Hidden Lake is nestled between two mountains in Glacier National Park. Take the trail behind Logan Pass to get to the fantastic overlook of Hidden Lake.
Hidden Lake is in a valley between Bearhat Mountain and Reynolds Mountain in the Sperry Glacier Basin.
Hidden Lake Overlook Trail Basics
2 Hours
2.6 Miles Round Trip
Out-And-Back
600 Feet
Duration: 2 Hours
Overall, we spent about 2 hours on this trail. That includes about 20 minutes at the overlook. The scenery was gorgeous no matter where you looked, so we spent some time here.
Distance: 2.6 Miles Roundtrip
The walk from Logan Pass Visitor Center to the Hidden Lake Overlook is 1.3 miles so by the time you walk there and then back along the trail, you’ll have walked 2.6 miles in total. Of course, if you want to continue on to Hidden Lake that adds more distance to your hike.
Type: Out-and-Back Trail
Most of the trails in Glacier National Park, including the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail, are out-and-back trails. This means you will walk from the Hidden Lake Trailhead at Logan Pass up to the overlook and then retrace your steps back to the starting point.
Elevation Change: 600 Feet
The start of the trail, on the boardwalk, you will go up many steps. Then the rest of the elevation gain is on the dirt and gravel path once you leave the boardwalk.
Season: Summer
Most of Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed due to heavy snowfall, so this area is only open from early summer through the end of the summer. Typically, the snow melts enough around late-June to early July to access Logan Pass. Pay attention to the Park Service website for their road conditions and closures. Although this is peak tourist season, it’s also the only time you can drive a vehicle to Logan Pass.
Time of Day: Any
While the trail can be done any time of the day, the best time to start is early in the morning, before the extreme crowds take over the area and it gets hard to find a parking spot.
Amount of Shade: None
There’s almost no shade along the Hidden Lake Pass Trail. Make sure to keep this in mind and bring sunscreen and protective clothing. I wasn’t prepared and ended up taking my jacket off since I was getting warm but wrapped it around my shoulders to protect them from the sun.
Difficulty: Moderate
I’ve seen some rate this as easy and others as a moderate hike. I personally think it should be moderate. Walking up all the steps on the boardwalk isn’t easy for some, and it isn’t really a short hike like the one we did to Baring Falls or Trail of the Cedars.
What Makes Hidden Lake Overlook Trail a Great Hike?
Hidden Lake is, well, hidden! You won’t see it as you drive through the park on Going-to-the-Sun Road. The only way to see this is to walk one of the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park.
From the overlook, the scenery is stunning no matter which direction you turn. You’re either looking at Mount Reynolds and Mounr Bearhat with the lake between, or Sperry Glacier in the distance on Gunsight Mountain, or Logan Pass Visitor Center way off in the distance, or the wildlife of the alpine forest.
Scenery on the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
Start of the Trail
Before even heading out on the trail, we saw a few yellow-bellied marmots hanging out around the visitor center. While walking the trail, we saw more wildlife here than anywhere else in the park in our 3 days there. At the point that the trail changes from pavement to boardwalk and we start climbing, there were bighorn sheep lounging in the grass.
On the Trail
About halfway through the boardwalk section, we started to see all of the protected wildflowers, including glacier lilies which tend to grow along the lines of the snow melts. Even in early July, there were still a couple of small snowfields.
As we got higher, we could spot mountain goats all along the pathway and just off of it with their babies. The trail is also known for sightings of grizzly bears and black bears, so make sure to carry bear spray and check if the trail is closed due to bear activity in the area. Even if there aren’t bears, the bear spray is good to have on hand. While we were there, the mountain goats were getting very close, and even walked across the path near a mom and her small child. She started getting worried and walked towards our group since there were 8 of us there and my brother-in-law grabbed his bear spray just in case the goats got too close. Luckily, they kept walking towards the other side of the trail and left us alone.
End of the Trail
As you wind your way through the alpine meadows, you eventually come up to the overlook. It’s breathtaking to look down on the lake nestled between the mountains. The official overlook gets very crowded during peak season, but you can get some of the best views just to the side of the overlook.
There’s an interpretive sign with information about the glaciers and how they are being effected by the warming trend in Earth’s climate.
Notable Places on the Hike
Although it isn’t posted, this trail winds it’s way around the Continental Divide. It’s fun to be able to say you walked across the divide, which is the point at which the water either flows east towards the Atlantic Ocean or west towards the Pacific Ocean.
Hidden Lake Overlook Trailhead Information
Park Name: Glacier National Park
Hidden Lake is nestled between mountains in Glacier National Park near the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Glacier Park is in northwest Montana along the border between the United States and Canada. The nearest airport is Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, Montana, although that's near the West Entrance. Hidden Lake Overlook is closer to the East Entrance in St. Mary, but it can be accessed from either side along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Finding the Trailhead: Back Side of the Visitor Center
When you get to the parking area, the trailhead for Hidden Pass or Hidden Lake Overlook is located on the West side of the Logan Pass Visitor Center. This trail is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the park, so you can likely just follow the crowds and you'll find the trailhead.
Markers Along the Trail
There are no markers on the entire length of this hike, other than the warnings to stay off of the wildflowers. But, there are also no short spur trails or any other way to go along the trail, so markers aren't necessary.
Nearest Restrooms: Visitor Center
There are no restroom facilities along the trail or at the Hidden Lake Lookout. In the parking lot of the visitor center there's a bank of vault toilets and inside the visitor center, if it's open, there are flushing toilets available.
Parking Area: Logan Pass Visitor Center
Logan Pass is the highest point along Going-to-the-Sun Road and where you need to park for this hike. On the brochure map, it's designated as Hidden Lake Nature Trail. I've also seen it referred to as the Hidden Lake Hanging Gardens Trailhead. The Logan Pass area is one of the most popular in the park. Make sure to get an early start for a better chance at finding a parking space.
To avoid the worries of finding a place to park, you can take the Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle bus and exit at the Logan Pass shuttle stop.
Other Trails at this Trailhead
Just a short distance from the front of the visitor center is the start of the Highline Trail. The Highline Trail is a total of 13.3 miles one way and walks along the cliffs of the Garden Wall. Most people will park at Logan Pass and walk it as a day hike to The Loop then take the shuttle back to their vehicle or vice versa and start at The Loop walking to Logan Pass and taking the shuttle back to The Loop.
Near the Logan Pass area, you'll find trailheads at The Loop (Granite Park Trail), Siyeah Bend (Siyeh Bend Trail), and at Jackson Glacier Overlook (Piegan Pass which will take you to St. Mary Lake, St. Mary Falls, Virginia Falls, and Baring Falls).
Tips for Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
- With binoculars and a map, you can get a good view of Sperry Glacier's headwall from the Hidden Lake Overlook.
- Make sure to stay on the path as the are in the meadows are protected wildflower areas.
- Wildlife commonly spotted on this trail includes mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears, and ground squirrels.
Accessibility Information for Hidden Lake Overlook Trail
Boardwalk with Stairs & Gravel Path
Paved
Trail Type: Boardwalk with Stairs & Gravel Path
There’s a small section of paved walkway that gives way to a raised boardwalk with many large steps that makes up the first mile of trail. The boardwalk then becomes a natural dirt and gravel path that winds through the alpine forest for the last half mile of the trail.
Parking: Paved
The parking lot is a paved lot with multiple handicap accessible parking spaces.