The Hidden Lake Lookout Trail in North Cascades National Park: The Complete Guide
The Hidden Lake Lookout Trail in North Cascades National Park is a moderate hike up to a rocky summit with gorgeous views of the North Cascades and a fire tower that you can even spend the night in. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about hiking to Hidden Lake Lookout in Washington, including how to get there, what to expect along the trail, how to spend the night at Hidden Lake, and much more!
North Cascades National Park remains sort of a hidden gem. Located in far northern Washington State, this remote National Park doesn’t get nearly the number of visitors as Washington’s two other National Parks – Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park- located several hours south and closer to Seattle.
But those who make the trip up here are rewarded with gorgeous alpine scenery, and hundreds of miles of trails that take you right through the heart of it to hidden waterfalls, serene lakes, and epic mountain views.
One of our favorite hikes in North Cascades National Park is the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail. This nearly 9 mile hike is a grind, but the steady climb is more than worth the gorgeous views you get from the top over a sea of jagged mountains and, as the name suggests, a hidden lake tucked in between. At the very top of the Hidden Lake hike is an old lookout, and if you want, you can even spend the night up here, enjoying the views in solitude after the day hikers have left.
While the Hidden Lake Lookout trail is a pretty popular hike in North Cascades National Park, we still wouldn’t describe it as crowded by any means. The North Cascades’ low visitation rate combined with a small, and kind of hard-to-access trailhead lot, means this trail is still relatively quiet, and you’re likely to still have a decent amount of solitude while enjoying the views from the top.
Ready to hit the trails? In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to hike to the Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades. We’ll show you how to get there, what the trail is like, when to go, and even how you can stay in the Hidden Lake Lookout. So, let’s get to it!
In this Hidden Lake Lookout Trail guide:
Where is Hidden Lake in Washington?
The view from the Hidden Lake Lookout
Hidden Lake is aptly named, as it’s tucked between the giant peaks of the Northern Cascades and seen only by those willing to hike nearly 9 miles of moderate trail from a semi-off-the-beaten-path area of the park.
Hidden Lake is located in North Cascades National Park, which is about 2 hours north of Seattle, WA, near the Canadian border.
There are a few regions of North Cascades National Park. The main road through the park is Highway 20 (or the North Cascades Highway), which starts just after Marblemount and winds 30 miles past scenic viewpoints and various trailheads. Many visitors, especially those who don’t plan on doing any significant hiking, stick to this road and see the park from the overlooks and easier hiking trails.
The Hidden Lake Lookout Trail is found in the South Unit of the North Cascades, just south of the North Cascades Highway. The trailhead, and actually the entire trail itself, is located outside of the National Park, in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest- and you only cross over to the National Park at the Hidden Lake viewpoint.
How to get to the Hidden Lake Lookout trailhead in North Cascades National Park
The Hidden Lake trailhead is located off of Cascade River Road. The turnoff for this road is off of Highway 20 in Marblemount just before the west entrance to the National Park. You’ll drive about 10 miles on this road until you’ll take a left onto Sibley Creek Road (also called Hidden Lake Road or USFS 1540). Cascade River Road is paved for the first ten miles, so you’ll be good here, but once you make the turn onto Sibley Creek Road, it’s a whole other ball game.
The road to the Hidden Lake trailhead is about a 5 mile drive up a steep, narrow, and twisty mountain road. It’s very rough and rugged, filled with ruts, potholes, rocks, branches, and overgrowth. We think you will absolutely need a 4x4 high clearance vehicle to get to the Hidden Lake trailhead on this road. And expect it to take some time, too. We were driving anywhere between 5 and 15 mph, and that short five miles to the trailhead felt like forever.
View of the road to the Hidden Lake trailhead
Nearing the Hidden Lake Lookout trailhead
At the end of the road is a small lot that will hold maybe 15 cars. The trailhead to Hidden Lake starts at the far end of the lot.
From Seattle, expect the drive to take about 2 and half hours to get to the Hidden Lake trailhead.
Hidden Lake Lookout trailhead map
Here is a map of North Cascades National Park to help you visualize where the Hidden Lake Lookout hike in Washington is located.
Are There Fees or Permits for the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail?
There are no fees or permits to day hike to Hidden Lake Lookout in Washington! The trailhead is located in a National Forest, but parking here is free and doesn’t require any special passes. Plus, entry into North Cascades National Park is entirely free!
The only time you will need a permit is if you plan on backcountry camping at Hidden Lake itself, but we’ll talk more about that below.
How Long is the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail in Washington?
The hike to Hidden Lake Lookout in Washington is a moderately long hike with a decent amount of elevation gain. The National Park Service quotes a distance of 9 miles round trip to the lookout with 2,900 feet of elevation gain, but our hiking stats were a bit different, so plan on a hiking distance and elevation gain somewhere between the two.
Here are our roundtrip hiking stats for the Hidden Lake Lookout trail in Washington:
Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,786 feet
Time: 7 hours (about 5.5 hours of that was true hiking time)
Trail Profile:
Our elevation profile of the Hidden Lake Lookout trail
Our GPS tracking of our hike to Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades
Hidden Lake Lookout trail map
Here is a Hidden Lake Lookout trail map from Nat Geo to give you an idea of the elevation profile of the hike.
How hard is the Hidden Lake Lookout trail?
The hike to Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades is a moderate trail. It’s a steady ascent pretty much the entire way, and it often feels pretty steep. Towards the top of the hike, as you get into more alpine territory, the trail gets rocky, and you may have to cross a few snow patches which can be slick. Having trekking poles and/or microspikes would help here, particularly earlier in the summer.
The toughest part of the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail is the last half mile between the saddle overlooking the lake and the summit where the lookout is located. This is a steep climb up a narrow dirt trail that has a bit of exposure that might be scary for those afraid of heights. At the top, the trail becomes a bit of a boulder scramble to get to the summit. You’ll see what we mean when we describe our experience on the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail in just a bit.
Best Time to Hike to Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades
Summer wildflowers along the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail
The best time to hike in the North Cascades is July to September. Often, a significant amount of snow can be found on the higher elevation trails well into July. The last time I visited this park in July, I encountered snow on the trails, and one time it was significant enough to have to turn around. We hiked to the Hidden Lake Lookout in early August and still encountered several snow patches along the trail.
Be sure to check trail conditions on the park website and also on Alltrails- fellow hikers give helpful reviews on current trail conditions here so you know what to expect and whether or not it’s worth trying.
Also, the road up to the Hidden Lake trailhead is a rough and rutted gravel road that’s not maintained in the winter. Check the park website for status updates on road conditions before heading out. Cascade River Road itself is often closed in the winter from snow, and from washouts in the summer, but usually the affected portion is passed the turnoff onto Hidden Lake Road.
If you are planning on visiting other parts of North Cascades National Park while you are here, it’s helpful to keep in mind that the North Cascades Highway is usually closed between November and April.
Hiking to Hidden Lake Lookout: Our Experience
Here’s our experience hiking to Hidden Lake Lookout in Washington to help you decide if you want to tackle this trail!
We arrived at the Hidden Lake Lookout trailhead at about 7:30am or so. We were the third car to arrive in the lot that day. It’s worth mentioning that when we came back off the trail mid-afternoon, the lot was full. It’s small (I think I counted 13 cars), so getting here early is a good idea.
The Hidden Lake Lookout Trail starts off in the forest. It starts off flat but quickly begins climbing up a series of steep switchbacks and for the entire rest of the hike it remains pretty steady and relentless in its climb to the top. In the first two miles of the hike, you’ll climb 800 feet per mile.
The switchbacks through the forest at the beginning of the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail
After a series of boardwalks and after about a mile into the Hidden Lake hike, you’ll emerge out of the trees and into a beautiful basin. Here, the views really open up. Ahead, you’ll see the wall you’ll be climbing to get up to Hidden Lake.
Here, you might have to walk through tall brush and a bit of overgrowth (so having bug spray and even wearing long sleeved clothing is helpful!).
Emerging from the forest into some tall brush on the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
You’ll cross over Sibley Creek and then begin the steep ascent out of the basin via a series of switchbacks. The views are gorgeous from the trail here, and once you get high enough along the switchbacks, you’ll see Mount Baker appear behind you on a clear day. Also in the summer, there will be beautiful wildflowers lining the trail. All welcome sights to keep you distracted from the steep climb!
Heading up the switchbacks out of the basin on the way to Hidden Lake
The view of Mount Baker from the top of the climb out of the basin
Once you’ve topped out, you’re about halfway to the saddle overlooking Hidden Lake. You’ll be about two miles in and 1,600 feet up from where you started. Here, you’ll get gorgeous views back down through the basin you just climbed out of and out to Mount Baker in the distance.
The view back over the basin and the switchbacks you just climbed!
Enjoying the mountain views from the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail!
The trail here stays flat for a bit as it follows the edge of the ridge up here through a meadow-like landscape. Enjoy this little respite while you can! And don’t forget to keep looking behind you as a sea of peaks open up into view. Here, the views definitely start becoming worth the climb, and they’ll just keep getting better from here!
A sea of peaks opens up along the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail…these views are definitely worth the climb!
Eventually the trail starts to become more alpine-like and the climbing will begin again. With about two miles left to go to reach the saddle overlooking the lake, there’s about 1,200 more feet of elevation gain to go. The trail will have several steep and rocky ascents as it climbs to the saddle. The trail is pretty easy to ascertain, but keep your eye out for the hard-to-see tiny cairns that often blend into the rocky landscape.
Heading up some steep rocky spurts on the way up to Hidden Lake Lookout
Getting close! The Hidden Lake Lookout is at the top of the tall peak on the left!
Can you spot the small rock cairn? They can be tricky to see in this rocky terrain.
You’ll also probably start to encounter some snow up here. If you come late enough in the summer, these patches should be small and manageable, but be sure to check trail conditions before heading out to know if you need to bring more substantial gear such as microspikes or more.
One of the several snow patches along the trail to Hidden Lake Lookout
Just before the saddle, the Hidden Lake Trail does start to get a bit confusing. There were lots of little herd paths going in different directions through the rocky slopes and it was hard to know which one to follow. They all seem to go in the right direction eventually, though. It’s easy to see where you have to go, as you can see the saddle ahead, and often times you will see footprints through the snow patches that head in the direction of the saddle to let you know you are going the right way.
One of the first herd paths we stumbled upon on the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail. If you look closely, you can see the lookout on top of the tall peak in the background. The saddle you are heading to is to the left of that peak.
Hiking on some more snow patches on the Hidden Lake Trail. The snow up here is actually called Watermelon Snow, and gets its read color from a type of green algae!
[image: heading to the low point of the col]
Just before the top of the saddle, you may have to hike up some granite faces and around some boulders, but it’s nothing overly difficult.
Heading toward the low point of the saddle ahead
The final bit of climbing to the saddle above Hidden Lake
At the top of the saddle, you’ll cross over into North Cascades National Park and be rewarded with your first epic views of Hidden Lake. The views from this saddle are amazing as you get to stare out at a sea of glacier-capped peaks in the distance.
Crossing over into North Cascades National Park and catching the first glimpse of Hidden Lake from the saddle!
Kevin admiring the views over Hidden Lake from the saddle
Pumped for these views!
Hidden Lake sits probably a few hundred feet below the saddle. There are no trails to get down to the lake, so if you wanted to get to it, it will be a tiring scramble through a boulder field. We didn’t feel the need to go down to the lake, but some people choose to backcountry camp there (we’ll talk more about camping at Hidden Lake in just a bit).
As good as the views are here, you’re not quite done with the hike yet! The Hidden Lake Lookout lies about a half mile further and about 300 feet higher, at the top of that peak that’s looming behind you on the saddle. Many people do choose to end their hike here at the saddle, though, which is perfectly fine! The views here are amazing enough to make this hike out here worth it.
However, if you do want to continue onto Hidden Lake Lookout, you’ll find the turnoff for the trail to the peak by backtracking just a bit back to the top of the saddle. Look for a split in the dirt path that goes towards the summit. We actually missed this on the way up to the saddle, so we began our climb to the lookout from the other side of the saddle, which involved climbing our way up giant boulders. We were thinking that this was what the entire climb up to the summit entailed until we ran into a narrow dirt path and we realized that we had started the climb incorrectly. Nevertheless, we got back on track!
Oops…we missed the right trail and ended up on a bit of a boulder scramble at the bottom of the Hidden Lake Lookout peak
Here’s the trail split you need to keep a lookout for just before you crest over the saddle. The left trail goes to the saddle and the right trail goes up to the Hidden Lake Lookout.
The trail up to Hidden Lake Lookout is a narrow dirt trail that switchbacks up the boulder slope. It can be a little bit scary for those afraid of heights or exposure, because there’s usually a drop off on one side of the trail, and it sometimes made me a little bit uneasy. The views up here though are pretty epic.
On the narrow trail up to Hidden Lake Lookout. The views really open up the higher you get!
Switchbacking up the narrow path to the Hidden Lake Lookout
Towards the very top of the climb, the trail becomes a boulder scramble to get to Hidden Lake Lookout. At the top, you’ll be at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, with amazing 360 degree views of the Northern Cascades.
Hiking across the boulder field at the top of the climb to the lookout
Hidden Lake Lookout!
We recommend you stay awhile up here and enjoy the views…you earned it!
Enjoying the views over Hidden Lake from the Hidden Lake Lookout
Mount Baker in the distance from the Hidden Lake Lookout
Amazing views from Hidden Lake Lookout
Unfortunately, what goes up must come down, but fortunately, it’s now all down (there are no pointless ups and downs on this trail!). But because the trail was so steep and steady on the way up, going down can be rough and a bit hard on the knees. Having trekking poles for the descent can definitely be helpful on this trail.
Heading back down to the saddle from the Hidden Lake Lookout
We made it down the entire trail in just under two hours, enjoying the views in this direction now that the sea of peaks was directly in front of us for most of the way down.
Can you spot Kevin on the trail? The way down from the Hidden Lake Lookout is just as scenic as the way up!
Enjoying our last glimpses at the North Cascades before heading back down into the basin
Where to Stay Near the Hidden Lake Lookout Hike
If you are looking to camp near the Hidden Lake Lookout Trailhead, your best bet is to camp at one of the US Forest Service sites along Cascade River Road. Mineral Park Campground and Marble Creek Campground are the closest and can be reserved on recreation.gov but there are some first come first served options. These are relatively primitive campgrounds, with vault toilets but no potable water, so make sure to have plenty of your own.
There are also a few RV park and campground options around Marblemount.
A little bit further away are quite a few National Forest camping options (out near Rockport, Concrete, and Darrington). We actually stayed at a community run campground called Sauk Park Campground. It was an amazingly quiet campground right on the Sauk River and only cost $10 per night. On weekdays, this campground was blissfully empty, but even on busy weekend nights, the nights were quiet as sights are very private and spaced out, and the campground was only 45 minutes from the trailhead.
If you want to camp in the National Park to also be closer to the other park attactions and trailheads, there are 6 sites along Highway 20 that all require advanced reservations on recreation.gov.
Can you camp at Hidden Lake in the North Cascades?
Yes, you can camp at Hidden Lake in Washington! However, because it’s in the National Park, you’ll need a backcountry permit. Unlike some of the more popular backcountry destinations in the park, acquiring a permit for camping at Hidden Lake does not require advanced reservations. Head to the North Cascades Wilderness Center in Marblemount (near the turn off for Cascade River Road) the morning of your hike or the day before to acquire a walk-up permit for camping at Hidden Lake. The cost will be $20 per permit (with a non-refundable $6 transaction fee)- card only! Plan on getting to the Center when it first opens (7 am) to increase your chances of getting one.
Remember, there’s no actual trail down to Hidden Lake from the saddle, so you’ll be doing some boulder scrambling down, and later, back up, with a big pack on. There are also no designated campsites here like some other backcountry areas in the park, so be sure to camp only on rock or bare ground, and keep off of the fragile vegetation. There are no bathrooms, so come prepared! Bear cannisters are also required up here for food storage.
If you don’t want to scramble down to the lake, there are some other on-trail options along the hike to Hidden Lake, particularly just before the saddle. Here, there are some US Forest Service sites (again, be sure to camp only on the bare ground and do not set up camp on fragile vegetation).
A tent set up in one of the US Forest Service campsites near Hidden Lake Lookout (which sits on the peak just above)
Can you stay in Hidden Lake Lookout?
Do you look at pictures of the Hidden Lake Lookout and think to yourself, “Wow, wouldn’t it be amazing to stay there overnight and wake up to epic views in the morning?”. Well, it’s possible!
You can absolutely stay overnight in the Hidden Lake Lookout! It’s open to the public on a first come first serve basis, so to increase your chances of being able to stay in it, you’ll probably want to come on a weekday and/or get an early start! When we were up there, one guy was proudly recounting a tale of his 4:30 am start time just to ensure that he’d get to stay in the lookout. On our way down, others were heading up and hopeful to also get a spot in the lookout, so be prepared to share with others if there’s enough space. If there’s no more room in the Hidden Lake Lookout by the time you arrive, you’ll have to hike back down and either head all the way down to the lake, or to the bottom of the saddle to find some US Forest Service sites.
Talk about a room with a view! Staying in Hidden Lake Lookout would be an epic way to spend the night.
If you want to stay in the Hidden Lake Lookout for the night, you’ll need to bring basically everything you’d normally need for backcountry camping, minus a tent (although we would still recommend carrying your tent just in case you end up not getting a spot in the lookout and need to camp elsewhere). Make sure to have plenty of water, or try to fill up in the little tarns and snowmelt found just before the saddle to avoid having to make frequent trips up and down from the summit (that would be a pain having to make that climb several times!).
Also, make sure to check weather forecasts before spending the night at the Hidden Lake Lookout. You’ll be totally exposed at the top of a tiny summit, so bad weather can become dangerous, and so can hiking down from the peak in wet conditions.
Tips for Hiking to Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades
Here are some things to keep in mind before you hit the trails to Hidden Lake in the North Cascades.
Check trail conditions. Especially if you’re coming earlier in the summer, check trail conditions on the park service site to make sure there’s not so much snowpack on the trail that you’ll need crampons, an ice axe, and mountaineering experience to hike. It’s also a good idea to use Alltrails as well for recent reviews of trail conditions from fellow hikers.
Check the smoke and fire forecast. Unfortunately, forest fires are a common occurrence now, and the North Cascades are prone to smoky skies. Check the park’s site for smoke forecasts and any warnings or closures. When we were in the North Cascades last, there was tons of smoke coming from the fires in Canada, so much that on the day we arrived, even the Visitor Center was closed due to unhealthy air conditions, and the park looked like a ghost town. Checking smoke forecasts can help you come up with a plan for when it will be safe to hike and to get the best views from the trails!
Check road status. Backcountry roads in the North Cascades can close frequently. Cascade River Road is especially prone to late openings from snow and closures due to washouts from storms and landslides. Closures will likely happen after the turn off to the Hidden Lake trailhead, but it’s always best to check the road status before heading out. The last time we were in the park, part of Cascade River Road was closed basically the entire time we were there. Just as it had open from the last closure, a thunderstorm ripped through the area and caused another road-closing washout that kept us from exploring that part of the park.
Bring sun protection. About ¾ of the hike to Hidden Lake Lookout is exposed to the sun, and you’ll be hiking up to almost 7,000 feet. Make sure to wear sunscreen and a hat at the very least.
Bring bug spray. Before we set off, we read many reviews with lots of complaints about the bug situation on the Hidden Lake Lookout hike. However, when we were on the trail, they weren’t that bad (we hiked at the very beginning of August so probably missed the worst of the bug season). Make sure to bring bug spray because it definitely can get buggy up here.
Use trekking poles. If you want to help save your knees on a steep descent, these are good to have. They are also helpful for navigating slippery snow patches.
Microspikes. Check trail conditions ahead of time, but if you are coming even as late as August, you’ll probably have to cross some snow on the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail. Microspikes are helpful in navigating slippery patches.
Start early. Getting an early start on the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail can be helpful in guaranteeing parking for yourself at the trailhead, and also for avoiding the late afternoon heat (it can get hot up here in the summer!). It’s also helpful if you plan on camping near Hidden Lake or staying in the Hidden Lake Lookout (to claim your spot!).
Other Things to Do Near the Hidden Lake Lookout Trail
As we said at the start of this guide, the Northern Cascades are home to a treasure trove of amazing alpine hikes.
Some of the more notable ones include: Cascade Pass and the Sahale Glacier Trail, Maple Pass, and Blue Lake. We’ll be writing guides for each of these soon!
Driving Highway 20 is also a noteworthy thing to do while you’re in the area. Be sure to stop at points like Diablo Lake Lookout and Washington Pass Overlook!
Are you planning on hiking to Hidden Lake Lookout in Washington? Let us know if you have any questions…we love to help! Happy hiking!