diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/App/App.js b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/App/App.js
index eedfc15e..1d8e9eb1 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/App/App.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/App/App.js
@@ -50,7 +50,12 @@ const ErrorCodeBlock = styled.pre`
 `;
 
 const getDefaultPath = collections => {
-  return `/collections/${collections.first().get('name')}`;
+  const first = collections.filter(collection => collection.get('hide') !== true).first();
+  if (first) {
+    return `/collections/${first.get('name')}`;
+  } else {
+    throw new Error('Could not find a non hidden collection');
+  }
 };
 
 const RouteInCollection = ({ collections, render, ...props }) => {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/Collection/Sidebar.js b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/Collection/Sidebar.js
index a124c885..ea954921 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/Collection/Sidebar.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/components/Collection/Sidebar.js
@@ -133,7 +133,12 @@ class Sidebar extends React.Component {
             value={query}
           />
         </SearchContainer>
-        <SidebarNavList>{collections.toList().map(this.renderLink)}</SidebarNavList>
+        <SidebarNavList>
+          {collections
+            .toList()
+            .filter(collection => collection.get('hide') !== true)
+            .map(this.renderLink)}
+        </SidebarNavList>
       </SidebarContainer>
     );
   }
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/configSchema.js b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/configSchema.js
index 3b746c3b..90edb03e 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/configSchema.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/constants/configSchema.js
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ const getConfigSchema = () => ({
           preview_path_date_field: { type: 'string' },
           create: { type: 'boolean' },
           publish: { type: 'boolean' },
+          hide: { type: 'boolean' },
           editor: {
             type: 'object',
             properties: {
diff --git a/website/content/docs/configuration-options.md b/website/content/docs/configuration-options.md
index aeab7fed..224c3070 100644
--- a/website/content/docs/configuration-options.md
+++ b/website/content/docs/configuration-options.md
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ The `collections` setting is the heart of your Netlify CMS configuration, as it
 * `filter`: optional filter for `folder` collections; details in [Collection Types](../collection-types)
 * `create`: for `folder` collections only; `true` allows users to create new items in the collection; defaults to `false`
 * `publish`: for `publish_mode: editorial_workflow` only; `false` hides UI publishing controls for a collection; defaults to `true`
+* `hide`: `true` hides a collection in the CMS UI; defaults to `false`. Useful when using the relation widget to hide referenced collections.
 * `delete`: `false` prevents users from deleting items in a collection; defaults to `true`
 * `extension`: see detailed description below
 * `format`: see detailed description below