See Amazing Fall Colors Hiking to Grasshopper Pass via PCT
Washington is known for its stellar fall colors throughout the state, so people have plenty of options when exploring. But one of my favorite places I’ve ever seen is Grasshopper Pass, which boasts impeccable larches and stunning reds on the ground that absolutely illuminate when they are backlit by the sun.
Better yet, it’s hardly visited, giving you an epic place to adventure without the hoards of crowds that congregate in other popular areas.
Enjoy my quick guide to help you plan a hike and seek out new destinations.
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Hiking Guide to Grasshopper Pass via PCT in the North Cascades
Quick Hiking Stats for Grasshopper Pass
- Distance: 10 miles on the PCT
- Elevation Gain: 1,500
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time on Trail: 5-7 hours
- Best time for fall colors: October
What you need to know to plan your trip
Reaching Grasshopper Pass
What is the road quality to reach the trailhead?
The road to the Grasshopper Pass trailhead is one of the worst in the state, and you’ll want a high-clearance vehicle. It’s quite bumpy, and for a stretch, it’s narrow with a steep drop-off on one side. Ideally, you do not want to be passing others on this part.
From the Mazama Store, it’s 20 miles and should take between 45 minutes and an hour.
Finding the Trailhead
If you look on Google, you won’t find this as a trailhead option. You’ll want to plug in Brown Bear Trailhead. It’s just down the road from Meadows Campground, which is a great place to call your home base during this trip.
Hiking Beta for the Adventure
When is the best time of year for hiking to Grasshopper Pass
Summer and fall are the only two seasons in which this trail is available. This road up to Harts Pass is one of the highest in the state and gets considerable snowfall during winter, which lasts through spring and into early summer.
The only way to reach this area earlier would be to hike the PCT from Highway 20 below Cutthroat Pass.
Fall Colors at Grasshopper Pass
This area gets both yellow larches and deep reds and is one of the most magical places in the entire state. As we all know, fall colors can be tricky to time, but they usually occur in the first two weeks of October.
Tips for hiking to Grasshopper Pass
- If you’re a photographer, sunrise here is the best time. You’ll get the larches backlit and glowing.
- It’s easy to hike in the dark and with a headlamp
- Camp at Meadows Campground. It’s a 2-minute drive to the trailhead.
- The parking lot isn’t too big, but I’d be shocked if you had issues.
- The best fall colors are at Grasshopper Pass, but if I recall correctly, you’ll start to get larches a half mile before.
- Drones are allowed here.
How Hard is the hike?
The hike to Grasshopper Pass is a moderate trail with a roller coaster terrain. You’ll have uphills and downhills to and from, spreading out the hard parts throughout the trail. But no one should be too worried about the challenge the trial poses.
If there is a hard part, it’s only because it’s a 10-mile day, which is sometimes outside the typical length of most hikers.
As for the views, they’re glorious for the entire hike. You’re on the eastern side of the cascades, so it flattens out to the east. But you still have various peaks in view as you hike south along the PCT.
Other Information about the Grasshopper Pass Hike
How crowded is this trail?
This trail is visited less often for multiple reasons. First, you need a vehicle that can make it to the trailhead. Then, you need to drive the 4+ hours from Seattle to the Harts Pass area. Lastly, it’s a longer hike. Combined, the barrier to entry is much higher than the easier-to-reach trails such as Blue Lake or Maple Pass, and people opt for those.
This is all to say that you should have it relatively to yourself and to have a wonderful time!
Are there any bathrooms?
The nearest restroom is a pit toilet at the Meadows Campground. There are no bathrooms elsewhere in the area. Please clean up after yourself and follow LNT (and digging) policies.
Are dogs allowed on the trail?
Yes, this is a dog-friendly trail with no restrictions. Please be courteous to other hikers when hiking with your dogs and pick up after them. While there isn’t a lot of wildlife out there, there’s always a chance to run into a bear, goat, cougar, or deer. Keep that in mind if you let them off leash.
Will I have cell service?
Nope! After passing the Mazama Store, you likely won’t have cell service. This is a great opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and enjoy some time outside. If you do need to reach someone, a satellite device is an excellent way to communicate.
Can you go backpacking here?
Backpacking is allowed and would offer a great place to sleep overnight. The only issue, especially during the fall, is the lack of water. You’d need to bring all of your water for the night, and I wouldn’t recommend spending more than a day unless you plan to hike down into the valley to get water.
In early summer, your only water source would be melting snow, which is unreliable, especially as this road opens later in the year.
Campgrounds in the area
These are the campgrounds you can camp in in the area.
- Klipchuck Campground (Highway 20)
- Early Winters Campground (Highway 20)
- Ballard Campground (Forest Road)
- River Bend Campground (Forest Road)
- Harts Pass Campground (Close to trailhead)
- Meadows Campground (Close to trailhead) – First come, first served.
Water Sources
There is no running water in this area. You should bring all the water you need before leaving Mazama. A five- to ten-gallon jug would be perfect.
Wrapping Up Fall Hiking to Grasshopper Pass
As you can see, Grasshopper Pass is idyllic and one of the most stunning places in Washington – especially during the fall season. If you do go, make sure to do your due diligence to hike safety and smartly and have an amazing time out in nature!
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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