Heather - Maple Pass Loop
5 days ago
Early winter conditions with intermittent snow
23 this month · 179 reports
Lewis Lake
North Cascades
updated 1 month ago
Lewis Lake is currently showcasing its peak fall colors, with larches at prime color as of October 2, 2026. The trail is generally in good condition, though minor obstacles are present. The boulder field between Heather Pass and Lewis Lake requires navigation, with some sections being steep, precarious, and potentially slick when muddy, as noted on October 2, 2026. Despite some erosion on a dirt path near Lewis Lake, it is manageable. The road to the trailhead is suitable for all vehicles. While bugs were an annoyance in late July and July 25, 2026, reports from October indicate no significant bug issues.
Generated from 15 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Lewis Lake
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 1 month ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 1 month, so everything below is at least that old.
The boulder field requires careful navigation. While there are options to stay on a dirt path to the right, some boulder traversing is still necessary. Sections can be steep and precarious, especially when muddy, as reported on October 2, 2026.
As of October 2, 2026, the trail from the trailhead to Heather Pass is in good shape with no obstructions or washouts. Beyond Heather Pass, the main concern is the boulder field and some eroded sections, but no major washouts have been reported.
There are campsites and a toilet at Lewis Lake, as noted on October 2, 2026. USFS personnel were surveying the area to install pit toilets at Lewis Lake in late July, suggesting their presence.
As of October 2, 2026, the larches at Lewis Lake are at prime color, and the next two weeks were predicted to be prime viewing. Another report from September 19, 2026 suggested that larch season was just starting to turn golden and would likely be another two to three weekends away from being a full larch march.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older1 month ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Black Peak has a bit of everything for everyone to enjoy. The Larches were in full bloom; the alpine lakes were beautiful; the boulder field was enjoyable; the scrambling was great, and the 360 summit...
Older1 month ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
I finally knocked a big item off my hiking and nature photography bucket list - photographing larches at sunrise in the fall! Lewis Lake was the perfect spot both because the larches were at peak AND ...
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Arrived at the Rainy Pass trailhead around 6:45am on Saturday. We parked in the parking lot, which has recently been repaved and striped. There were only a handful of real car spots left in the lot, w...
Older3 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
We managed to do a 1-nighter at Wing Lake with decent AQI, but would keep a close eye on the conditions because when the smoke is blowing in the wrong direction, it's very smoky up there.There's a cle...
Older3 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
We completed a 2-night backpack to Lewis and Wing lakes off the Maple/Heather pass trail. The rainy pass trailhead is nearly always busy, but arriving between 12-1pm on Sunday, we found morning hikers...
Older3 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Overnight backpack to Lewis Lake. originally intended to backpack to Wing Lake, but one person in our group felt super uncomfortable crossing the boulder field. He felt extremely tired after reaching ...
Older4 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Sammy the Salmon Sushi reporting from Black Peak!There are lots of black rocks on Black Peak, so it's a good name.Sammy signing off!Notes from Sammy's human:-Found a bunch of gear on the trail. hopefu...
Older14 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Distance (RT):12.0mi/19.3kmGain:4989ft/1521mGear (used):Semi-rigid mountaineering boots, poles, helmetGear (unused):N/AGear (should have brought):N/AWater:AbundantBugs:None observedOvernight at Wing L...
Older25 months ago
North Cascades
The Maple Pass/Lewis Lake trailhead was extremely busy, as expected. Drove by the trailhead the previous evening to find the parking lot full at 10pm, some people camping in their cars and others seem...
Older25 months ago
North Cascades
When we arrived to the trailhead around 11am on Saturday on a beautiful fall weekend, we joined many others at the Rainy Pass trailhead. So yes, parking is intense. We were able to snag a spot close-i...