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Hidden Lake (Lake Wenatchee)

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A little lake surrounded by big pines in a hidden nook above Lake Wenatchee. This is a nice place for an afternoon stroll with kids in tow, or an evening jaunt while camping down below-just don't expect to be alone.

Responding to limited parking, the Forest Service constructed this new trailhead and trail to Hidden Lake in the early 2000s. The old trail from Glacier View Campground is still in place and maintained, and when combined with a short road walk it makes for a nice loop. If you're familiar with the old trail, the first thing you'll notice about the new one is that it's not nearly as steep. In fact, it's quite pleasurable and makes an ideal trail for coaxing someone into hiking for the first time.

Follow the wide, well-groomed trail through a flat of gorgeous old-growth cedars. After 0.25 mile the forest thins, and you might be able to make out Dirtyface Peak and Lake Wenatchee through the trees.

Gradually gaining elevation, greet Hidden Lake at its outlet stream near a patch of big ponderosa pines. Cross the stream on a log bridge to boulders, more big pines, and nice lakeshore lounging spots. In early season a series of cascading creeks feed into the lake from the steep slopes of Nason Ridge. Enjoy the music they make as well as the symphonies conducted by the various avian residents.
Driving Directions:

From Everett head east on US 2 for 85 miles to Coles Corner. (From Leaven-worth travel west on US 2 for 15 miles.) Turn left (north) onto State Route 207 (signed for Lake Wenatchee) and proceed 3.5 miles, turning left onto Cedar Brae Road (signed for the south entrance of Lake Wenatchee State Park). In 0.4 mile bear left at the state park entrance, following Cedar Brae Road for another 3.4 miles to the pavement's end, where the road becomes Forest Road 6750. Bear left again in another 0.4 mile, and turn left at 0.9 mile to reach the trailhead (elev. 2075 ft). Privy available.

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Recent Trip Reports

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There are 81 trip reports for this hike. See all trip reports for this hike.
Hidden Lake (Lake Wenatchee) — Aug 15, 2011 — amccain
Day hike
Issues: Bugs
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While camping at Lake Wenatchee State Park we decided to go on an after dinner hike to Hidden Lake. ...
While camping at Lake Wenatchee State Park we decided to go on an after dinner hike to Hidden Lake. I have 6 kids ranging from 13yrs to 5 mos (although he was carried). The youngest to walk was my 3-yr old son and he had no problem with the hike. The trail was wide enough to comfortably hold his hand the entire way.

Doing the hike on a Monday evening meant that we had the place to ourselves. We didn't see another soul. Unfortunately I wasn't able to enjoy the view more because the bugs got to me and I was itching and swatting the majority of the time.
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Hidden Lake (Lake Wenatchee) — Apr 24, 2010 — OutdoorDan
Day hike
Issues: Blowdowns
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With as easy as it is to access this trail I was surprised not to see more trail reports for it. No...
With as easy as it is to access this trail I was surprised not to see more trail reports for it. Not only does Hidden Lake have two trail heads but one of them leaves from the Glacier View campground on the southwest corner of Lake Wenatchee. As you can guess my family, some friends and I were off on our first tent camping trip of the year this weekend. The weather was decent with the occasional sprinkle or gust of wind but sunny more often than not. I had done the campground side of this trail to Hidden Lake once several years earlier when I camped at Glacier View but this time I figured I would walk both parts of the trail and add some meager mileage. The kids were busy playing by the lake shore and the other two adults had no interest hiking that day so my friend and I made the quick trek up.

The campground portion of the trail leaves from its south end where the road ends in a turnaround before entering the campground stretched along the lake. It crosses a creek on a footbridge and starts a gentle climb for 1/2 mile to reach Hidden Lake. There was one patch of mud that was easy to get around right after the bridge. The whole trail strolls through forest and offers peeks of Lake Wenatchee below. Hidden Lake itself is very nice. Sandy bottom, green water, and a few fallen trees that you can see in the lakes clear water. It looks like it would be a great place to take a dip on a hot summer day. The lake also offers a view of the mountain ridge above still crusted with snow.

We stayed at the lake for awhile before making our way along the trail next to the lake and crossed another set of logs over a creek to reach the main part of the trail that goes to the main trail head. We came across a talkative chipmunk who made sounds at us a few time before scurrying up its tree. The main trail is a gentle stroll up and down for 3/4 mile before you come to a nice parking area and a newer outhouse. We did come across a few blowdowns on this section of trail which could be hard for small children or the less mobile to get over/ around but should offer no problems for most. From here we cut back to camp and figure we did about 2 miles total with the walking from the far end of the campground where we were staying. Not a strenuous hike by any means but the heart rate was elevated and the lake beautiful.
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Hidden Lake — Aug 08, 2009 — E-LOO
Day hike
Issues: Bugs
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Great lil hike. Not sure if i indicated the correct Hidden lake. It was a short mile hike with .5...
Great lil hike. Not sure if i indicated the correct Hidden lake. It was a short mile hike with .5 hike around the perimter of the lake.
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Hidden Lake #745 — Sep 15, 2007 — @l@in
Day hike
Issues: Washouts
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We should have stopped at the ranger station in Marblemount, because we did not know that the road ...

We should have stopped at the ranger station in Marblemount,

because we did not know that the road leading to the Hidden lake

trailhead is CLOSED !!! It has a washout about 1.5 miles up .

You have to walk up the whole road - about 2 hrs worth of easy but kinda boring hiking. It was a 10hr day hike, ouch, we had to use our headlamps to get back to the van.

It was a very nice day though, when we got out of the incredibly thick (jungle) meadows the fog started to clear and we enjoyed a blue sky and great views at the top.

After seeing this clean and very cozy lookout, my wife and I want to come back to spend a night in the stars ;-D

A couple of guys stayed up there two nights; I wonder how their decsent went in the rain on sunday?

PS, just above the meadows is an avalanche zone that has flattened the trail for about 50 meters, it is a steep slope, nothing dangerous just that when it's wet it must be hell to negotiate with a heavy pack .... also , if you go on a rainy day or there is still the morning dew, get ready to get wet, the bushy area and the meadows will get ya!

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Hidden Lake toadlicker.jpg
Hidden Lake. Photo by toadlicker.
Location
Hidden Lake (#1510)
Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth
Statistics
Roundtrip 1.2 miles
Elevation Gain 200 ft
Highest Point 2275 ft
Features
Lakes
Old growth
Established campsites
User info
Good for kids
Northwest Forest Pass required
Guidebooks & Maps
Green Trails Wenatchee Lake No. 145

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Note: the description and driving directions for this Mountaineers Books entry are copyrighted and can't be changed.

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Red MarkerHidden Lake (Lake Wenatchee)
47.8216333333 -120.806383333
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