Hiking Hidden Lake Overlook Glacier National Park – Trail Guide + Tips

I hiked Hidden Lake Overlook in Glacier National Park during my recent visit. The overlook trail is short and fairly flat. I also chose to extend this hike down to the lake, which doubles the mileage.

Hidden Lake Overlook was one of my favorite hikes and you’ll love it too, especially if you’re looking for wildflower meadows and a fantastic viewpoint without much effort.

There are two hikes along this trail. The first is Hidden Lake Overlook Trail, which will take you to an overlook that has panoramic views across alpine meadows and Hidden Lake, with the beautiful Bearhat Mountain in the backdrop. The second is Hidden Lake Trail, which continues past the overlook and descends down to the lakeshore.

This article includes:

• Trail details about Hidden Lake Overlook
• A detailed trail guide, including my own experience and what you can expect
• Tips for hiking to Hidden Lake Overlook
• What to pack for your hike

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Overview: Hidden Lake Overlook Glacier National Park

Distance: 2.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 551 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Parking: Logan Pass Visitor Center
Highlights: Wildflower meadows, epic views and potentially wildlife sightings

Hidden Lake Overlook trail is one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park and is accessible for most people. If you’re driving Going-To-The-Sun road this is the perfect stop to stretch your legs and get an incredible view.

Hidden Lake Map

Hidden Lake Overlook trail is just under 3 miles round trip. It’s an out-and-back trail, so you’ll hike out to the overlook and then return along the same route.

The trail is a popular one so expect some crowds.

If you continue hiking past the Overlook and down to the lake the crowds will lessen significantly. The hike down to the lake is 5.1 miles round trip.

I highly recommend adding this hike is on your itinerary. I also highly recommend Avalanche Lake and Grinnell Glacier Trail.

Hidden Lake Overlook Trailhead & Parking

Hidden Lake Overlook trailhead parking is shared with Logan Pass Visitors Center and Highline Trail, so it can be very difficult to find parking during the summer season.

I highly recommend arriving early (before 7 am) or taking the park shuttle to avoid circling the parking lot for hours.

NOTE: Beginning in 2026, the Glacier shuttle is reservable 60 days in advance.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any other alternative parking options in this area of the park. In order to complete this hike you must start from the Logan Pass parking area.

Another recent policy change is a 3-hour parking limit at Logan Pass.

It’s possible to complete Hidden Lake Overlook trail in under 3-hours, but if you plan to hike down to the lake (or also want to hike Highline Trail) you’ll exceed the limit.

Reserve Glacier National Park shuttle tickets instead!

Hidden Lake Trail Vs Hidden Lake Overlook

Hidden Lake Trail and Hidden Lake Overlook are technically two different trails.

Hidden Lake Trail (5.1 miles) follows Hidden Lake Overlook to its end (the overlook), and then it continues on down to Hidden Lake shoreline. Hidden Lake Overlook is essentially the first 1.4 miles of the Hidden Lake Trail.

Hidden Lake Overlook (2.7 miles) is a good hike for almost all mobilities and skill levels, whereas Hidden Lake Trail requires a bit more stamina due to its decent elevation drop (about 500 feet in less than half a mile) down to the lake.

If you’re looking for views, Hidden Lake Overlook trail is perfect. The views from the raised overlook are stunning – you can see Hidden Lake down below and Bearhat Mountain raising above it.

If you want to get more of a workout and hike down to see the lake up close, then you’ll want to do the full Hidden Lake Trail.

If you’re new to hiking, check out my beginner hiking gear guide to prepare for your trip.

My Experience Hiking hidden Lake Overlook Glacier National Park

Hidden Lake Overlook starts from Logan Pass, which sits at the highest elevation along Going-To-The-Sun road – 6,646 feet (2,025m). This means it’s usually colder than the rest of the stops along Going To The Sun road.

When I hiked Hidden Lake in early September I had to wait for a blizzard to stop dumping snow before I could hit the trail!

I arrived around 7 am (to get a good parking spot) and could not see more than a few feet in front of me because the snow was coming down so quickly.

One of the most convenient things about camping at Glacier National Park with my van is that when there’s a blizzard I can wait it out in my heated camper!

The snow eventually lightened up around 9 am and I hit the trail!

Even during the summer months it can get quite chilly hiking Hidden Lake Overlook. Make sure you’re prepared with the correct winter hiking outfit and gear.

The path to Hidden Lake is located to the right of Logan Pass Visitor Center.

I recommend using the restrooms here before you get on the trail because you won’t see any on the hike. Since the majority of this hike is through meadows there aren’t many trees or other privacy barriers if nature calls.

The hike itself is fairly easy, although it does have a modest and continuous incline.

Hidden Lake Overlook trail starts off on a raised wooden path. Since it had just snowed when I did this hike it was a bit slippery and I was glad to have my trekking poles for some additional stability.

The path is wide so passing people is easy and doesn’t cause much of a traffic jam.

There were also lots of Pikas along the trail. A Pika is essentially a larger version of a chipmunk and has bigger ears. They’re pretty cute!

The path continues through the meadows, and eventually turns into a dirt path for the last mile and a half.

You’ll know when you’ve reached Hidden Lake Overlook because it is quite literally a wooden overlook built along the path.

The overlook is fairly large and has multiple platforms so you can get the best photos from here. From the overlook you can see Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain right in front of you.

This is such an iconic viewpoint in Glacier National Park and it’s well worth the short hike to get here.

I ran into a park ranger on my return to Logans Pass and he told me that once a park visitor had seen a wolverine hunting a moose while on this hike! Wolverine’s are extremely rare to see, but these meadows are a great place to watch for wildlife like bears, moose, and mountain goats.

Option To Continue To Hidden Lake

I decided to continue hiking down to Hidden Lake from the overlook.

Most of the crowd turns back at the overlook, and there were only a small handful of us who continued down to the lake.

The trail gets more narrow (more similar to a social path than an actual hiking trail for a large portion of this section), but it’s well marked and easy to follow. It’s almost entirely downhill between the overlook and the lake.

Once you get down to the lake there are some trees, but you’ll be in full exposure until the last couple hundred feet. There are many wildflowers to see in the meadow and a few small streams you’ll cross.

The last half a mile becomes much steeper, with many sections of the trail having stone steps and several switchbacks. Hiking poles are a big help on this section of the trail.

Once I made it down to the lake, there were several trail spurs that followed the shoreline. There’s also a pit toilet down there!

You’ll have to bushwhack a little bit to find a sunny spot along the shoreline to each your lunch away from the crowds. I spent a little bit of time exploring along the lake before eating my lunch.

It’s common to see moose and bears around the lake. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any moose, but I did find some fresh bear tracks in the mud.

Finally, it was time to head back to the trailhead. The first half mile is the steepest, and most difficult part of the hike. Be prepared for at least a quarter mile of stairs carved into the landscape.

In total, this hike took me just under 3 hours, including breaks and lunch. Even though the weather started off really overcast, the clouds eventually lifted and the views were stunning.

Tips For Hiking Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

These are a few things that’ll help you have an overall better experience for hiking Hidden Lake Overlook trail!

Get an early start. This helps with crowd control, but more importantly it means you are more likely to find a parking spot at Logan Pass Visitor Center.

Additionally, the earlier you hit the trail the more likely you are to spot wildlife.

Take the shuttle. If you’re coming in later in the day (after 7 am but before 3 pm) then I recommend you take the shuttle.

Pack warm clothes. The high elevation of Hidden Lake Overlook trail means its colder than the rest of the park. You might start off in Apgar Village or St Mary and expect similar weather at Logan Pass, but it’s generally about 10-15 degrees colder.

The meadows along this hike are also very exposed, which means there can be quite a bit of wind and sometimes snow. Bring something to cover your ears and hands at a minimum, but it’s also a good idea to bring an insulated jacket and a windbreaker.

Logan Pass Visitors Center does carry some items, at a premium price, but the day I hiked Hidden Lake Overlook trail I heard many people grumbling about how the gift shop had sold out of gloves.

Trekking poles aren’t a bad idea if you’re hiking in snow. The raised wooden platform that runs along a portion of this hike can be slippery when it’s dusted with snow.

I had my trekking poles with me and was thankful for them because there’s a few places where the path was slippery and angled so even standing still was a challenge.

Carry bear spray. I’ll be honest, I think this is one of the least likely trails to see a bear in all of Glacier National Park, especially if you’re hiking during the busier part of the day, but it can happen.

When I visited Glacier National Park I didn’t so much as walk across the parking lot without bear spray.

Carrying it where it’s easily accessible (meaning you can get to it in less than 6 seconds) and knowing how to use it are mandatory for safety in Glacier National Park.

If you plan to hike Highline Trail I recommend you do it the same day as Hidden Lake Overlook trail. Both trailheads start from Logan Pass Visitor Center, so since you’re already here it makes sense to do both.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a dog friendly trail, but there are many great hikes for dogs near Glacier National Park!

What To Pack – Hidden Lake Overlook Trail

While Hidden Lake Overlook trail is a shorter trail, there are still several items to consider packing which will make the experience a lot more enjoyable.

• Hiking boots with good traction
• Trekking poles
• Hat that covers your ears
• Gloves
• Insulated Jacket
• Windbreaker
• Water bottle or reservoir
• Snacks!
• Camera (you’ll want to take lots of photos at the overlook!)
• Bear spray

FAQs – Hidden Lake Overlook Glacier National Park

How Long Does It Take To Hike To Hidden Lake Overlook Glacier?

It takes approximately 30-minutes to hike to Hidden Lake Overlook and is just under 1.5 miles to the overlook platform. The total trip out and back takes less than 1.5 hours.

If you’re hiking all the way down to Hidden Lake, expect 2.5-3 hours to hike the full trail.

Is Hidden Lake Trail Difficult?

The full Hidden Lake trail is rated as hard, primarily because the last half mile has significant elevation change. The first 4.5 miles of the hike don’t have significant elevation change and are fairly easy and enjoyable.

Hidden Lake Overlook trail follows the first 1.5 miles of Hidden Lake Trail and is not a difficult hike.

How Do You Get To Hidden Lake Glacier National Park?

Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park is located near Logan Pass Visitor Center.

In order to get to Hidden Lake you must drive Going-To-The-Sun road. GTS road is only open during the summer months and is closed due to snow during the winter months.

Is Hidden Lake Overlook Trail Open?

Glacier National Park is open 24/7, however, the primary road that cuts through the park (Going-To-The-Sun road) is closed in the winter.

Hidden Lake Overlook trail is only accessible by Going-To-The-Sun road so there is no way to drive to the trailhead during the winter months.

The trail closes occasionally during the summer months due to hazards, like bear activity. To find the most up to date information about whether Hidden Lake Overlook trail is open visit the Glacier NPS website.

Where Is Hidden Lake In Glacier National Park?

Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park is located behind Logan Pass Visitor Center, along Going To The Sun road. It’s nestled between Bearhat Mountain and Reynolds Mountain in the St Mary area of the park.

How Long Is Hidden Lake Trail In Glacier?

Hidden Lake Trail in Glacier National Park is 5.1 miles long with 1,338 feet in elevation gain. It’s rated as a moderate trail.

How long is Hidden Lake Overlook?

The trail to Hidden lake Overlook is 2.7 miles long and has 551 feet of elevation gain. It’s rated as a moderate trail, mostly due to the elevation gain, but the increase is steady and mild without any strenuous sections and can be completed by most fitness levels.

Hidden Lake Overlook Elevation

Hidden Lake Overlook elevation sits at 7,152 feet. It’s adjacent to Logan Pass Visitor Center, which is the highest elevation along Going To The Sun road in Glacier National Park.

Will I See Wildlife At Hidden Lake?

There are lots of wildlife at Hidden Lake, including black and grizzly bears, moose, wolves, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

During my hike I did not see bears, but there were fresh bear tracks on the trail. I did see Pika, which are similar to chipmunks only slightly larger in size.

Do I Need A Reservation To Visit Hidden Lake?

You do not need a reservation to visit Hidden Lake. However, if you plan to spend more than 3 hours in this area you must take the park shuttle which requires an advance reservation.

Are There Bathrooms At Hidden Lake?

Yes, there are bathrooms at Hidden Lake. The trailhead starts from Logan Pass Visitor Center which has indoor bathrooms. There are no bathrooms at Hidden Lake Overlook, but if you continue your hike down to Hidden Lake there are restrooms along the lakeshore.