Remove yourself from the hustle and bustle of city life distractions and breathe in the fresh mountain air at the serene Hidden Lake Lookout. At sunrise, the peaks are aglow with mesmerizing pinks, purples and golds and you can stand on the cliffside and admire the heavenly view.
Plan
Overview
Skill level
Difficult
Accessbility
Public Location
Hours
Accessible (when the main road is open)
Fee
Free
Pack
Wide-angle lens (16mm)
Hiking buddies/models
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Layers
Headlamp
How to get there
N48° 29' 40.1748"W121° 12' 09.2484"
This photo was taken just below Hidden Lake Lookout, on the ridge overlooking Hidden Lake. It's about 3.8 miles to this spot, with 3,200 feet of elevation gain.
To reach the trailhead for this location, go to the town of Marblemount Washington on Hwy 20. Then, turn across the bridge onto Cascade River Road. Continue for 9.7 miles down Cascade River Road and then make a left onto NF-1540. Continue on NF-1540 for 4.5 miles until you reach the trailhead called Hidden Lake Lookout Trailhead (48.514164, -121.221601).
From there, the trail is quite easy to find. Follow the signs leading to "Hidden Lake Lookout" and once you reach the top of the ridge where you'll see the lake for the first time, continue along the ridge to the right to reach this spot. I recommend referencing the GPS coordinates to see the exact location where I stood to capture this perspective.
For more information on visiting this location, check out their website: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/hidden-lake-lookout
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