Trip Report
Alpine Scramble - Hidden Lake Peaks Lookout
An October scramble to Hidden Lake Lookout after the first snow of the season.
Jim Griffing
- Tue, Oct 14, 2025
- Alpine Scramble - Hidden Lake Peaks Lookout
- Hidden Lake Lookout & Peak
- Scrambling
- Successful
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- Road recommended for high clearance only
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The forest road to the trailhead has some very deep gullies and potholes. High clearance is required. Our party had a Subaru and a full-size 4WD pickup. Both vehicles made it but the full-size truck had an easier time of it.
The trail has a few blowdowns that are easy to get past. Snow started at about 4000' and was 6 to 8" deep above 5000'. There was a well-trodden boot path through the snow all the way to the fire lookout though it was a scramble in places as we approached the saddle and the lookout. We used microspikes as the way was icy in places.
The ridge to the true summit had enough snow on it to prevent us from seeing where one boulder ended and the next began. With enough time we probably could have made the short journey to the top, but we were too close to our turn-around time to attempt it.
We left the trailhead at 8:50 AM. It was 33 F. The trail was snow free up to 4000' but there was ice on some of the wood puncheons and steps.
We headed up through the switchbacks in the meadow on a thin layer of snow / ice. We put spikes on to make the going easier - they stayed on all the way to the lookout and back to the meadow.
By 5000' we were in 6 to 8" deep snow but following a clear boot path where the trail normally is. At 5400' we considered scrambling up to the ridge to approach the true summit but there was just the wrong amount of snow to go that way. (more snow would be needed to fill the gaps between the boulders so one would not need to pick one's way through).
We continued up the trail. As we approached the saddle between the lookout and the true summit we were scrambling through snow- and ice-covered boulders. Good handholds were available where needed. Based on our turn-around time, we elected to head to the lookout instead of the summit.
We arrived at the lookout at 1:30 PM. Some of our team ate their snacks in the sun. Others went into the lookout and chatted with Robert from Friends of Hidden Lake Lookout. Robert was staying in the lookout for a few days. He told us about the history of the lookout and his involvement in maintaining it.
We headed back down at 2 PM and got to the trailhead at 4:50 PM. GPS said we traveled 8 miles with 3300' of gain in a little over 8 hours (including our time at the lookout).