Have you been "hunting" those elusive mountain goats and bighorn sheep in your National Park visits (generally unsuccessfully)? Then, welcome to Glacier NP and Hidden Lake Trail - your best "hunting" spot for really close "encounters." They're magnificent critters and the scenery to go with them is simply outstanding making this one of our most highly recommended hiking trails.
The trailhead for Hidden Lake Trail leaves from Logan Pass Visitor Center on the Going to the Sun Rd. You must get here early if you want to find a parking space easily and if you want to hike with a smaller crowd! Even in late summer, by 11am the hike was pretty much wall to wall people and drivers were circling for parking spaces... Fortunately we were heading down then, not up.
The visitor center opens at 9am, but you can start hiking earlier. The trailhead is marked (1.5 miles one way for the overlook and 3.0 miles to the lake itself - same trail). It's practically all paved or boardwalked to the overlook - but with about 500' rise in elevation in the form of steps. My mom made it - just take your time and enjoy the view on the way up.
At the start and around the Visitor's Center you'll see an abundance of ground squirrels and chipmunks (chipmunks have stripes on their faces). Look closely and you might even spy a weasel. He was far more reclusive, but in the early morning with few visitors, we saw him. Along the trail look for marmots, ptarmigans, picas - and keep your eyes open - the Bighorn Sheep blend in well. Early is better for seeing them - they were gone on our way down.
Mountains peaks are visible everywhere, and in the valleys, literally all around us, were wildflowers in bloom using almost every color in Crayola's box. There's even a picturesque alpine waterfall to add more ambiance.
The mountain goats like the top. They can be spotted anywhere in the valleys or even standing on the glacier up on your right (as you head up). Near and slightly past the overlook they are generally very close to the trail. In the morning they were more active and eating. By the time we headed down (11am "ish") they were settling in for napping.
This whole hike was one huge buffet for the eyes - such pretty colors - such impressive animals - and yes, there's even a gorgeous lake. It's a great way to see nature. The only "bad" thing is the crowds - and unruly kids/uncaring parents that sometimes come with them - not to mention the young "20-something" who started an attempt to carve his initials into a rock - my Mom stopped him (yes, there are idiots of all ages out there - sigh). If you come early, you avoid those - making this nigh onto as perfect a trail as one can get for its alpine wonders.