Hidden Lake Lookout

Location: North Cascades – Highway 20

Length: 8 miles roundtrip
Elevation: Gain/3300 ft. Highest/6900 ft.
Difficulty: Slightly severe
Time: 7 hours

This hike is legit. The first half is in shady forest with moderate elevation gain. I had the pleasure of hiking with a buck for the last quarter mile in the forest where the planked stairs are.

The forest breaks out into lush, meadowy switchbacks and this is where you should apply round one of sunscreen. Luckily the hot, absorbent petri dish of wildflowers was balanced with a consistent, cool glacier breeze. Serious elevation gain starts here and gives a slight reprieve once the trail evens out, etched into the side of a hill where you can slow down and check out the beast you just ascended.


I just climbed that?

The trail rounds to the left eventually where big chunky boulders require another ascent. The area flattens out into a expansive place ripe with options for camp sites. I took lunch here and napped for 20 minutes with a nice view of peaks and valleys.

Otherwise, more switchbacks await… The next false summit introduces you to the last leg of the trail for Hidden Lake, which is descending down to your left and then back up again to the visible saddle. It also gives you your first view of how far you must go to get to the lookout. If you squint, you can see people up there. It’s not a mirage. Try not to cry.

Look, there's a man up there!

The lake is HUGE. There appears to be a trail toward the left near the wooded plank National Forest boundary sign that’ll take you down to some sweet camp spots on the lake. I ascended to this point through a lot of snow with no poles on an 85 degree day, so I perched upon a boulder and drooled over Johannesburg Peak, Sahale Mountain, Boston Peak, and Mount Forbidden. This is definitely a hike where you should print out a map or download a peak identifier app. The trail up to the lookout is up to you from this point. Cairns sprinkle the area to hint at best ways to traverse the boulders upward. The lookout was originally built in 1932 and it is very rare to get a night there to yourself. Be aware there are no reservations and a donation of at least $15/night is the guideline. No campfires are allowed anywhere on this hike.

Hidden Lake

This hike is an absolute jewel. You’ll be sorry to leave it so soon if you’re just doing a day-hike because there are so many areas you’ll want to stop and stare!

Directions: Take HWY 20 up to Marblemount and head straight across the bridge instead of exiting the town taking a corner veering left. Keep straight and you’ll be on Cascade River Road for a beautifully paved 10 miles before taking a left onto FR 1540. From there, drive an ugly, steep, rutted 4.5 miles until the road ends at the trailhead with limited parking. You’ll probably have to risk parking near a sheer drop-off unless you hike on a weekday or arrive extremely early. Somehow you don’t need a Northwest Forest Pass for this trail, so cheap-asses are welcome. You must have a backcountry permit to camp here, though. The nearest ranger station is in Marblemount at 7280 Ranger Station Rd, Marblemount, WA 98267 and they’re open from 7AM-8PM Friday and Saturday, 7AM-6PM Sunday-Thursday.