Day Hike - Maple Pass Loop

Ash Way Park & Ride at 6:30am.  If there are participants coming from the North arrangements  can be made for a second meeting place along the way.

It is about 2:40 from the Ash Way P&R to the trailhead.

Maple Pass Loop is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful of the not-too-difficult hikes in the North Cascades. Being both beautiful and accessible it is often crowded on summer weekends, so we will avoid the crowds by going midweek. While we are there we will take side trips to Lake Ann and Rainy Lake.  (These side trips are included in the trip distance and elevation stats.)

The goal of this trip is to take in the beauty of the area, so the pace will be moderate with a generous lunch break along the scenic ridge at the trail's high point.  Bad weather will probably cancel.

Though going midweek avoids traffic on the trails we may encounter more traffic on the roads. By leaving early we will be out of town before most of the morning commute. Depending on the time and the consensus on the group, after the hike we may stop to eat somewhere along the North Cascades Highway in order to let the afternoon commute play out before we come down out of the hills.