Glacier Park
Hidden Lake Nature Trail
 6 miles round trip

The Trailhead begins behind Logan Pass Visitor Center. Arrive early for parking availability.

Since this is the most popular hike in Glacier Park, we encounter hikers from many countries as we travel the trail to the Hidden Lake Overlook. From the overlook we view the lake situated in a bowl surrounded by mountains. Hidden Lake is popular for Yellowstone Cutthroat fishing, so some of the hikers are fishermen. Most visitors turn back at the overlook, but the adventurous keep going. A bit further down the trail the views of Hidden Lake are spectacular and we stop to photograph the area. Along the trail we pass over streams surrounded by wildflowers. There are such a variety of wildflowers we cannot hope to photograph them all.



Wildlife is plentiful here and there are ground squirrels, hoary marmots and mountain goats at close range.



Hiking down to the lake and then along the lakeshore is an adventure in paradise, with serene and beautiful alpine scenery at every step.

This part of Hidden Lake nature trail, written by Janet Rapelje.  

Hidden Lake

Several years ago, my Daughter and family were at Logan Pass. This was a very special trip for them and they had never seen beautiful Glacier National Park. They were hikers and found the trailhead to Hidden Lake, just in back of the Visitor Center.

The first quarter of a mile is paved and then becomes a boardwalk for awhile. From then on it is a well maintained path. They climbed upward to find the best view of Hidden Lake. What they saw from the overlook and from a spot a few hundred feet farther, was so beautiful that my JoAnn will never forget it. Her comment at the time was ---- Heaven must look like this, It’s so beautiful.

As you walk this trail you will go through Alpine meadows and sub alpine evergreen trees. You will see Reynolds Mountain, Mount Oberlin, and Clements Mountain. Which are all so high that they will be snow capped peaks. You will find waterfalls from Mt. Oberlin coming over the cliffs in front of you. The many wildflowers that you will find in July and August are very hardy and have a very short growing season. But are not short on beauty.

You will probably see lots of small animals, as they hurry to store fat and store food for the long winter ahead. Ground Squirrels are a constant in this area. They don’t seem afraid either at the visitor center or out in the forest. They have a job to do and see hikers so often that they seem to have no fear. Sometimes they go into hibernation in late summer and stay there for nearly seven months.

You will notice the red color of the rocks along the trail. These are called red Argillite. Many many years ago they were a mixture of iron and mud, and were under water.

About a mile and a half out on the trail you will come to a wooden platform where you can look down on Hidden Lake. Here you will certainly use your camera for memories. The Lake is so beautiful.

Going on you will soon see another view of the lake as well as the end of Lake Mc Donald. Hidden Lake was named Bear Hat Lake by the Indians who first lived in these mountains. If you should decide to go on down to the lake, it is close to eight hundred feet of downhill descent.

I hope you will enjoy your hike as much as my family did and come back again.