If you’re looking to escape your busy life without feeling it in your calves for the rest of the week, this moderately challenging hike is for you! Upper Lodge to Artist Point Trail is brimming with some of the most stunning scenery in the North Cascades, all in an approachable, out-and-back package. That’s why, of all of Washington’s beautiful outdoor excursions, we think it’s the best hike near Maple Valley.
Few settings are as quintessentially Northwest as the one you'll enjoy on this four-mile adventure. In approximately two hours, you'll see more than just peek-a-boo views of nearby mountain peaks. In fact, you'll feel like you're hovering with them in the clouds.
While the trail is gorgeous regardless of the season, my favorite times to visit are in late summer when the ground cover is a startling green, and the winter, when you can tackle the mountain path in snowshoes. If you choose to visit when there's snowfall, check existing avalanche warnings for the area.
Try not to let the panoramic views distract you from more humble incarnations of beauty. Wildflowers dot the alpine slopes with bright colors and the deciduous foliage flushes red and gold in the fall.
Are you passing Terminal Lake on a clear, still day? Observe the surroundings reflected in the water's surface. You'll find that Upper Lodge to Artist Point Trail is filled with these serene (and totally photogenic) scenes.
Because it's so beautiful and approachable, the trail has attracted scores of fans who return year after year. Among these visitors are canine companions, who are welcome to soak in the clean air and jaw-dropping views alongside you so long as they stay leashed for your adventure.
No doubt, few places capture the beauty of the North Cascade mountain range like Upper Lodge to Artist Point Trail. You can enjoy it as late as when the first snow falls and even after if you have the gear. And for the lucky few who venture out at night, you'll never get a more peaceful view than the one you'll have of the mountain sky.
Washington has no shortage of stunning hikes, but if we’re talking about the age-old beauty-to-effort ratio, then Upper Lodge to Artist Point Trail has them all beat. Only a few alpine excursions include lakes, flowers, forests, mountains, and wildlife. If you have yet to attempt this trail, mark it on your bucket list and make it your next adventure. There’s no doubt this is the best hike near Maple Valley in the North Cascades.
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