North Cascades National Park guide · 2 min read
Rainy Pass: Maple Pass Loop and Lake Ann
The Maple Pass Loop is a day hike of about 7.2 miles that begins at the Rainy Pass Picnic Site on State Route 20.
Most people should plan three to five hours for the loop, which climbs about 2,200 feet and is rated moderate to difficult. The trail lies just outside North Cascades National Park, but it runs right up against the park border, and its highest points open onto wide views of the park.
The loop gathers a lot into one outing. Wildflowers bloom along the route, old-growth forest lines parts of it, and Lake Ann is a stop along the way. The view over Lake Ann is pleasant, but the high mountain views are the main draw, with panoramic looks across the North Cascades from the top of the trail.
If you want something shorter, the Rainy Lake Trail starts from the same trailhead. It is a flat, paved walk that takes about an hour, with benches and interpretive signs along the way. Subalpine forest and wet meadows line the route. The trail ends at an observation deck about a mile in, with views of waterfalls, a glacier, and the lake, and the park lies just beyond.
Blue Lake is a separate outing, reached from a small parking lot about 1 mile west of the Washington Pass Overlook on State Route 20. The hike covers about 5 miles with 1,100 feet of climbing and takes two to three hours. Most of it runs through old-growth forest before reaching a bright blue lake framed by tall mountains. The trail continues around the lake for more views.
Cutthroat Lake has its own trail and adds to the variety of lakes visitors can reach here. More than 500 lakes and ponds lie within the park, so water is a central part of any visit.
