Hidden Lakes Trail 477
Access: From Winthrop travel north on Okanogan County Road 1213 for 7 miles. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 5130 (Eightmile Creek Road). Follow signs for 17 miles to the Trailheads Hiker trailhead located at end of road beyond horse trailhead.
Route Description: The heavily traveled route into a string of popular fishing lakeswith fine views for the first 7 miles. The rest of the trail is mostly in timber and valley bottom to the lakes and beyond.
Highlights: At Hidden Lakes there is a junction with the Tatoosh Buttes Trail leading steeply to high open meadow county. Since there is no grazing at Hidden Lakes, this is a common destination for stock users. The string of lakes are interesting in that there is actually a pass between Middle and Big Hidden lakes with Big Hidden draining north to Canada and the rest of the lakes draining south via Lost River to the Methow. Lost River can be reached by taking a side path about 100 yards south of Diamond Creek. This steep 0.25 mile path reaches scenic meadows and sand bars along the river. Loop trips can be made with the Sheep Mountain area by using the East Fork Pasayten Trail 451 over Dollarwatch Pass, or turning up McCall Gulch trail #548 or the Boundary Trail 533 over Bunker Hill. From the Sheep Mountain area Larch Creek Trail 502 takes you back to the Hidden Lakes Trailhead.
Specific Hazards/Difficulties: Stock users planning to stay at Hidden Lakes should pack processed feed and/or grain as there is no grazing at the lakes. The area was burned in a 2002 wildfire. Dead trees maybe unstable espically in windy conditions.
Length: 21.9 miles/36.6km.
Season: Mid-June - September.
Maps:
USGS: Billy Goat Mtn., Tatoosh Buttes, Ashnola Mtn., Lost Peak.
Green Trails: Pasayten Peak, Billy Goat Mtn.
Restrictions: No motorized or mechanized vehicles. Wilderness use restrictions apply.
Trailhead Facilities: Stock ramp, hitch rail, and pit toilet at Billy Goat horse trailhead and a pit toilet at the Billy Goat hiker trailhead..