Fourth of July Pass

Starting from the Colonial Creek trailhead off Highway 20, you'll climb steadily through a cathedral of old-growth western red cedar and Douglas fir so thick the canopy swallows most of the daylight. The trail follows a well-maintained path along Thunder Creek before banking uphill in earnest — that 2,300-foot elevation gain hits hardest in the final push to the pass. The forest thins as you climb, giving way to subalpine meadows where views of Colonial Peak, Neve Glacier, and the jagged Picket Range unfold like a panoramic reward for your burning quads. The pass itself is a broad saddle with enough room to spread out and soak in the scenery without bumping elbows. This one is built for hikers who want genuine North Cascades backcountry atmosphere without needing a permit or overnight gear — a solid day effort with a payoff that rivals trails twice its length.