Maple Pass Loop — North Cascades, Washington

The Maple Pass Loop is one of the most popular hikes along the North Cascades Highway. Starting at Rainy Pass, the 7.2-mile loop gains about 2,000 feet as it climbs past Lake Ann to Heather Pass and Maple Pass, then follows a ridge high above Rainy Lake on the way back down. Late September is known for golden larches and red huckleberry slopes, but on the day I went, an early-season storm added a layer of fresh snow.

Snowflakes falling over red huckleberry bushes and a dark forested hillside — Snow falling on red huckleberry near the start of the loop.

Light snow was falling when I set off, and the huckleberry bushes along the trail had already turned deep red. I hiked the loop counterclockwise, which climbs more gradually toward Lake Ann and saves the steeper section for the descent.

Lake Ann and its small island below snow-dusted cliffs, with snowflakes in the air — Lake Ann through the falling snow.

Fresh snow on young firs in front of a slope of bright red huckleberry — Fresh snow on red huckleberry and young firs.

The trail soon climbs above Lake Ann, a small lake with an island in the middle, tucked into a bowl of cliffs. Through the falling snow, the whole basin looked almost black and white. Past Heather Pass, the clouds started to break apart around the peaks.

Clouds lifting off a rocky peak above a slope of firs and yellowing larches — Clouds lifting off the peaks near Heather Pass, with the larches starting to turn.

Lake Ann far below a snow-dusted trail on the Maple Pass Loop — Looking down on Lake Ann and its island from the trail past Heather Pass.

A snow-covered trail through firs toward a peak half hidden in cloud — A snow-covered trail and a peak hidden in the clouds.

By the time I reached the top of the loop, the sky was starting to clear. Fresh snow coated the rocks and cliffs on every side, while the larches in the basins below were turning gold.

Snow-dusted cliffs and talus above a small tarn, under breaking clouds — Fresh snow on the cliffs from the top of the loop.

Blue sky over snowy peaks and a small blue tarn in a rocky basin — Blue sky finally breaking through above a small tarn in the basin.

The descent follows a ridge between Lake Ann and Rainy Lake, and by then the clouds had given way to blue sky. The slopes below were covered in red, orange, and gold, and Rainy Lake glowed turquoise far below. In a few hours, the hike went from winter back to fall.

Lake Ann far below a rocky ridge, ringed by golden larches, with snow on the rocks in front — Lake Ann from the ridge, ringed by golden larches.

A wide basin of red and orange brush below gray peaks and talus slopes — Red and orange slopes along the descent.

Golden larches in front of a snow-dusted ridge under a bright blue sky — Golden larches against a snow-dusted ridge.

A trail crossing a grassy slope toward a pointed gray peak and distant mountains — The ridge trail heading down toward Rainy Lake.

Turquoise Rainy Lake below a forested ridge and a rocky cirque — Rainy Lake, near the end of the loop.