Hidden Lake Lookout is one of the most beautiful places you can backpack in North Cascades National Park. This unique trail takes you through a forest and meadow up to a stunning alpine environment with 360 degree views of the North Cascades. You’ll also see a beautiful alpine lake, and backpackers can camp or stay in a historic fire lookout overlooking the lake. This trail is challenging, but not technical. Below you will find our full guide to backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout trail.

In our guide to backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout we share EVERYTHING you need to know about this hike. That includes answers to common questions, like: 

• Do I need a permit to backpack at Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades?
• What are the road conditions for getting to Hidden Lake Lookout? 
• How much parking is available at the trailhead?
• What’s the best time of year to backpack at Hidden Lake Lookout?
• What should I pack for backpacking at Hidden Lake?
• What should I expect along the trail?

I hope you find this guide to backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout to be helpful! We’ve done this hike twice, so you know you can trust us. The photos in this article are from early August 2025. Let’s dig in!

You can find more North Cascades National Park hiking and backpacking guides here. You can access more Washington travel guides here.

Guide to backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout in Washington state

Hidden Lake Lookout is a classic North Cascades hike. Although the hike is strongly associated with North Cascades National Park, most of the trail actually lies on U.S. Forest Service land. The lake itself is within North Cascades National Park.

Along this trail you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Cascades, major Washington peaks, a historic fire lookout, and a stunning alpine lake. Despite the rough forest service road (more on that below) and the trail’s difficulty, expect to see plenty of fellow hikers. This route is popular for good reason!

Below you will find our full guide to backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout trail, including what to pack, when to do this hike, and a full detailed trail guide.

Leave no trace tips for backpacking in North Cascades National Park

Before we dive into the trail details, we go over some important tips to leave no trace (LNT) in this delicate alpine environment. Please read this section carefully!

We can all work together to help keep Washington beautiful and preserve these places for generations to come. See below for our top LNT tips for this hike!

Camp in established sites

There are a multitude of established campsites around this area, all of which are more than 200 feet from the delicate alpine lake (which is the distance recommended by Leave No Trace and the parks service). Use established sites in order to avoid crushing vegetation. Dishes should be washed 200 feet or more from the lake and water sources. Click here to learn more about doing your dishes in the backcountry.

Protect alpine vegetation by staying on trail

Alpine vegetation is fragile, and it’s essential that you watch your step and stay on trail whenever possible. Heather, which is pictured above, is especially important for stabilizing alpine soils and allowing other plants to thrive. Heather communities take thousands of years to grow, yet a few tramples with a careless step can kill them. Avoid cutting the trail, and avoid widening trails in order to avoid muddy spots. Over time trail widening leads to more erosion and more mud.

Avoid campfires

Campfires can cause huge and destructive wildfires due to wayward sparks. If you leave behind smoldering embers when you leave camp you can also start a wildfire without knowing it.

In 2025 the North Cascades area banned campfires starting in early July, so they’re not even permitted. However, I generally think it’s best to avoid having any campfires from June onward. You are, however, allowed to have a fully-contained fuel-burning stove like a Jetboil. Please don’t light the Cascades on fire. Do not cut down living alpine vegetation for campfire fuel.

Bathroom etiquette in North Cascades National Park

Going to the bathroom in the backcountry always requires some advanced planning, but that’s especially true for the alpine. All waste, including human poop and all toilet paper, should be packed out. See below for our top tips for leave no trace-friendly bathroom etiquette!

Trail tip: there is no bathroom at the trailhead or along this route. However, at the fire lookout there is an exposed privy. Please only use this toilet for “solids.” Pee on the rocks! 

What to pack for backpacking at Hidden Lake Lookout

Your exact packing list for backpacking at Hidden Lake will depend on the weather and time of year. You’ll want to do your research and prepare for any conditions you might encounter, including rain, snow, and lightning!

We closely followed our backpacking packing checklist for this trip. All of our standard backpacking gear worked great for this trail.

Some additional tips for this trail… I recommend wearing pants to protect yourself from the brushy trail, as well a bug spray for mosquitos, and a head net (for flys). It gets cold at night so don’t forget a puffer jacket! Parts of the hike are very exposed, so a sun shirt and sunscreen are also important. Finally, if you plan to camp at the lookout, bring extra water storage containers, as there is no water at the summit. We camped below the summit and there was ample water to filter along the trail in August.

You can access our full backpacking gear list below.

The best time of year to backpack at Hidden Lake Lookout

Because it’s in the alpine and subject to late season snow melt and early season snowfall, I recommend hiking Hidden Lake Lookout between June and September. It’s common to encounter snow on this trail until early July. Be sure to check trip reports on Washington Trails Association or hiking apps to assess what, if any, special equipment you need.

The two times we did this hike in early-mid August the trail was mostly snow free, except for a short segment near the lake itself. The wildflowers in late summer are stunning! 

Do you need permits to backpack at Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades?

The answer to whether or not you need permits to backpack at hidden Lake is both YES and NO! Let’s break it down.

The majority of this trail is on Forest Service land, and backpackers who wish to camp in one of the established backpacking sites (found between miles 3 – 4 of this hike) on this land do NOT need permits. The same is true of the fire lookout, where hikers can spend the night! The lookout is on forest service land and you can stay there on a first come first served basis. It fills up fast so bring a tent as a backup! Staying in the lookout does NOT require a permit. 

The lake itself (“Hidden Lake,” aka what the hike is named for) IS on National Park Service land. If you wish to spend the night in the “bowl” of the lake you can do so, but you WILL need a permit. After talking with a rager, it doesn’t seem like these permits are very competitive, and they should generally be available on a walk-up basis at the Marblemount ranger station.

This is a relatively popular area for backpacking, so be prepared for the possibility that you might not find a campsite if you visit on a weekend in summer. Have a backup plan, and please do not establish a new campsite on sensitive alpine surfaces like heather and grass.

Trail stats and difficulty level for Hidden Lake Lookout

Hidden Lake Lookout is a moderate to strenuous hike. Hikers and backpackers will encounter a steady upward climb from the trailhead (more on that below in the ‘detailed trail description’ section). If you wish to make the final ascent to the fire lookout you will need some route finding skills, and you may have to rock hop towards the top of the peak. Early in summer hikers will likely encounter snow near Hidden Lake. Even in August there is a short patch of snow you will need to walk through to view the lake and ascend to the lookout.

Washington Trails Association (WTA) reports that this is an 8 mile hike with 3,300 feet of elevation gain. The National Park Service reports that it is 9 miles and 2,900 feet of elevation gain. We didn’t track the hike so I can’t give you a more exact mileage, but I’m inclined to go with the WTA numbers. Either way, a good pair or trekking poles can be helpful (see our recommendation below). They’re especially helpful for the steep and dusty portions.

I recommend this hike for moderately experienced backpackers. Backpackers should be prepared for a challenge when it comes to elevation gain. The alpine also had potential for more extreme weather and dangerous conditions. Finally, you need to be ready to leave no trace and respect this delicate environment. Although this trail isn’t technical, I wouldn’t consider it beginner friendly.

Trailhead parking and road conditions for Hidden Lake Lookout

Although this is a beautiful hike, getting to this trailhead is a bit of a challenge. Below you’ll find information about trailhead parking and road conditions for Hidden Lake Lookout in the North Cascades.

Road conditions for Hidden Lake Lookout: do you need 4×4?

In my opinion, the worst part of hiking Hidden Lake Lookout is the road that gets you to the trailhead. We’ve driven to this trailhead several times. This road is always a bit rough, but the road conditions in 2025 were markedly worse than in the past. There are significant potholes, and I recommend a 4×4 vehicle with reasonable clearance (we have a Ram 3500 long bed truck with standard clearance and made it up without issue). In the past we HAVE made it up with a 2 wheel drive campervan, but I’m not sure if that’s possible now. In August 2025 this road was significantly worse than the roads to Thornton Lake and Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm.

More than anything else, be prepared for extensive brush on either side of the road. As of 2025, this forest service road is much more overgrown than in the past. Our car has some new scratches that attest to this! I’ve heard this described as a “Cascades car wash,” which made me laugh.

Finally, be aware that tall vehicles may struggle to get to the trailhead. We had a truck camper on the back of our car and encountered a partially-downed tree in August 2025 that nearly forced us to turn around. We cleared under the tree with less than an inch to spare.

Trailhead parking for Hidden Lake Lookout

The trailhead for Hidden Lake Lookout is a small, narrow lot with space for about 15 cars. The lot is SO narrow that we weren’t able to fit into a spot we could fit into with our Ram 3500 (8 foot bed), so we had to park along the road immediately before the trailhead. There is room off to the side for a few additional cars.

There are no services at this trailhead, meaning no bathrooms and no cell service. Plan accordingly! 

If you use Alltrails be aware that the information on the parking situation is incorrect. AllTrails has this hike starting 0.6 miles away from the trailhead. If the trailhead is full, or you want to add mileage, then go wild and park farther away! The actual trailhead is located here (save a pin on your phone). But I recommend driving all the way up to the official trailhead and parking there.

Trail tip: If you drive a long/large car like we do you may have trouble turning around when you leave this trailhead. We had to drive BACKWARDS about 2 MILES from the trailhead in order to turn our car around after the hike. Be prepared for this possibility if you have an 8 foot truck bed!

Guide to backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout: detailed trail description and overview

I always like to know what to expect along the trail. Below, we share what to expect along the 3 major segments of the hike. I hope this information helps you feel confident and prepared when planning a trip here!

Forest and meadow: miles 0-2 of hiking to Hidden Lake Lookout

The hike begins in a dense forest with plenty of shade. Enjoy it while you can! In this portion of the hike you’ll cross over several small streams and boggy areas, with several raised platforms in place to avoid the muck. Waterproof shoes are helpful because the mud you might encounter can be deep. Trying to walk around the mud widens trails, so please stay on trail and go THROUGH the mud (not around it!).

After the first mile the forest suddenly gives way to a large open meadow on the side of the mountain. Here you will begin switchbacking up the mountain through the meadow, with several small stream crossings along the way (photo 2, above). The meadow is often overgrown (especially in late July 2025 when we hiked it), so long sleeves and pants are recommended to protect your legs.

At times the switchbacks here are steep, and this area is VERY exposed. In summer it can be quite hot, and you may encounter bugs. The higher you get the shorter the plants tend to get, eventually giving way to grasses and short alpine flowers (photo 3, above). The soil is very dusty here, and in areas it can be quite loose.

The alpine: miles 2-4 of hiking to Hidden Lake Lookout

Two miles in the trail again experiences a landscape transition as you ascend into the alpine. Here you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, which only get better as you continue the hike. The trail is relatively clear, but you’ll pass by lots of exposed granite, wildflowers, and beautiful heather. Small patches of evergreens dot the landscape, as do small snowfields and streams. From the ridge line you’ll get breathtaking views of surrounding peaks, including Mount Baker.

Around mile 3 you should catch a glimpse of the fire lookout perched on an imposing looking rock surface. As you get closer the ridge line opens up and you’ll likely hit a small snowfield as the hike levels out. From there you’ll continue straight to a “National Park” boundary sign, which overlooks Hidden Lake. The lake is beautiful, but tends to be shrouded in a mix of mountain shadows and sun in the later afternoon in summer. Arrive early or late for the best photography opportunities here. There are plentiful water sources for filtering.

Trail tip: You’ll begin seeing tent camp sites about 3 miles into this hike. Please do not establish a new campsite on sensitive alpine surfaces like heather and grass.

Accessing the fire lookout at Hidden Lake: the final ascent

If you wish to go up to the lookout you don’t need to be a rock climber!! There are multiple routes up, but along the backside of the peak (aka, where Hidden Lake is) there is a small rocky trail that leads up to the lookout. This is the route I recommend, and we passed by many wildflowers here in late summer. 

From the lookout you can see Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and more (see above for photos of the final ascent and views)! Enjoy the views and, if you’re lucky enough, spend a night in the lookout. We knew we wanted to tent camp, so we didn’t even attempt to stay in the lookout… which was a good thing, because Hidden Lake Lookout was already full when we arrived late in the afternoon on a Monday!

There is no water at the lookout, but there is a backcountry privy with some beautiful views. Please only use this toilet for “solids.” Pee on the rocks!

Camping along the Hidden Lake Trail

Hidden Lake was a great backpacking trip for us! We actually stayed at one of the first campsites we saw, and we had beautiful views of the mountains. There was water nearby to filter, and there was minimal wind. The sunset was stunning! While we did have to contend with some mosquitos and flys, overall the night was pleasant.

Final thoughts on backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout

I hope you found our guide to backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout helpful! This is an incredible trail and, if you can brave the road up, you’ll be rewarded with phenomenal views. If you have questions about backpacking at Hidden Lake please feel free to leave a comment below!

You can find more North Cascades National Park hiking and backpacking guides here. You can access more Washington travel guides here.