Hidden Lake Lookout was the first lookout hike I did in Washington, and what an introduction it was! Perched precariously on a mound of rocks at 6,850 feet, Hidden Lake Lookout offers expansive views of southern North Cascades National Park and the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

I generally think of this hike as consisting of three parts. First, the hike begins in dens forest, Then it opens up into a rocky slop with giant zig zagging switchbacks that extend all the way up to the pass. Once you reach the pass, the trail evens out a little (although it’s still a climb), and you wind your way through a giant bolder field until you come to the large rock pinnacle overlooking Lost Lake far down below. The lookout is at the top of the rock pinnacle, DO NOT head down to the lake. The lake is a lot further away than it looks and not a fun backtrack. Route finding can be a little difficult at this point, but there is a trail most of the way up to the lookout.

Distance: 8 miles Elevation Gain: 3300 ft Difficulty: Moderately Difficult

Spending the Night: Hidden Lake lookout is another first come, first served sleeping situation. I have been to Hidden Lake Lookout more than any other fire lookout in Washington, and I have only seen it unoccupied once. So I would definitely prepare to share or bring a tent! If you stay in the lookout, be sure to donate what you can to help cover supplies (there’s a rough guideline of $15-$25/night), and there are usually pre-addressed envelopes for that purpose in the lookout.

If the lookout is full and you want to tent camp, the best spots are reached via a rocky scramble through the massive boulder fields above the lake. While the Hidden Lake Lookout is not located in North Cascade’s National Park, the area down from the saddle toward the lake is, and to camp there you’ll need a backcountry permit.

To secure a backcountry permit, stop at the Marblemount Ranger Station on your way to the trailhead.

Pro Tip: There’s no easily accessible water source at the lookout, so if you’re planning on spending the night, bring more than you think you’ll need! This is actually true for most of the fire lookouts on this list, but given the difficulty and length of the Hidden Lake hike, I thought it was worth a reminder.

Get Involved: Hidden Lake Lookout is maintained by the Friends of Hidden Lake Lookout under the auspices of the Skagit Environmental Council. You can visit their Facebook page for information regarding maintenance days, or to find out which supplies might need restocking.