Trying to decide which of Mt. Hood’s 150+ lakes to visit? In this article, we’ll give you a brief summary of the best lakes near Mount Hood, including amenities, accessibility and recreational activities.
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Note: Mount Hood is Oregon’s tallest mountain, and has several glaciers and perennial snowfields. Before you visit any site on Mt. Hood, it’s wise to check the weather conditions and any fire bans ahead of time. ZigZag Ranger station offers up-to-date information on current conditions, plus free trail maps and more.
1. Trillium Lake
Trillium Lake is the most popular lake on Mount Hood, and for good reason. It has all the beauty of a classic alpine lake, with iconic views of Mt. Hood nearly all around. Plus, Trillium Lake has easy access to the town of Government Camp (about 4 miles away).
We took a day trip to Trillium Lake on a clear day in October, early in the morning. Even so, the parking lot at the Trillium Lake Day Use Area was already full! We recommend that you plan to arrive before 10 am, and be prepared to pay for a day-use parking permit onsite.
We were awestruck at this gorgeous lake nestled amongst the trees, with the stunning reflection of Mount Hood. Our family enjoyed a short hike around the edge of the lake, which was mostly level, with several areas of boardwalk.
Recreation at Trillium Lake
We passed several people fishing from the shoreline for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and brook trout. Non-motorized boats are allowed on the serene lake, and we saw several canoes and kayaks on the calm waters as we hiked.
Trillium Lake is also popular in winter when the area transforms into a snowy playground. We passed trail markers for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing all along the lakeshore trail.
There are plenty of campgrounds, cabins and picnic areas around Trillium Lake, and some picnic areas specifically for day use. Trillium Lake is a great place for families to enjoy a day at the lake. We highly recommend it for visitors who are exploring the Mount Hood National Forest for the first time.
2. Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is a natural lake with picturesque views of Mt. Hood that are reflected in the waters. It’s one of the more popular hiking areas in the Mt Hood National Forest, especially on weekends.
To reach Mirror Lake, you’ll hike in about 2 miles with a 400 foot elevation gain (considered moderately easy). The trail is well-marked with several footbridges and some paved sections.
The parking area for the Mirror Lake trailhead is located just a mile from Government Camp, right off Highway 26.
Mirror Lake is a great spot for families with kids, and for hikers with dogs, during the summer months. In the winter months, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are popular activities.
3. Burnt Lake
Just a short drive away from Mirror Lake lies Burnt Lake, a great lake for hikers and backpackers who enjoy being off-grid. The 6.6 mile moderate hike is great for wildflowers in June and July – earlier in the season you may still run into snowy spots.
Along Burnt Lake Trail you can also access Lost Creek Valley and the Lost Creek Falls, with a campsite nearby. Or you can continue past Burnt Lake up to a viewpoint on East ZigZag mountain.
There are a few rustic campsites available for overnight camping, but no potable water or toilets at the Lake. Burnt Lake Trail is a favorite day hike with locals, and definitely doable for families with teens or experienced older kids.
4. Lost Lake
Lost Lake is on the north side of Mount Hood, about 25 miles from the city of Hood River. It’s called Lost Lake because early guides didn’t know it existed until local indigenous people showed it to them!
Lost Lake Resort
The Lost Lake Resort is a popular destination, with a general store, restaurant, gift shop and rental service. You can rent rowboats, kayaks, paddle boards or pedal boats for use on Lost Lake (no motorized boats permitted). There are also cabins, yurts, camping and lodge rooms to rent.
Recreation at Lost Lake
Hikers will love Lost Lake’s trails, from the easy Lakeshore Trail to more difficult trails. The Lost Lake Butte Trail is a steep climb, but hikers will be rewarded with gorgeous views of Mount Adams, Mount Baker and sometimes Mt. St. Helens. The Huckleberry Mountain Trail connects to the Pacific Crest Trail.
Lost Lake is also a great spot for fishing and astrophotography. Fly fishing for brook trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon and rainbow trout is popular, although fishing permits must be purchased offsite. On clear nights, photographers often come to photograph the shadow of Mt. Hood and the Milky Way.
5. & 6. Warren Lake and Wahtum Lake
These two lakes are near Lost Lake, and you can reach them from side roads off the Dee Highway leading to Lost Lake. Both offer a few campsites and classic Pacific Northwest forested hiking trails. Warren Lake is hike-in only.
7. Frog Lake
Frog Lake is another of the more popular Mt. Hood lakes, and has several features that make it a great overall choice. It’s called Frog Lake because of the many frogs that reside around the lake – you can often hear them at night in warmer months.
Most of the Frog Lake Forest Service sites are close off Highway 26 so they’re easy to get to from Portland.The Frog Lake Campground is right on the lake and has restrooms, garbage service, and potable water in the summer.
The Frog Lake Day-Use Area is perfect for families looking for a picnic table with lake views of Mt. Hood. We stopped by here for a short road trip break recently, and were impressed with the stunning views and quiet atmosphere (Monday afternoon).
Our kids loved clambering up the rock slide for the gorgeous views, and looking for wildlife like fish, birds and chipmunks. We didn’t find any frogs this time though!
Fishing, swimming, and non-motorized boating are some other favorite outdoor activities at Frog Lake. We passed several people carrying fishing gear, as well as other hikers along the shoreline.
The Frog Lake Sno-Park and Trailhead has picnic tables, garbage and restroom facilities, plus a hitching pole for horses. There are several hiking trails that begin here, plus the Pacific Crest Trail passes nearby.
In the winter, the Frog Lake Sno-Park is used by snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and dog sledders.
The Frog Lake Butte Trailhead is a 4×4 ONLY access road that connects to the Twin Lakes Trailhead #495. Along the Twin Lakes Trailhead you can hike in to Lower Twin Lake and Upper Twin Lake.
8. & 9. Lower Twin Lake and Upper Twin Lake
Lower Twin Lake and Upper Twin Lake are hike-in only, with some campsites available at the lakes. You can get to the Twin Lakes Trail #573 from Bagby Trail #544.
10. Timothy Lake
Timothy Lake is a man-made lake that was created by PGE in the 1950s by damming the Oak Grove Fork of the Clackamas River. There are over a dozen campgrounds and day-use sites around the lake, with views of Mt. Hood all around.
Campgrounds on Timothy Lake
In the summer time you’ll likely need campsite reservations to be able to enjoy camping at Timothy Lake. Some favorite campgrounds are: Gone Creek, Hoodview, North Arm, Pine Point and Stone Creek.
Meditation Point is not reservable, and is hike-in, bike-in or boat-to only with first-come, first-served sites.
Day-use sites
Day-use sites have varying amenities, so check ahead to decide which site works best for your recreation needs. West Shore Day-Use, Cove Day Use and Pine Point Boat Ramp & Day-Use are some good places to check out.
There’s also an excellent biking loop trail around the lake perimeter.
11. Little Crater Lake
Near Timothy Lake is Little Crater Lake, so-called because its gorgeous, crystal clear water reminds many visitors of Crater Lake National Park. There’s a wheelchair accessible campground at Little Crater Lake, and picnicking at the lakeside.
12. Clear Lake
About 5 miles from Timothy Lake you’ll find Clear Lake, a natural-looking reservoir that also has a campground and day-use area. Motorized boats are permitted at Clear Lake (speed limit 10 MPH), as well as sailboats, fishing and swimming.
It’s a popular destination for wild mushroom hunters in late summer and early fall.
13. Laurance Lake
For a picturesque setting and excellent opportunities to see bald eagles, there’s no better spot than Laurance Lake. The Kinnikinnick Campground and the Kinnikinnick Day-Use area are only accessible by high-clearance vehicles, so this lake is ideal for an off-grid experience.
What other lakes should we visit?
Of course, we’ve only featured a few of the many beautiful Mt. Hood lakes in this post. We’d love to hear from you – which are your favorite lakes for hiking, camping, swimming or fishing?
You may also enjoy these posts:
- Visiting Oregon Trail Ruts
- Best National Park sites in Oregon and Washington
- Best National Parks and Monuments in Oregon
- Portland Day Trips
- Best things to do in Hood River, Oregon
©️ Copyright Jennifer D. Warren 2025.
