Lower & Upper Glidden lake TRAIL #135
LOWER 5616’ & UPPER 5935’ GLIDDEN LAKES
EVENT TYPE: Day hike, backpacking, backcountry skiing
DISTANCE: Upper 3.2 miles RT. Lower lake you drive to.
ELEVATION: minimal
DIFFICULTY: Easy
MAPS: IPNF, Lolo N.F., Cooper Gulch topo
GPS: Lower Lake. 47°31’05” N 115°43’45” W
Upper Lake. 47°31’08” N 115°43’05” W
RANGER DISTRICT: CDA River R.D. CALL 911 FIRST or 208.769.3000
IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FOREST/ALERTS
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ipnf/alerts-notices
DISTANCE: Upper 3.2 miles RT. Lower lake you drive to.
ELEVATION: minimal
DIFFICULTY: Easy
MAPS: IPNF, Lolo N.F., Cooper Gulch topo
GPS: Lower Lake. 47°31’05” N 115°43’45” W
Upper Lake. 47°31’08” N 115°43’05” W
RANGER DISTRICT: CDA River R.D. CALL 911 FIRST or 208.769.3000
IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FOREST/ALERTS
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ipnf/alerts-notices
DESCRIPTION:
The trail/road heads SE for about a mile to the lower lake. At about 300 feet there is a trail off to the left (East) that leads to Upper Glidden Lake for less than a mile. These lakes are not only easy to get to, they are surrounded by a nice forest and if you hike to the peak south of the lakes, you will have a great view of Stevens Peak and it's lakes.
The Upper Glidden Lake trailhead is on the Idaho Montana boarder up road from the lower lakes road.
The trail drops slightly along the way, before it ascends gently to the Upper Lake. As you turn off the trail to the right, the lake is about 200 feet ahead.
If you turn left, the trail climbs gently to the saddle above the lake. From here Trail #133 drops into the valley, I-90 and Lookout Pass.
But if you turn right at Trail #133 starts to drop, there is a primitive trail to the peaks above the lakes.
The Upper Glidden Lake trailhead is on the Idaho Montana boarder up road from the lower lakes road.
The trail drops slightly along the way, before it ascends gently to the Upper Lake. As you turn off the trail to the right, the lake is about 200 feet ahead.
If you turn left, the trail climbs gently to the saddle above the lake. From here Trail #133 drops into the valley, I-90 and Lookout Pass.
But if you turn right at Trail #133 starts to drop, there is a primitive trail to the peaks above the lakes.
OPTION #1:
You can go into the Lower Lake, and start the climb to the Upper Lake, until you get to the trails summit. From here if you turn right, up hill, you can access the peak above and between the lakes. The views here are worth the effort. From the top, you can head east down the ridge to the south of Upper Glidden Lake. The trail is of good quality, and in 1.2 miles you will be at the Upper Glidden Lake. There is very little elevation gain or loss.
To the north is the creek out of Upper Glidden Lake.
If you go down the east side of the creek, you will end up at Idaho Montana boarder.
If you walk out the west side of the creek, it will take you back to Lower Glidden Lake.
To the north is the creek out of Upper Glidden Lake.
If you go down the east side of the creek, you will end up at Idaho Montana boarder.
If you walk out the west side of the creek, it will take you back to Lower Glidden Lake.
OPTION #2:
There is a relatively new trail (Trail #135) to Upper Glidden Lake. Continue past FR #615 to Glidden Pass and the Idaho Montana boarder. Take a right (south) turn up to the power lines. The trail is well marked. For the most part, the trail undulates, and drops slightly, then climbs slightly to the lake.
OPTION #3:
To extend your hike or ski, travel to either lake and go cross country to Peak 6632'. Then head cross country to the other lake to make it a loop hike or ski. There are trails to each lake and the ridge above Upper Glidden Lake.
OPTION #4:
At the Idaho/Montana boarder just east of the upper lake trailhead, drive into Montana over Cooper Pass to the second switchback and park your car. Due south of the second switchback about 30’ to Cooper Gulch Waterfalls.
DIRECTIONS
Drive I-90 to Wallace, Idaho, and drive thru town to the east I-90 off ramp. Before turning onto the freeway, drive north up Burke Canyon for about 12.5 miles. At the Idaho Montana boarder, Glidden Pass, the Upper Glidden Lakes trailhead is on the right (south) .1 miles up under the power lines.
To get to the Lower Glidden Lake trailhead, veer right about 11 miles from Wallace onto FR #615.
Look for a red arrow painted at the intersection. (To get to the upper lake, do not turn right at the arrow.)
After crossing two creeks the trailhead is above the second creek.
To get to the Lower Glidden Lake trailhead, veer right about 11 miles from Wallace onto FR #615.
Look for a red arrow painted at the intersection. (To get to the upper lake, do not turn right at the arrow.)
After crossing two creeks the trailhead is above the second creek.
HAZARDS:
None noticeable to the lakes. However, if you go off trail, have the appropriate abilities and equipment.
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Beautiful Burke Canyon, scenic and very photogenic (look for the cool rock walls above Burke), historic Wallace, the Lookout Pass Ski Area, the Trail of the CDA’s, and the Route of the Hiawatha.
R & P:
Pizza Factory, 1313 Club, Brooks Hotel & Restaurant, City Limits Brew Pub, Fainting Goat, Smoke House BBQ & Saloon, Muchacho’s Tacos, and the Wallace Brewing Co. Radio Brewing in Kellogg. The Snake Pit north of Kingston. Moon Time & The Mexican Food Factory in CDA.
PHOTO GALLERY
UPPER GLIDDEN LAKE IN SPRING.
THAT’S STEVENS PEAK OFF IN THE DISTANCE.
TAKEN FROM GLIDDEN PASS.
BEAR GRASS ALONG THE ROAD TO THE UPPER LAKE
UPPER GLIDDEN LAKE WITH SNOWSTORM PEAK 6328’
STEVENS PEAK & THE LONE LAKE DRAINAGE
FROM THE RIDGE LINE ABOVE GLIDDEN LAKES
REMNANTS OF AN OLD FOREST IN UPPER GLIDDEN LAKE
IT WAS A GREAT WALK OUT TO U. GLIDDEN LAKE. ON THE WAY OUT I SPOTTED BIGFOOT
