Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. (We can agree to disagree, but I’m right.) The only tricky part about a state as gorgeous as Oregon is that it can feel overwhelming to decide where to explore. That’s why in this post, I share the 7 best Mt. Hood lakes. After reading, you can decide which to visit—or even better, save the post and eventually see all of ’em!
We are insanely fortunate because we live so close to these Mt. Hood lakes. The closest is just over an hour from Portland, Oregon. You can drive to all the lakes in this post in under 2 hours from Portland. That makes each of these a terrific day trip, no matter if you’re looking to swim, SUP, hike, camp or even snowshoe!
Each lake on Mt. Hood has something special to offer. Some are filled with water so clear it’s like you’re looking through a drinking glass. Others reflect a postcard-perfect reflection of Mt. Hood at sunset. Some are warmer, which is good for folks like me who want to swim but get goosebumps just thinking about alpine lakes. And some have kid-friendly hikes, while others include trails that will get your heart pumping and your glutes burning.
(Too much? Might have been too much.)
Each of these Mt. Hood lakes has one thing in common, though: Every one is stunning.
I can barely contain my excitement for you to discover these Mt. Hood lakes. I practically bounce of the walls at the prospect of sharing my beautiful state with folks who are also passionate about the outdoors.
Is that you? I sure hope so. Because if that resonates, you’re going to love these Mt. Hood lakes.
Read on to learn about Lost Lake, Trillium Lake, Frog Lake, Little Crater Lake, Timothy Lake, Mirror Lake and Twin Lakes. I’ll also cover when to visit Mt. Hood lakes and things to do in the spring, summer, fall and winter.
Don’t forget to pin this post so you can easily find it the next time you’re exploring Oregon or want a day trip from Portland!
Lost Lake, Oregon
Lost Lake on Mt. Hood is one of Oregon’s most beautiful treasures.
We adore this Portland day trip because Lost Lake has everything we could want: Hiking. Paddle boarding. Canoeing. Camping and yurts. Lost Lake even has a general store so you can buy an ice cream treat at the end of a day exploring Mt. Hood!
A family-friendly, 3.25 mile hike loops around Lost Lake. It’s flat and easy, even for children. My own kids like to pause along the way to splash in the water and look for salamanders.
Our favorite thing to do on this Mt. Hood lake, though, is get out on the water! You can bring your own boat or SUP, or you can rent one from the general store. We could even bring our dog Finn in the canoe with us!
One of the best parts of boating on Lost Lake: the views! Snow-capped Mt. Hood still leaves me breathless. You’ll never forget the sight of its reflection on the lake, especially on a calm day.
Get all the details by reading my comprehensive post about Lost Lake, OR.
Trillium Lake near Portland, OR
If you’re looking for some of the best camping on Mt. Hood, Trillium Lake is for you! I adore this Mt. Hood lake for so many reasons.
Firstly, it’s beautiful. (Does that go without saying?)
Next, the campgrounds are private and within an easy walking distance of fun swimming areas.
Finally, the short hike around the lake is an excellent way to spend a morning. That way the day has warmed up enough for you to swim, paddle board or simply float in an oversized unicorn floatie!
Trillium Lake is also one of the closest Mt. Hood lakes to Portland. You can easily drive here in less than 1.5 hours. Can you believe this paradise is so close to the city?
Intrigued? Learn everything you need to know—including the best spots to photograph Mt. Hood and its reflection in the lake—in my post on Trillium Lake.
Frog Lake, OR
If you’re in search of a Mt. Hood lake that isn’t frigid, Frog Lake delivers! This small lake in the Mt. Hood wilderness is one of our favorite swimming spots in the summer. An hour and a half away from Portland, this spot is great for a day trip getaway.
On hot weekend days, the lake can get crowded. Arrive as early as you can to find a parking spot more easily. Then stake out an area of the beach or sit on smooth, fallen logs.
We love Frog Lake for paddle boarding, too. It’s only a short walk from your parked car to the beach, so you won’t have a terrible time carrying down your SUP. Plus, when you’re in the middle of the lake, you can lie back and admire gorgeous Mt. Hood views!
For more details about this Mt. Hood lake (including when to go for peak tadpole season!), read my full post on Frog Lake, Oregon.
Little Crater Lake, Oregon
When you read guide books about Mt. Hood, they point to Little Crater Lake as one of the most scenic spots on the mountain. They’re not wrong—but I wish they’d do a better job of setting travelers’ expectations.
Little Crater Lake is absolutely gorgeous. Its clear, teal-hued water is breathtaking. You can see all the way down to the bottom, 45 feet down.
Also, Little Crater Lake is, well, little. Very little. Hubs joked that it should be called Little Crater Puddle.
That doesn’t diminish its beauty, though. What’s more, the lake is a mere .15 mile walk from the parking area—perfect opportunity to stretch your legs if you’re taking a road trip from Portland to Central Oregon. A boardwalk viewing platform here, plus another area along the trail, provide epic views.
Please respect that there is no swimming (and no Instagram-worthy in-the-water posing) in Little Crater Lake. This protects the unique nature and clear waters of the lake. Its water is a frigid 34 degrees anyway.
You can continue on past Little Crater Lake to hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.
A word to the wise: Little Crater Lake’s parking lot is quite small, so your best bet is to arrive early. It also requires a day use fee.
Timothy Lake on Mt. Hood
Timothy Lake is different from other Mt. Hood lakes because it’s formed by a dam. That doesn’t do anything to detract from the beauty of this gorgeous spot.
Timothy Lake is the largest lake on Mt. Hood. That gives visitors plenty of room to canoe, kayak, SUP and fish! The lake is stocked with kokenee salmon, rainbow trout and brook trout, which makes it a popular fishing spot near Portland.
A 15-mile loop trail circles the lake as well as the surrounding forest. You do not have to hike the entire trail to enjoy it. In fact, when we visit Timothy Lake with kids, we just go as far as my kids are feeling up to—and then spend the rest of our time splashing and playing in the water.
Know that Timothy Lake can get quite busy in peak summer season. Go early when possible.
Mirror Lake in Oregon
If you see a photo of Mt. Hood reflected in a lake, it very well could have been taken at Mirror Lake. The bright blue water of this natural lake sometimes perfectly matches the sky.
Mirror Lake also has the benefit of being so close to Government Camp. The Mirror Lake Trailhead is a mere 3 minutes west of Government Camp (and just over an hour east of Portland). This makes it a great spot to explore if you’re staying in Government Camp, which has hotels and lodges that make it easy to spend a few nights on the mountain.
Booking.comFrom the trailhead, which is just off Highway 26, hike 2 miles to Mirror Lake. In total, the hike is 4.4 miles out and back. Once you reach the lake, you can swim or even lengthen your hike by trekking to the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain. This stretch of trail is steep in parts and requires some scrambling, but it gives you breathtaking views of Mirror Lake and the Mt. Hood National Forest.
Wildflowers bloom here every spring, and winter is great for skiing. Arrive as early in the day as possible because the parking lot fills up. Mirror Lake is one of the most popular hikes on Mt. Hood so it can get busy, especially on weekends.
Twin Lakes, Mt. Hood
I’m happy to talk about Twin Lakes in part because relatively few people have ever visited these gorgeous lakes on Mt. Hood. They’re accessible only by hiking in. The trail is moderate and generally not overly busy. You may pass backpackers on their way to staying overnight in undeveloped camping areas.
I don’t recommend the Twin Lakes hike for very young children, unless you carry or wear them (as we have), but mid-elementary aged kids should be able to manage the incline. (Feel free to use M&Ms as bribery/incentive for little hikers—I certainly do!)
Don’t be intimidated by the 7.2 mile trail length. You can easily shorten this hike to about 5 miles by turning around at Lower Twin Lake.
The Twin Lakes trail takes you first to Lower Twin Lake about 2 miles in. If you or your kids are tired, have fun splashing in Lower Twin Lake and turn around from there. You’ll hike another mile to reach Upper Twin Lake.
To reach the Twin Lakes hike on Mt. Hood, park in the Frog Lake sno-park lot. There are porta potties here.
Why Mt. Hood Lakes are worth the trip
Is it worth it to visit Mt. Hood lakes from Portland, or even the rest of Oregon? In a word: YES!
Whenever visitors come from out of town, I recommend they take a day trip from Portland to see Trillium, Mirror, Little Crater or any of the other gorgeous lakes on the mountain.
First of all, this scenery is totally different than what you’ll see on the Oregon Coast, the Willamette Valley, Central Oregon and certainly Portland.
Secondly, the mountain is so close! You can get to all these Mt. Hood lakes in under two hours. The closest, Trillium Lake, is just over an hour from Portland, OR.
Finally, you simply can’t put a price on enjoying this unforgettable country. You’ll never forget the first time you turn the corner of a Mt. Hood hike and see the mountain looming overhead. The reflection of its snowy peak in the many Mt. Hood lakes is simply epic.
I’m almost positive you’ll agree.
When to visit Mt. Hood Lakes
Every season brings something to love about the lakes on Mt. Hood. Always check the weather and road conditions before you drive up the mountain. Search weather in Government Camp, which is the closest town to most of the Mt. Hood lakes.
Spring on Mt. Hood
Be aware that snow remains on Mt. Hood until late spring, so many of the most beautiful spots will still be plenty snowy in the spring. Check conditions before you start to drive up the mountain or plan a trip.
Some spring days you may be able to get away with snowshoeing around Mt. Hood lakes. Mostly, though, this is a good season to admire the views. It’s gorgeous and dramatic to see the snowy peak rise above the blue waters!
Late spring is also prime wildflower season on Mt. Hood. Stay on the trail and admire the many different flowers that bloom alongside Mt. Hood lakes!
Summer on Mt. Hood
Summer is by far the most popular time to visit Mt. Hood lakes. Temperatures start to warm up around June, though you’re unlikely to have many days warm enough to swim until July.
Keep in mind that temperatures on Mt. Hood are much cooler than in Portland, OR. Even when you visit in summer, bring layers.
Mt. Hood lakes are an extremely popular spot for Portland folks to cool off in the summer. I hesitate to say lakes become crowded, because honestly you can find spots to set up away from other people 90% of the time. But it can be difficult to find parking, especially on the weekends. Visit on a weekday if possible, and aim to arrive as early as you can on weekends.
Some years are worse than others when it comes to mosquitoes on Mt. Hood. I recommend checking the most recent reviews of hikes in the area to get a sense of buggy conditions. To be honest, though, we’ve been spending time on Mt. Hood in the summer for years, and I’ve never known the mosquitoes to be a big problem.
Fall on Mt. Hood
Fall is one of the best times to check out lakes on Mt. Hood. I may be biased because I adore autumn, but I think you’ll be won over by lakes in this season, too.
Crowds are practically nonexistent in the fall as Portland residents settle into their back to school routines. The weather is definitely cooler—and wetter—than the summer, on average, but you can still find gorgeous days through the end of October.
You probably won’t want to swim during this season, but the weather is ideal for Mt. Hood hikes and sightseeing.
Winter on Mt. Hood
We here in Portland are beyond lucky: We live in the shadow of one of the most fun—and most easily accessible—mountains in the Pacific Northwest. Mt. Hood is simply full of unbeatable things to do in the winter.
Most people focus on skiing and snowboarding on Mt. Hood. Don’t forget snowshoeing around Mt. Hood lakes!
Many of the lakes have snowshoeing trails, where you can admire the snowy views while making a loop. This is a popular winter thing to do, so you’ll probably find easy to follow trails already established. If you go snowshoeing on Mt. Hood soon after it snowed, simply keep an eye out for the blazes on the trees. You’ll stay on track that way.
If you don’t own snowshoeing equipment, you can rent gear in Portland, Sandy or Government Camp. I recommend renting it in Portland or Sandy first-thing in the morning so you don’t have to wait in long lines in Government Camp.
No matter what time of year you visit, you won’t regret visiting any of these Mt. Hood lakes. Pin this for later so you don’t miss out on some of the most beautiful scenery near Portland, Oregon!
