Going-to-the-Sun Road is a paved, two-lane highway that snakes through Glacier National Park, dividing the park into east and west regions and crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Visit the park's website for maps and other information. Access to the trail is included in your park entrance fee. Getting to the overlook requires about a 3-mile round-trip hike, while hiking down to the lake and back is a little more than 5 miles. Hidden Lake's trailhead is located at the Logan Pass Visitor Center. Visitors added that an early morning hike (before 7 a.m.) will net you fewer crowds and a parking spot at Logan Pass. Others warn that you will want to wear sturdy shoes, bring bear spray and tote plenty of water, particularly if you hike down to the lake. Past hikers recommend the trail, but noted that it can be strenuous given it's all uphill to the overlook. Keep in mind that the first half of the trail gains 460 feet of elevation, while the second half descends 780 feet to the lake. At the end of the trail, you will find the lake itself. From this point, you'll be able to see mountains and valleys as well as Sperry Glacier (though the park service notes you'll need binoculars to see it well). At the trail's halfway point, hikers will be treated to spectacular views at the appropriately named Hidden Lake Overlook. In addition to that, I can almost guarantee a sighting of marmots, mountain goats, or bighorn sheep by this point.Given this trail's incredible beauty, it's little wonder why more than 1,500 hikers traverse it each day. In less than a mile and a half, you can reach the lookout, which provides excellent views of the surrounding mountains and Hidden Lake down below. Snow also tends to linger in this area well into the season, so be prepared to stomp in some slush until late July. It is an extremely popular destination in the park, so arrive before 9am if you hope to find a parking spot (or take the free shuttle provided by the park service!). The Hidden Lake trail begins at the Logan Pass visitor center, which at 6,646 feet is the highest point in the park that you can access by car. With pavement and boardwalks traversing much of the journey towards the Hidden Lake Lookout, this trail can throw some serious hikers off at first by being so “easy.” However, its accessibility for many types of travelers is what makes it so likable. There are amazing backpacking routes, peaks to scramble, and rivers to raft, but the one trail that I always recommend (especially to families) is to Hidden Lake. While working in the park, I learned about some of the best trails in the area. These places are sacred, wild, and need protection but it is these meaningful vacations with our friends and family that create the environmental stewards we need. This family quickly reminded me of how important it is to share the excitement of our parks with others. Next to the amazing trails, the incredible connection that people make with this place is what has made the park so memorable. That look in their eyes is the reason that I choose to work in Glacier National Park. Their eyes all lit up as they took a break from their daily routine and reminisced on a summertime memory. With excitement, the kids told me how they saw bears, moose, and mountain goats, then laughed about their timing with arriving to the park the day that the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road closed for the season. They came up with their two children and each of them took turns raving about their trip to the park, saying that it was one of their absolute favorite national park experiences. The father had seen the mountain goat bumper stickers on my car as well as the hiking decals on my computer and connected the dots. While writing at a coffee shop today, a young family approached me and asked about Glacier National Park. Hidden Lake Glacier National Park, Montana Words and Photography by Lauren Hurst
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