic area, and then hike to Lake Ann and Rainy Lake in the PM. The hike to Lake Ann is only 288' elevation gain per mile, so it sounds like a reasonable day. The Cutthroat Pass hike will be on a different day. Looking forward to your Blue Lake video and to our trip to the N. Cascades in early Aug!

[@ThomasLuley]

Your video is absolutely stunning! I visited North Cascades NP seven years ago but did not do this hike. Now I have to go back! By the way, I am also a National Parks geek. Last year I completed my bucket list of visiting all 63 National Parks. You might enjoy this video with a few scenes that I photographed in each of the 63 Parks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6Gyc3qhf69kg5osi=YCaBksNgjlR6wsul

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Wow what an inspiration you are. When we sold our house in 2018 and bought a motorhome to live in full-time, we set out on a journey to see every NP in the lower 48. We have 4 remaining, Channel Islands and the 3 FL parks. What an amazing journey it's been. We do hope to take an RV to Alaska someday but I doubt we'd try to see all the Alaska parks as that requires a lot of coordination and $. Regardless, it's been a great ride so far and we don't plan on stopping our adventures anytime soon. While we have our health and the desire to adventure, we'll keep on going. Thanks for the comment and we enjoyed your video! Best Wishes!

[@safepetproducts]

Better than the enchantments?

[@BuckeyeDrifters]

Maple Pass has great bang for the buck. The views are abundant through most of the hike and although it's around 7 miles and 2,200 ft of elevation gain, while hard, it doesn't beat you up. The Enchantments thru-hike is extreme. The beauty is beyond words, but it was hard to appreciate it to the level we would have liked to because of how physically taxing it was (22 miles, 5,000 ft gain and 7,000 ft descent). A lot of people just hike to Colchuck Lake via the Stuart Lake Trailhead (9 miles roundtrip). Colchuck Lake is amazing but there aren't many views until you get to the lake. Maple Pass has views almost the entirety of the hike. Thanks for the question. Happy Trails!

[@OuachitaMtn]

@@BuckeyeDrifters The forest hike to Colchuck is one of my favorites. Atleast it was pre-social media. Conga line now.