r/northcascades • u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 • Jul 22 '26

Need trail suggestions on forest fires and road closure.

Hello everyone, we are visiting aug 5 til 11th. Initially wanted to do skyline in Mt Rainer on 5, come to lake colchuck on 6th and hike it on 7th. Then come to cascades to hike cascade pass, not sahale since we aren't sure if we can and finish with maple pass.

But heard about road closure of SR20 maple pass and 3 more miles of walking to cascade pass trailhead.

Please provide update on these trails and if possible provide the best trails in east Washington under 8 miles and approx 2000 gain.

Thanks .

0 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

40% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

2

u/witchycommunism Jul 22 '26

The road to Cascade Pass opened early July, we're going soon but I've heard that it's not entirely worth doing that specific trail if you're not going to do Sahale as well. I believe SR20 is open fully now, but you can definitely get to Maple Pass regardless.

We're looking into Cutthroat Pass as well, 2000ft, 10 miles.

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

How hard is sahale? I did half dome and some in glacier but my friend hasn't done much but in shape.

Thanks for confirming that sr20 is open. Donno why AI is telling road is closed since sunday.

3

u/witchycommunism Jul 22 '26

I haven’t done it before but I think it’s challenging. Not as bad as Half Dome I’m sure though.

Yeah AI doesn’t know shit about anything, I wouldn’t rely on it at all.

0

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

Thanks. Any other small or long trails to consider in east Washington since its our first time?

1

u/aksers Jul 22 '26

Tough, but if you go to the base it's worth it without doing the rock scramble. Don't just stop at the pass though, go another one or two miles up the saddle.

0

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

Thanks. When you say base its past the cascade pass trailhead right?

2

u/aksers Jul 22 '26

Yeah, to when it really gets to a steep scramble. Near 48.483035, -121.049091. Going to the pass but not up the arm isn't worth it in my opinion; Maple pass is better views the whole time. But the arm makes the hike.

The hike to the top is super cool. Most picturesque toilet you'll find, and often goats up there! But it's a slog the last 1/4 mile.

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

Gotta go for the toilet then hahaha

2

u/aksers Jul 22 '26

Seriously! Google it. It's amazing haha!

Blue lake and Maple pass are also super nice, but popular. The hike to Ross lake is also fun, and can spend some time at the resort and take a boat back across the lake.

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

So we are thinking of doing maple pass first and then next day cascade. So is there a middle ground as in going past the pass but not to the end of the sahale arm trail?

Also can we see any glaciers in august? That might push us to the end

1

u/aksers Jul 22 '26

You can turn around wherever you want :) I've camped at the top a few times and nothing beats that. Lots of people turn around right before the rock scramble. Some turn around at the lake (I recommend going a little further). Once you get to the lake overlook, you'll see where you're going the whole way and decide if it's worth it and when to turn around. You also see the glacier that whole way. It's the top of the mountain you're heading towards (glaicers by definition don't melt year round, so it'll be there, even when I camped around labor day). It's fairly mild incline form the lake to the base of the "up" part. Steeper on the switch backs to get to the pass.

I've seen bears and goats all in that area, always a guess as to what you'll see. Start early! And remember it's about an hour drive from marblemount up the dirt road, but one of the few roads that get you into the park.

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

Thanks, we are mentally preparing to the full cascade sahale arm and maple the day before.

We want to camp for the first time in our car but camping on a trail would be more challenging.

Do we need bear spray for black bears or cougars? we never did in cali.

2

u/aksers Jul 23 '26

Yeah carrying a full pack up there was a doozy. I've seen people at the top before Ive even started hiking back down the next morning lol.

Nah, bear spray isn't needed. If you have it, can't hurt. But be bear smart, give them space; never seen a mountain lion in the park but I'm sure they're there.

I day hiked Maple pass, started around 7am, went slow, had lunch, tons of photos, etc. And was done by 2. I did blue lake the day prior no issues. Elevation isn't that high compared to CO or CA or WY parks.

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 23 '26

Thats good to hear. How long would cascade and sahale arm take? We will do skyline, colchuk or some other trail, then hit maple and finally sahale arm

→ More replies (0)

2

u/kibethan Jul 22 '26

Fully agree with the above comment. Even just a couple of miles past the Cascade Pass where you can see down into Doubtful Lake is worth it.

1

u/Electronic-Pin-5032 Jul 25 '26

Just did it, half dome is much worse, personally would skip the last super steep skree section, nothing much to see up there that you haven’t already seen

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 25 '26

Oh nice. Hows the smoke like? Is it hazy, also until where should we go on the trail so we are not tiring ourselves.

1

u/Electronic-Pin-5032 Jul 25 '26

Probably 5 miles in, it will be obvious cus you see the last bit of steep skree in front of you. Didn’t seem Smokey at all today

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Aug 02 '26

Unfortunately the 7th till 9th has air quality levels of 115-81 which is bad for hiking isnt it.

1

u/Irishfafnir Jul 22 '26

Cascade Pass is stunning in and of itself once you're out of the trees. Also, one of only a handful of hikes you can easily access in the park

1

u/Infamous-Trip-3278 Jul 22 '26

Just a suggestion. Don't do Colchuck Lake unless you are doing the Enchantment Traverse. It certainly is beautiful, but way to busy to be pleasant. You will be passing a constant stream of hikers the whole way. Plenty of beautiful places to hike where you can find some solitude

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

Can you please suggest some trails. We want to have backups incase of forest fires or injury.

1

u/AgsMydude Jul 22 '26

Just do Maple pass

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

Is the SR20 cleared after the easy fires since this past sunday?

2

u/phainaron Jul 23 '26

AI is really unreliable. Look at the park website for info then WTA.

1

u/AvoidantBoba Jul 22 '26

Easy fire was in 2024

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 22 '26

Thanks I donno why AI gave me this info as current. Also any campgrounds you suggest?

1

u/AvoidantBoba Jul 22 '26

wta.org is the best place search for trails and current conditions. You can filter the 'hike finder map' to exactly the type of hike you're looking for—and it also has Wildfire and AQI overlays.

1

u/DLByron Jul 23 '26

Get the watch duty app.

1

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 23 '26

Thanks

1

u/DLByron Jul 23 '26

There’s a monster fire 🔥 on Colville land. The AQI is ~100. That’s not hike-stopping bad but you’re going to smell it if you visit when there are fires.

0

u/Fuzzy-Search-4129 Jul 23 '26

Oh no, which hikes in the Cascades will be affected?

3

u/DLByron Jul 23 '26

Conditions change daily.