Arguably one of the most beautiful and traversed hikes at Glacier National Park is Hidden Lake.
This moderate intensity trail, which starts behind the Logan Pass Visitors Center, elevates you to gorgeous views of Hidden Lake and Reynolds Mountain with multiple viewing options at the overlook.
Then, you can descend a rocky trail of switchbacks down to the lake itself and dip your feet, or whole body, in its crisp, clean waters.
If Hidden Lake is on your Glacier bucket list, read on to learn all you need to know about it for your adventures.
Hidden Lake Trail Location
The Hidden Lake Trailhead is located behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center in Glacier National Park.
Access to Glacier National Park is restricted, and there’s an entry fee. There are also frequent trail closures due to bears and other factors. Please review the Glacier National Park website for information about fees, closures, and timed entry.
Read: Glacier National Park Website
Currently, Glacier is using a system of entry where you need timed entry to drive on the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west to the east. This is the road you need to travel to get to the trailhead.
If you don’t get a timed entry pass for Going-to-the-Sun Road (which they are hard to secure), you have a couple of options.
- Enter the park before timed entry starts or after it ends. It was running from 7 am to 3 pm in 2025.
- Secure a night of hotel lodging in the park. Lodging reservations will allow you to access the road. While accommodation in the park is typically booked out a year in advance, spots open up at the last minute all of the time.
- Enter the park from the west gates, where there is no timed entry.
The Hidden Lake trailhead is most easily accessible by the Glacier Shuttle, which typically runs from July through Labor Day. I recommend taking the shuttle to the trailhead as parking is minimal.
Take the shuttle to the Logan Pass Transfer Location for this hike.
Must Read: Glacier Park Shuttle Information
If you choose to drive to the hike, plan to arrive early. The Logan Pass parking lot fills up as early as 6 am with fellow hikers who want to secure a spot.
When arriving later in the day, expect to circle the parking lot looking for somebody to pull out of a space to find parking. This is honestly very chaotic, and I don’t wish it upon anybody.
Hidden Lake Need-To-Know
Here is the basic rundown of everything you need to know to hike Hidden Lake at Glacier National Park.
- This trail is ranked as moderately complex.
- The Hidden Lake Overlook is 2.7 miles round trip with 551 feet of elevation gain.
- Going to Hidden Lake itself is a 5.1-mile round-trip journey with 1,338 feet of elevation gain.
- Arrive early or take the shuttle to avoid parking lot chaos
- Ensure you have access to Glacier National Park
- There are pit toilets at the Logan Visitor Center and one at the lake (no toilet paper).
What To Pack for Hidden Lake at Glacier National Park
Always be prepared when you hit the trail. Here are things I recommend bringing with you on your hike to Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park.
- Wear a bathing suit or quick-dry clothes if you plan to swim
- Have plenty of sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sun clothes) as the trail is exposed with no to minimal shade
- Bring plenty of water and snacks
- Layers – the temperature varies
- Carry bear spray via an easy-to-access holster. I did see some bears from a distance while on this trail, and it’s frequently closed for bear sightings. You can buy a spray at any store in the park.
- Attach a bear bell to your pack for extra noise
- Bring hiking essentials and a first aid kit
- Wear sturdy hiking shoes
- Don’t forget trekking poles if you use them
- Headlamps for hiking around dusk or dawn
- Trail map downloaded from AllTrails Plus. There is no cell reception.
Is Hidden Lake Trail Hard?
This trail is ranked as a moderately strenuous hike.
It is hard to describe the difficulty of trails because everybody comes with such different backgrounds when it comes to fitness and hiking.
Factors that make this trail more difficult to hike for novice hikers are that part of the trail is gravel with rock steps, and it is exposed to the sun with elevation gain.
If you exercise regularly and don’t have any injuries or mobility issues, I anticipate you’ll be fine getting to the overlook.
Listen to your body and don’t push yourself further than you feel comfortable.
Trail Head to The Over Look
The trail head to the Hidden Lake overlook is a 1.3-mile trek with approximately 551 feet of elevation gain.
The majority of the trail is on wooden boardwalks, which are easy to walk on.
However, there are parts of the trail that are on gravel trails and have rock steps to walk up and down.
I saw some people with more limited mobility struggling to get up and down the stairs. I was happy to lend them a hand.
I’m including pictures of the conditions so you can judge for yourself if it’s appropriate for you.
Hidden Lake Overlook
The overlook of Hidden Lake has beautiful views of the lake below and towering Reynolds Mountain beside the lake. There is a boardwalk with a rail where you can stand, take pictures, and view its beauty.
You can also see the lake with caution from many rock ledges.
Nature is abundant with animals all around. From the overlook, I saw Columbian ground squirrels, bears (from afar), a family of eeer, and a mountain goat on Reynolds Mountain.
This is also a perfect place to sit and rest and soak in the views before going back down the trail or traversing to the lake.
If you have the mobility to do it, I recommend continuing on the trail to Hidden Lake for about a quarter of a mile.
From here, there are more stunning views of Hidden Lake than what you see from the official lookout. I’ll share some pictures from the viewpoints right here, right at the top of the lake trail.
Hidden Lake Overlook to The Lake
Traveling from the overlook to Hidden Lake involved going down, and then of course back up, a series of switchbacks. The grail is dirt/gravel, and there are loose gravel and rock steps, which make this slippery.
This was my absolute favorite part of the hike because of the views. As I walked down towards the lake, each switchback turn was filled with more and more stunning views of the lake. I couldn’t believe how majestic the view was.
I do not recommend this section of the trail to anybody with mobility issues.
If you’re a novice hiker, this part of the trail is significantly more difficult than the trek from the trailhead to the overlook. Thus, I would recommend that if you found the first part of the hike manageable, continue. If not, it’s likely best to descend back from the overlook.
Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake is magical. Hanging out on her shores was one of my favorite memories at Glacier National Park.
The water was crisp. I enjoyed wetting my feet in the water. I watched many others take the cold plunge into the water, which I refrained from.
There is a pit toilet close to the lake, but there was no toilet paper. Always handy to have some on you.
Plan to give yourself time to hang out here. This wasn’t nearly as busy as some of the other lakes in the park, and it felt very serene.
Getting Back to Logan Pass
If you trek down to Hidden Lake, you have the joy of getting to hike back up and down, a trail to get back to the trailhead.
From Hidden Lake, you need to ascend back upward the series of switchbacks. Get ready for a cardio workout.
Once you are atop the switchbacks at the overlook, you then descend the trail.
If the visitor center at Logan Pass is open when you return, you can grab snacks, a beverage, trinkets, and learn about the history of the park.
Are Dogs Allowed on This Trail?
No, dogs are not allowed on this trail. Glacier National Park does not allow dogs on any of their trails.
You can read more about hiking with dogs across the United States here.
Is This Trail Good for Solo Hikers?
Yes, I did this trail solo. It is well-marked and easy to follow. If you have hiking experience, this is a fine trail to do alone. There were plenty of people on the trail, which made it feel secure.
Of course, there is always a risk of running into a bear. In groups, it’s much easier to make noise on the trail, which scares bears off.
When solo, you can hum, sing, or straight-up talk to yourself to make noise, which can deter bears. You may also want a bear bell, and of course, bear spray.
Recap
Hidden Lake is one of the most popular and beautiful hikes at Glacier National Park. Be prepared to arrive early to secure a parking spot if driving. The scenic views of the lake and surrounding nature make this a must-do when visiting the park.