Forest Service Trail #1915 Why? A couple of nice lakes with good views of the Eagle Cap Ridge. Season: Mid-July through September Ease: Moderate. It’s 1.8 miles and 1,100 feet up to Hidden Lake. If you’re hiking up or down East Eagle Creek (hike 49) and spending a night or two along its banks, a trip up to Moon and Hidden Lakes is a nice way to spend part of a day. While neither is spectacular, the Hidden Lake Basin might also be worth a night’s stay with a day to explore its surrounds. Basically, getting to the lakes is an uphill hike through woods and open areas. The trail passes Moon Lake on it’s east and then north before the final hutch up to the Hidden Lake Basin. Even without spending appreciable time at the latter, the visit was enjoyable, especially for the views of the Eagle Cap Ridge. The Eagle Cap is vastly different from there, just a rounded shape on a ridge featuring a jagged section connecting the Eagle Cap with Glacier Peak about ¾ mile to its south. If you’ve ever hiked up Main Eagle Creek as far as Eagle Lake, you’ll be interested to know that Eagle Lake is just over the ridge to the southwest from Hidden and Moon Lakes. Trail Notes: The trail to Hidden Lake was not marked when I hiked the trail. However, it’s well worn and pretty much exactly where it should be according to the map, so is not difficult to find. The hike starts with a crossing of East Eagle Creek. Directions: The trailhead is 6.5 miles up East Eagle Creek from the East Eagle Trailhead . Information: 2U.S. Forest Service Wallowa Mountains Visitors Services, Joseph, OR, (541) 426-5546. Maps: USGS Eagle Cap, Oregon; Imus Geographics Wallowa Mountains, Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon. |