Heather–Maple Pass Loop

The walk starts at the Rainy Pass Trailhead on State Route 20, about 50 miles east of Marblemount. Our line goes round counterclockwise. The Maple Pass Trail climbs through forest and passes the turn for Lake Ann after about a mile and a half. It goes on up to Heather Pass, then follows the open ridge round the head of the basin, high above the lake, to Maple Pass, at about 6,600 feet. It carries on along the far ridge, a little higher still, then drops through forest to the paved Rainy Lake Trail, which leads back to the trailhead.

It is a 7.5-mile (12.1 km) loop with 1,990 feet (607 m) of climbing; allow about 5 hours. The grade is Moderate: a steady climb to over 6,600 feet and a long descent.

Just past the Lake Ann turn the trail crosses a steep hillside that can hold snow until late in the season. The side trail to Lake Ann is fairly flat and adds about 0.6 miles each way. In fall the larches round the lakes turn gold. The trailhead has room for about 40 cars and fills early then.

A Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful pass is needed to park. State Route 20 closes for the winter, usually from late November or early December until April or early May, depending on snow.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.