Heather Pass Trail

The Heather Pass Trail wastes no time getting down to business. From the Maple Pass trailhead off Highway 20, you'll climb steadily through old-growth forest before breaking into the kind of alpine meadow that makes people move to the Pacific Northwest. The nearly 1,800 feet of elevation gain hits in waves — manageable stretches followed by steeper pitches that remind your lungs this is real mountain terrain. As you approach the pass, the trees thin out and the views crack open: Lake Ann sits below like a turquoise gem, while Black Peak and the surrounding North Cascades jagged ridgeline stretch out in every direction. In late July and August, the meadows explode with lupine, paintbrush, and heather (the trail earned its name honestly). This is a trail for hikers who want genuine alpine scenery without a multi-day commitment — all the grandeur of the high country packed into a solid half-day push.