Hidden Lake Lookout
North Cascades
As of February 16, 2026, access to Hidden Lake Lookout is severely restricted. The road to the trailhead is significantly impacted by washouts, particularly at Sibley Creek, making it impassable for most vehicles as of a December 27, 2025, report. Even before the washout, the road had rough, rutted, and rocky sections, with some snow present on the final stretch in early December 2025.
Winter trail conditions involve snow, starting below treeline. Reports from January 17, 2026, indicate icy conditions above treeline requiring crampons and ice axes for safe passage. One report from December 2, 2025, noted the possibility of avalanche terrain on the direct summer route. The presence of a washout at Sibley Creek from a December 27, 2025, report is the most critical obstacle.
generated from 31 reports
Conditions at a Glance
Trail
Trail difficult/impossible to navigate: Trees down across trail, Difficult stream crossing(s), Bridge out, Mud/Rock slide or washout.
1 of 1
Snow
Intermittent snow - not hard to cross
1 of 1
Road
Road impassable/closed
1 of 1
Bugs
No bugs
1 of 1
Sources
Started day at washout around 9am, tricky to cross, but a party we started with went up the creek and said it was easier. Winter trail was uneventful, snow started .5 miles below tree line. Our friend...
This is a road condition report for the gravel road towards the Hidden Lake Lookout trailhead. For the road condition of the Cascade River Road see my trip report from last weekend.The first half mile...
Overnight in Hidden Lake Lookout from 12.2-3 2025ROAD:Some rough, rutted and rocky areas. Would not recommend trying to take a sedan up here. We did fine in a Subaru Forester.We were able to drive to ...
Beautiful fall day for an epic hike. We arrived around 9 am, three other cars in the parking lot. The 4.5 mile road is tough, we made it over the giant potholes, 3 tricky areas, going slow in a Subaru...
This hike nearly killed me. In the end, I did 15.5 miles and 5500 elevation. In the end, I would absolutely not do this again.Let me start at the beginning.The directions are not helpful. The sign tha...
Last time I was here, July 21st 2019, I rolled my ankle BAD about 0.7 miles from the trailhead on the way down. I tore my ATFL completely and grade 1'd my CFL and PTFL. Ouch... I had to tape up my ank...
Bottom Line:A treat! The terrain on this one is pretty special - a granite wonderland once you are about 1/2 way to the lookout. The contrast of the white-washed granite and the colorful meadows was s...
The trail itself was fantastic. Begins nicely in the woods with some down trees then through a steep, loose dirt section and then into the high alpine with lots of rocks. Trail towards the top is hard...
This trail was amazing but hard to navigate where the trail was at the top because of the large granite car sized slabs. If you don’t like heights then this hike is not for you! It was absolutely beau...
We turned around at the big pothole because we didn’t think we would make it through that thing twice. We were driving a Subaru outback and we decided to go to sahale arm instead. Looks like someone e...
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