Hidden Lake Lookout — Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Go and immediately do this trail. Drop all other plans ! Tell your boss to get a life and take a hike ! I didn't know this trail existed until about 5 ys ago. How that is, I don't know. This has to be one of the best hikes you can do in the Pac NW or the nation. The trail is fine. The snow patches are not dangerous anymore. In fact coming down from the north peak you can safely glissade down some of them and speed up your hike back down. The only problem you may have is the heat going back down in the lower meadows. That and some areas are a bit slippery from mud. We went to the south peak with the lookout first and then hiked over to the North peak which has a slightly better 360 degree view. And what a view. You are in the heart of the N. Cascades here surrounded by glaciated peaks and still frozen lakes. If you ever have an athletic friend who comes out and wants a good Cascades hike this is what I would recommend for this time of year now.