Grasshopper Pass Hike: Incredible Ridge Views & Larches Near Mazama
- 7 hours ago
- 7 min read
There are some hikes where the payoff comes at the very end. Grasshopper Pass is not one of them.
From almost the moment we stepped onto the trail, we had enormous mountain views. The route spends much of its time traversing high, open slopes and ridgelines, with the scenery changing every time the trail bends around another basin.
Grasshopper Pass gives you all of that scenery without a huge amount of climbing. Our hike ended up being about 11 miles round trip with less than 2,000 feet of elevation gain, making it a surprisingly approachable long-distance hike.
But there is a catch.
To reach the trailhead, you first have to drive Hart's Pass Road, one of the most infamous mountain roads in Washington.
Grasshopper Pass sits in the Pasayten area of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, north of Mazama and just east of North Cascades National Park. The hike follows a beautiful section of the Pacific Crest Trail, passing Tatie Peak before reaching Grasshopper Pass.
And after seeing just how many larches cover these mountainsides, Grasshopper Pass immediately landed on our list of hikes we need to return to during peak fall color.
Trail Details
Location: Pasayten / North Cascades region near Mazama, Washington
Trailhead: Brown Bear Trailhead near Meadows Campground
Distance: About 10 miles round trip to Grasshopper Pass; we hiked roughly 11 miles by continuing beyond the pass
Elevation Gain: About 1,600 feet for the standard route; less than 2,000 feet on our longer hike
Highest Point: Approximately 7,000+ feet depending on your turnaround
Difficulty: Moderate, primarily because of the distance
Trail Type: Out and back
Best Time: Late September through mid October
Best for: Huge mountain views, ridge walking, larches, fall colors, solitude
Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
First, You Have to Survive Hart's Pass Road
We had heard about Hart's Pass Road long before driving it ourselves.
It routinely comes up in conversations about the scariest or most intimidating roads in Washington, largely because portions of the road are extremely narrow with steep, unguarded drop-offs.
So naturally, we were curious to see whether it lived up to its reputation.
For us?
It was definitely intimidating in places, but much more manageable than we expected.
The road climbs high into the mountains from the Mazama area and provides vehicle access to the Hart's Pass area, making it one of Washington's highest mountain-road experiences.
The Infamous Deadhorse Point
The section everyone talks about is generally known as Deadhorse Point.
This stretch occurs relatively early on the unpaved portion of the drive and is where Hart's Pass Road earns most of its reputation.
For roughly a short stretch of road, you're driving along a steep mountainside with an enormous drop beside you.The road is generally only wide enough for one vehicle, although there are a handful of very small pullouts. And there are no guardrails.
If you're afraid of heights, this is almost certainly going to make your palms sweat.
The good news is that when we drove it, the actual road surface through this section was in relatively good condition.
Our biggest concern would actually be meeting another vehicle coming the opposite direction.
There simply isn't much room.
If two vehicles meet at the wrong spot, one of them may need to reverse until reaching a pullout. On a quiet day this probably isn't a huge issue, but during peak larch weekends or busy summer Saturdays, we could imagine traffic making this section significantly more stressful.
Do You Need a High-Clearance Vehicle for Hart's Pass Road?
When we drove Hart's Pass Road, we felt that most normal passenger vehicles could make it in dry conditions if driven carefully and of course there was a Honda Accord at the trailhead.
We saw some potholes and rougher sections, but nothing that struck us as requiring serious off-road capability.
That said, road conditions in the mountains can change enormously from year to year.
Snowmelt, washouts, rockfall and storms can completely change the condition of a Forest Service road, so we would never assume Hart's Pass will look the same when you visit as it did for us.
Check current Forest Service and recent trip reports before heading out.
And regardless of vehicle, take your time.
When We Would NOT Drive Hart's Pass Road
There are certain conditions where we personally would not want to be anywhere near Deadhorse Point.
Moderate to heavy rain would make us uncomfortable.
And ice or snow?
Absolutely not.
That narrow shelf road combined with frozen conditions and huge drop-offs would be an easy no for us. Even in good weather, drivers uncomfortable with exposure may find this road genuinely unpleasant. If cliffside roads make you extremely nervous, factor that into your decision before committing to this hike.
Getting to the Grasshopper Pass Trailhead
From Mazama, you'll follow Lost River Road toward Hart's Pass before continuing onto Forest Road 5400.
WTA lists the drive at roughly 19 miles from Mazama to the turn toward Meadows Campground, followed by another 1.7 miles to the Brown Bear Trailhead.
Before reaching the upper Slate Peak area, you'll turn left toward Meadows Campground.
This is important because you do not continue all the way toward Slate Peak. The Brown Bear Trailhead is relatively small, but Grasshopper Pass still seems to fly under the radar compared with many of Washington's better-known hikes.
We hiked here on Labor Day weekend and saw only about six or seven other people during our entire 11-mile hike.
For this scenic of a trail, that felt almost absurd.
Hiking to Grasshopper Pass
The best part of this hike becomes obvious almost immediately: you start high and stay high.
Unlike many North Cascades hikes that require several forested miles before reaching the views, Grasshopper Pass delivers scenery almost from the start. The trail follows the Pacific Crest Trail across open slopes and ridgelines, with huge views into the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Because the route bends around several basins, the scenery constantly changes. One moment you are looking toward Hart’s Pass and Slate Peak, and the next an entirely different section of the North Cascades opens up in front of you.
For a hike this long, the scenery-to-effort ratio is excellent.
Around Tatie Peak
The trail eventually passes beneath Tatie Peak, where an optional side trail leads to the summit.
We stayed on the main PCT, which continues across open mountainsides toward Grasshopper Pass. This was one of our favorite sections of the hike because the trail gently follows the contours of the mountains rather than climbing aggressively.
It makes the miles go by surprisingly quickly.
Why We Loved This Hike
Grasshopper Pass isn't really about one dramatic destination.
The entire trail is the attraction.
For most of the hike, you are surrounded by wide-open mountain views. The trail wraps around ridges, crosses high slopes, and continually reveals new valleys and peaks.
We found ourselves stopping constantly for photos even though we hadn't technically reached a viewpoint.
That continuous scenery is what makes Grasshopper Pass stand out.
Wildlife
We saw several mountain goat tracks but didn't spot any goats during our hike.
Otherwise, wildlife was fairly quiet, although the remote Pasayten landscape certainly feels like the kind of place where you could have a good wildlife encounter.
Best Time to Hike Grasshopper Pass
Grasshopper Pass would be beautiful throughout summer, but we think larch season is the best time to hike it.
We visited just before the larches started changing. Some of the groundcover had already turned red and orange, but the larches were still mostly green.
And there were larches everywhere.
There are dense pockets of them along much of the route, which immediately made us want to return when the mountains turn gold.
Peak larch color in this part of Washington generally occurs from late September into early or mid-October, although timing varies every year.
The biggest challenge is finding that perfect combination of golden larches, and a dry Hart’s Pass Road.
Our Grasshopper Pass Hiking Tips
Check Hart’s Pass Road conditions before leaving Mazama.
Avoid the drive if snow, ice, or severe weather is expected.
Start early during peak larch season.
Continue beyond Grasshopper Pass if you have extra energy.
Bring plenty of water, especially later in summer.
Download your hiking map before leaving Mazama.
Keep an eye on the weather because much of the route is exposed.
Bring the appropriate recreation pass for parking.
Where to Eat After
Grasshopper Pass
After making your way back down Hart’s Pass Road, we highly recommend stopping at Mazama Public House.
It’s a great place to finish a long day in the mountains, with excellent food, local beer, and beautiful views toward Goat Peak, which is also home to another great nearby hike.
After 11 miles on the trail, good food, a cold beer, and mountain views make for a pretty perfect end to the day.
Final Thoughts
Grasshopper Pass checks a lot of boxes for us: huge mountain views, ridgeline hiking, relatively modest elevation gain, low crowds, and tons of larches.
We loved it before peak fall color, but seeing how many larches cover these mountainsides immediately made us want to come back.
If we can time our next visit with golden larches, clear skies, and a dry Hart’s Pass Road, we suspect this could become one of our favorite fall hikes in Washington.
Check out our list of the top our favorite hikes in the Pacific Northwest to see where this one ranks:
See our hiking guide to Maple Pass loop a favorite of ours nearby: Maple Pass Loop
Comments