Backpacking Wing Lake: A Complete Guide to the North Cascades’ Best Larch Hike

Yellow larches reflect off of a bright turquoise lake, painting a scene that seems unreal. If that sounds ideal to you, then you must plan an overnight backpacking trip at Wing Lake in the remote North Cascades of Washington.

My husband and I took on this trail during larch season and it’s definitely in my top 5 hikes in all of Washington. After sleeping peacefully in our tents, we woke up to a magical sunrise with pinks and oranges lighting up the sky. Everywhere you looked, you were surrounded by beauty.

You don’t need to secure an overnight permit, so this is a great trek to take on if you are planning something last minute or over a weekend!

So, now I want to help you backpack at Wing Lake. I’ve written this guide with everything you need to know to plan your trip and details on the trail itself. It’s a challenging trail with steep climbs, long mileage, and a boulder field. So, it’s not for beginners.

Read my guide so that you feel prepared.

Planning Your Wing Lake Backpacking Trip

Quick Hiking Stats

Distance: 11 (without Maple Pass)/13 miles (including Maple Pass)
Elevation: 2100/2700 feet
Type: Out and Back/Loop
Length: 1-3 Days (I recommend at least two)
Difficulty: Hard

Where is the Wing Lake Hike?

Wing Lake is a remote turquoise lake that sits high in the North Cascades of Washington in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

It’s about a 3 hour drive from Seattle and 2.5 hours from Bellingham. It’s the perfect trail to take on to see the stunning larches in the Fall or go for a nice backpacking overnight.

Best Time to Hike Wing Lake

Because the North Cascades are at a high elevation, they see a lot of snow. So, the best time to hike Wing Lake is during the snow free months usually from early July to mid October.

Snow typically lasts on the tallest mountain trails through June and they sometimes get snow early on in the Fall. ❄️ The North Cascades Highway is closed during the entire winter season and you can check WDOT for the current status.

That being said, my absolute favorite time to hike Wing Lake is during larch season. Larches are conifers that turn gold before dropping their needles in fall. They are typically at their peak in the North Cascades for the first two weeks of October.

We went in early October of 2026 and we had perfect conditions. Golden hues covered the trees with reds covering the ground brush. It was like stepping into a painting!

Can You Day Hike Wing Lake?

While many people backpack Wing Lake, it’s also a great day hike as long as you don’t mind taking on a challenging trail!

The hike is around 11-13 miles depending on the route that you take and it leaves from Maple Pass. once you split off from the Maple Pass crowds, it’s far quieter! We saw a few day hikers while we were out there, so it’s doable.

But, if you really want a magical experience, then you should consider backpacking it, so you get to watch colors paint the sky at sunrise or sunset.

How to Get There

To access Wing Lake, you’ll need to start on the Maple Pass Trailhead. Luckily, this trail is easily accessible off of North Cascades highway.

So, to get there, you’ll simply follow North Cascades Highway from either direction until you see a sign for Maple Pass. There’s a parking lot there with a few pit toilets. Once you get past the trailhead sign, you’ll want to follow the signs for Maple Pass.

Wing Lake Backpacking Tips

Packing Essentials

Weather changes quickly up in the North Cascades. So, while you may be hot under the sun in the daytime, you can be shivering as soon as the sun goes down.

So, my biggest tip is to pack waterproof layers for your trek! Make sure you prepare for your backpacking trip with the essentials and plenty of food for your journey. Personally, I like using trekking poles when backpacking to help myself keep my balance.

Learn all about the backpacking gear you’ll need here! 🎒

Backpacking essentials

• Backpacking Tent
• Backpack
• Water Filter
• Bear Canister
• Bear Spray
• Comfortable Hiking Boots
• Hiking Poles
• Jetboil or Cooking System
• Quick Dry Towel
• Satellite Phone

Wing Lake Backpacking Route & Trail Description

Okay, so now that you’ve got all the planning logistics down, it’s time to talk about the route itself! There are two options when completing this trail: you can do a simple out and back or you can add on the Maple Pass Loop part of the trail.

Because we’ve done Maple Pass before, we decided to skip that part. But, I’ll discuss that option as well. Either way, I suggest going counter clockwise on the Maple Pass Loop to start this trail.

Maple Pass Trailhead

Head out past the trailhead sign where just a few feet into the trail, you’ll see a turnoff to your right for Maple Pass. From there, you will start the climb up the mountain right away.

As you wake your way up, you’ll walk through a forest with switchbacks, then along a boulder field, before the views of Lake Ann below and the top of Maple Pass to your left. This is where the trail starts to get extremely picturesque.

Turn Off for Wing Lake

At just 1.2 miles or so into the trail, you’ll see a sign to turn to the right towards Heather Pass. Take that turn to make your way towards Wing Lake.

We popped up over a hill and were greeted with bright reds and yellows in front of us. We kept walking and that’s where we started to see the first yellow larches. As soon as you walk through the trees, you’ll see the trail descending down and across over an ocean of boulders.

Boulder Field

My husband and I are very different hikers, so this part of the trail was his favorite, while if I never had to hike this again it would be too soon.

About a half mile past the turn out, you’ll get to a boulder field that stretches on and off for approximately 2 miles. There’s a steep drop off below and endless boulders ahead. Walk slowly and follow the cairns that you see along the way.

I hated navigating this boulder field and it took me a lot longer than I expected to get through it. But, I did enjoy watching pikas skitter across the walks and hear their squeaks communicating with each other.

I swear this seemed endless, but eventually you will make it through to Lewis Lake!

Lewis Lake

Lewis Lake is a small lake with a deep green coloring, it’s very picturesque. You can choose to camp at Lewis Lake, or keep going to Wing Lake. However, there are only a few spots at Lewis so if you plan to stop there, go early.

The last mile after Lewis Lake is the most unforgiving part of this trek as you gain 1100 feet in less than a mile. So, hopefully you’ve saved up your energy.

As the trail weaves its way around Lewis Lake, you can stare into the deep aqua water as you mentally prep yourself for the last push. It winds its way around the lake and then starts climbing up from there.

If you’re going in the Fall, you’ll start to be greeted by a steady stream of golden larches. So, at least you can distract yourself with the gorgeous landscapes while you head up. I had just come off a knee injury and was not in my best shape, so this last part destroyed me.

Every time I found myself huffing and puffing, I simply took a break and turned around. Mountain peaks surrounded us as the sun set behind the summits and pastel peak illuminated the sky. It was a stunning end to our trek.

Wing Lake

Finally, after a steep and challenging climb you’ll finally be greeted by the serene, turquoise waters of Wing Lake. You’ve made it!

There are a number of great camping spots that are far enough from the lake, but still have a view. I recommend walking around a bit until you find one that suits you.

Now, that you’re there you can enjoy the scenery, go for a swim (if it’s warm enough), and take photos.

In my opinion, you NEED to wake up for sunrise. We had the most insane sunrise of my life at Wing Lake with vibrant colors in the sky and the orange tinged larches reflecting off the water. You can even climb just above Wing Lake for some of the best views!

It’s a backpacking trip that you will remember for a very long time.

Maple Pass Loop

On your way down, you can choose to head back the way you came, or turn right at the turn off to complete the Maple Pass loop portion.

If you do this, just know that you will gain another 600 feet of elevation. But, the top of Maple Pass Loop is remarkable as you get views over Lake Ann and 360 degree views of mountains. Finally, you can head all the way back down to the trailhead.

Final Tips for Hiking Wing Lake

Wing Lake is a wonderful alternative to Maple Pass Loop and it’s the perfect backpacking overnight. Although it’s less crowded than other spots, it can definitely get crowded on weekends during peak season.

So, head out early on the trail to grab a good campsite, pack plenty of layers, and always clean up after yourself. Happy trails! 🥾

Let me know in the comments if you found this guide helpful!

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