Hidden Lake Lookout

 We drove out on Hwy 2 and then the Cascade River Road to hike up to Hidden Lake Lookout, a 9 mile round trip hike with 3,400 ft of gain
The trail begins in the forest, we found water running down parts of the trail.

 There was some interesting built boardwalks over swampy areas.

The trail emerges from the forest about 1 mile from the trailhead, we were hiking in the clouds and had very limited visibility.

 We found and enjoyed ripe huckleberries.

 About 2.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail crosses a large boulder field.

 We occasionally had some views as the clouds moved around.

 After a while, we could see the peak where the lookout is located.

 We saw a family of ptarmigan near the trail.

We found rocks gathered in the shape of an arrow pointing the way through the rocks toward Hidden Lake overlook

The route goes over this large boulder field.

 At the edge of this boulder field, you enter North Cascades National Park and see Hidden Lake below.

 The lookout is on a peek 300 ft above.

View of Hidden Lake as we scrambled up to the lookout, the clouds obscured most of the view.

Hidden Lake Lookout
































inside of the lookout

 benchmark

 Heading back down the peek where the lookout is located

 another view of Hidden Lake as the clouds moved

 Looking back up towards the lookout

 As we hiked back down the trail, we had a bit more visibility

 we saw several marmots, but they moved too fast for me to get a photo

 Some of the wildflowers we saw on the trail.