Hike to Hidden Lake Lookout
Details
Distance
8 miles
Elevation Gain
3300 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Christin Healey
Once you've completed the scramble to the top, get 360 degree views of Washington. Hit the trail early if you're hoping to spend the night in the lookout. It's first come, first served.
Be careful when heading up this 4.5 mile trail since there can be snow coverage into the summer. When you start the trail, you'll get a little tree coverage as you start climbing up. Unfortunately, the shade starts to dissipate after about a mile, where you'll cross over Sibley Creek and enter the basin. As you climb, the view gets better - take time to check out the valley below and Mt. Baker. Once you've hiked for about 2.5 miles, the trail will ease its incline grade a bit and allow you to pass through the meadow and catch your breath.
After another mile of hiking, you'll start to get views of the surrounding peaks like Forbidden and Klawatti. Once you reach the saddle, you'll be able to see Hidden Lake below. There's no defined trail to the lake; it's about a 1/2 mile boulder scramble if you're looking to get down there. For the last bit of the hike from the saddle, you'll be scrambling up boulders for 0.5 miles to make it up to the lookout.
Staying here is first come, first served.
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Reviews
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Superb!
This one has it all doesn't it? Hike through a dense forest, coming up through the valley with wildflowers, climbing the ridge and stopping every 10 minutes to marvel at the peaks around you. And then the scramble to the lookout...breathtaking. Oh yeah and the ice blue lake ain't bad either. Perfect hike.
5.0
Beautiful in the Fall
Hiked this on October 6, and was greeted with a nice layer of snow and ice over much of the upper part of the hike. Made for adventurous hiking and beautiful scenery, with a bit of a "high alpine" feel. Fall colors blooming on the drive in and along the lower parts of the hike, and cold-but-not-freezing temps.
5.0
Awesome
It’s just awesome. No other words. Plain awesome.
5.0
Lit
This hike was dope. Starts out in an alpine meadow and only gets better. Highly recommend
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
