Maple pass loop and Hidden lake

Who: Eric and Matt
When: July 25-26
Activity: Day hiking
Google photos link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wFUT7nuvfTjHjTh29
WTA links:

• https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/maple-pass
• https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/hidden-lake-lookout

Eric and I drove up to North Cascades national park on Saturday midday with hopes of snagging a car campsite inside the park so we could double up on some day hikes in the area. We were disappointed to find the campground marked as full around noon. I know I tend to be pretty anxious about securing first-come first-serve campsites to the point of paranoia, but given that this is twice now this summer where we've arrived too late to get a spot at the campground we wanted, my anxiety feels justified.

Since the largest campground Colonial Creek was full we figured the other ones would be as well. At this point we decided to play it by ear with the assumption that we'd be able to pull off the side of the road and pitch a tent in the forest somewhere. We drove around a bit more, and took our lunch while checking out the Lake Diablo lookout. At this point it was about 2pm so we rolled on to the Maple pass loop trailhead which actually lies outside of the park.

Lake Diablooooo

The hike was sweet and quite pleasant. After a brief discussion about the merits of clockwise vs counterclockwise loops we decided on a counterclockwise direction which seemed to be recommended. The way was a pretty stable grade, gradually bringing us up to the pass which nestles right up against the national park boundary.

Can you hunt here? No you can't!

The views of the park and the surrounding Cascades were pretty sweet from here and we spent a good amount of time just hanging out and eating some more Ritz and tuna.

After lingering we headed back down to the car. The descent was pretty easy and we got back to the car around 5:30 or so.

In order to find a spot we drove for a bit back west towards the park on highway 20. Since we were still outside the national park boundary, dispersed camping from the road seemed like fair game here. We pulled over on a promising turnout that gave us plenty of distance from the road and headed into the forest to see if we could find a flat spot. Luckily enough the first spot we checked out was suitable so we plopped our stuff down and set up Eric's tent. After some dinner and Hive we went to bed following sunset. Eric I think initially got up in the middle of the night to pee and ended up stargazing from the road. He woke me up to join him and I'm glad he did. The milky way was really clear from here, something I hadn't seen in awhile!

The next day we drove back west to the Hidden Lake trailhead. The service road leading up to this hike is in really bad shape. It's steep and filled with unavoidable potholes in some parts. Probably the worst service road I've been on to date except save some completely washed out roads following a storm at Philmont.

Hidden lake proved to be a much more strenuous hike than the Maple pass loop. Pretty much the entire hike is exposed to direct sunlight with few opportunities for shade. Still, we reached the lake in good time and had a nice lunch at the top of the lookout around 1pm. The lake is indeed hidden - you can't see it until you crest over a final ridge at the end of the hike. Great job to those responsible at the lake naming team.

Hidden lake

Descending again proved not to be too much of a challenge. We glissaded down through the snow covered parts and made it back to the car before 4 and picked up some McDonalds that really hit the spot on the way home. Great weekend, two great hikes. Funnily enough both hikes were outside of the proper national park boundary so we still have only just scratched the surface of NOCA.