Cascade Pass Trailhead — Attraction in Granite Falls

This was a long-haul trip from Edmonds. Left around 5:40 am, picked up a hiking partner near Everett, and arrived at the parking lot around 8:30. I think we got the last spot in the roundabout parking area. On a Wednesday!!! At one point we were in a line of 6 cars driving up. Very doable road but a long, slow drive from the turnoff in Marblemount.

But as multiple people have said, just the views from the parking lot make this trip worthwhile. Hands down the best scenery I have seen after 9 other hikes this year. So worth dealing with the crowds in my opinion. But get here early if you can! (Having said that, we were still passing people headed up around 2pm-ish, and the parking lot had several open spaces when we got back down so maybe go later in the day if you're a fast hiker?)

Trail is very well maintained, and I'd say 80% of it is root and rock free, which made for a pleasant hiking experience. Loads of switchbacks up through the woods, where you gain the most elevation, but you still get some great views across the valley at the southern switchbacks. The last straight-ish, nearly mile long stretch up to the pass was the flattest part of the hike.

The views from the higher parts of the trail as you get above the tree line are spectacular! Glaciers abound on the surrounding peaks. One of my favorite parts of this day was that from the moment we got out of the car and the entire time hiking up to the pass there was a constant background hum from all of the water flowing down the valley. It was the sound of multiple waterfalls very far away all combined together. Just cool to stop and listen for a moment now and then.

Lots of wildflowers as we got higher on the trail. At least a dozen different wildflowers in bloom. Loads of huckleberries too. Just saw small wildlife. Heard a lot of pikas but only saw one that posed for us. Also, three marmots on the way down from the pass. All within a half mile of the pass.

We ate lunch at the pass while resisting the begging of an adorable chipmunk and then decided the extra 700' up to the spine that led down to Doubtful Lake was a hike too far that day. Hike down from the pass was quick.

Probably saw around 50ish people on the trail up and down. Also one ranger on the trail because of the recent bear sightings. Apparently, there were reports of someone feeding the bear (Moron!) so she was there to remind people to not do that.

Some other etiquette thoughts:

If you're driving up or down the road and see more than 3 cars or so behind you, consider pulling over to let them by. There were plenty of pull-out spots for people holding up the line.

But also, maybe don't get so annoyed if you're behind someone slow that you decide to pass multiple cars kicking up huge dust clouds and making the road nearly invisible for everyone you just passed.

One pair of hikers were playing music out loud from their phone while hiking. Just don't.

Overall, a great hiking day. I will be keeping this one on my list and possibly making it an annual trek. Favorite of the...

Very popular trail with some good views along the way. First off, if you go on the weekend make sure you are one of the first people to arrive, otherwise you may be parking almost a mile or so down the road before the trailhead. Weekdays also fill up similar. Beware: little less than a mile from the top, there is a bad washout section that got worse over the past week. My Subaru Outback was able to get through with other high clearance vehicles, but there was a mini van who got stuck on the day we went up to camp three days prior. The day we came down another car was stuck and while there were empty spaces at the trailhead, there were dozens of cars lined up parked a half mile down from the washout cause people couldn't get through or did a horrible job parking making it tough for traffic to get around. National Park Service is aware of this as of today and just posted about road repairs will happen in a week or so. So until then, either arrive early with high clearance vehicle, or plan on parking down before the washout area. Highly suggest turning your vehicle around and parked facing away, otherwise good luck trying to turn around. (No parking passes required at this trailhead) Hopefully road is fixed by the time you read this.

Once you manage to make it to the trailhead, it's time to start hiking. There are 32 switchbacks to get to the pass. Almost all of it is in the shade and opens up as you near the top. Its not to steep and just a nice steady incline to the top. Once there, you are rewarded with a view of the Pelton Basin. Keep your eye out for goats roaming around. Some people stop here, but if you have time and don't mind some more climbing, I suggest you consider going up to Doubtful Lake or even up on Sahale Arm for better views. If you really wanna be adventurous and enjoy elevation, continue to Sahale Glacier for some of the best views in the...

The Cascade Pass Trail is one of the most iconic hikes in the North Cascades, offering breathtaking mountain views with a moderate effort.

Getting to the trailhead involves a 6-mile uphill gravel road, which is generally in good shape, but the last mile can be challenging for low-clearance sedans. If needed, you can park a mile lower, which adds about 1.5–2 miles round trip. The main parking lot has a restroom, which is a nice convenience before starting your hike. Also, the trailhead parking lot is full pretty early on. So you probably have to park on the roadside.

The hike itself is a 7.5 mile out-and-back with well-graded switchbacks for the first 2 miles through forested terrain. Thanks to the switchbacks, the elevation gain feels very manageable, making this a more moderate hike despite the impressive views you’ll earn. From the pass, you can extend your adventure to Doubtful Lake to the north or toward Pelton Basin Campground to the east.

Along the way, you’re rewarded with stunning views of Johannesburg Mountain, Cascade Peak, the Triplets, Mix-up Peak, Magic Mountain, Pelton Peak, and even higher peaks further north. The trail surface is mostly smooth with a few rocky sections, a nice choice for trail running.

Plan about 3–4 hours for the average hiker to complete the out-and-back, longer if you add side trips. It’s easy to see why this trail is one of the most popular hikes in the North Cascades, it combines accessibility, manageable effort, and...