Hidden Lake Lookout WA

April 24th

Hi, we're the Mountain Goats (Terrence and Nathan). From 4/25 - 4/26, I (Terrence) climbed Hidden Lake Peaks and spent the night at Hidden Lake Lookout with my buddy Rylan. We left Bellingham at 7:15 am and reached the trailhead just before 9 am. I was shocked to see the sheer number of cars lined along the road; it felt like Mount Si! Given the number of people, we assumed the lookout would be occupied but decided to lug up our overnight gear just in case.  

The road is rough. There's a pretty major washout at 1,800' (my Crosstrek did fine, but I'd recommend an SUV), and the road is completely washed out at 2,500'. This is where we ended up parking and started on foot. The road issues add 1.3 Miles each way, and 500 feet of elevation gain on the ascent.

There are two routes to the lookout: the summer route and the winter route. Based on recent trip reports, we decided to take the winter route, which doesn't have an official trail and is far steeper than the summit route.

Trudging on up

At 3,000', we departed from the forest road and began steeply ascending forested slopes. As there is no official trail, I followed the tracks of previous hikers. This led me to take a route that was a moderate bushwacking all the way up to 5000'. It's worth noting that we passed two groups during this section, so we weren't completely off track. However, on the descent, we found the official climbers' trail and took it down to the road. Said climbers' trail is marked from the road by a ribbon.

The wooded section is easily the steepest of the climb. In just over a mile, we gained 2,100', as we navigated fallen trees, and a route that played a disappearing act. Around 4,500 feet, the grade lessened as we snaked along a small ridgeline heading Southeast. At 5,000', we hit the snow line and donned our microspikes. We quickly rose above the treeline, following the heavy bootpath up steep snow. At 5,800', the summer and winter routes met as the trail sharply heads right.

Looking up at around 5,000’

The grade once again lessens as views began to open up. Eldorado rises above a nearby ridgeline, Baker is visible in the distance, and numerous nearby peaks now dominate the skyline. Soon, the lookout came into view as we trudged along before stopping at a saddle (6,500) situated beneath the lookout.

Startin to get up there

Getting higher

There are 2 different routes from here to the summit. The ascent of the steep ridgeline in front of you or traversing a bowl before reasending on the backside of Hidden Lake Lookout. We opted for the 2nd option as it's considered the winter route. At this point, the majority of the groups ahead of us had turned back; only 1 remained ahead. Rylan was feeling a bit gassed, so I went ahead and checked if the lookout was open.

The traverse was a bit tricky; the snow at this point in the day was slippery, so the microspikes definitely helped. Once on the backside, I ran into the group ahead of us, who kindly informed me that the lookout was open. The lookout was indeed open, and Rylan began to make his way up.

The lookout peaking out

Some cool ice formations

The lookout, which was built in 1932 by the US Forest Service and restored in 1961 by the Skagit Aline Climb and Dr. Fred Darvill, is unbelievable. There is a 2-person bed, space for 5-6 people, chairs, counters, books, games, blankets, and anything you'd need! The views are stunning, Baker, Glacier, and Shuksan dominate in the distance, while Hidden Lakes Peak, Eldorado, and Mount Formidable are so close you could almost touch them. After puttering around for a bit, Ryland joined me up top just before 3pm. I wanted to summit Hidden Lakes Peak, so I emptied my pack, put on my crampons, and made my way back down towards the saddle at 6,500'.

From the saddle, the route traverses Hidden Lakes' upper slopes, as you head Northeast. The Skagit range (Baker, Shuksan, Luna, Blum) to the northwest is stunning, as this section was my favorite part of the trip. Once directly under the true summit, the route turns right as you approach the peak head-on, steeply ascending the final few hundred feet. The views from Hidden Lakes Peak validated my little side quest. Eldorado is right there, and the whole route, including its famous knife-edge ridge, is visible.

Summit!!

The descent back down to the saddle was mesmerizing. The snow conditions were perfect, allowing me to jog the whole way down as frozen North Cascade peaks surrounded me. I made it back to the Lookout at 5 pm, 2 hours after leaving. We enjoyed our warm food, the golden hour light upon the heart of the North Cascades, the sunset behind Baker, and the shelter the Lookout provided.

Chilling by the lookout

Sunrise

Unfortunately, we both slept through sunrise, though neither of us was mad about the extra sleep. We packed all our gear and began our descent, leaving the cabin at 8:30 am. For the descent, I decided to wear my crampons, while Rylan would use his micro spikes. The frozen night winds had washed out a good portion of the boot path across the bowl traverse; we made quick work of it nonetheless. Once at the saddle, it was smooth sailing all the way down to the tree line. The boot path was so beaten that even the steep sections gave us no trouble.

Once back in the tree line, it was bushwacking all the way down to the road, or so we thought. At 4,000', we ran into a well-traveled climbers' trail and followed it to the road. It was located about 200' to the northeast of our route up. It took us just under 4 hours to get from the lookout to my car.

Overall, this is a must-do. This hike firmly ranks among my top 3 favorites. As for gear, micro spikes and poles will be sufficient for Hidden Lake Lookout. That said, it's still winter conditions up top, so make sure you're comfortable with icy snow and steep terrain. For Hidden Lakes Peak, I'd recommend crampons and an Axe, although I’m sure micro spikes would be fine. Thanks to the people who continue to allow for Hidden Lake Lookout to exist. As always, stay safe and happy hiking!

Stats: TH to Lookout to Peak to Lookout: 6.8 Miles - 5,800' Elev Gained      Final Stats: 11 Miles - 5950' Elev Gained