3 Stunning Lakes in the Mt. Hood Area

There are so many stunning lakes in the Mt. Hood region. I haven’t been to all of them yet, but this summer I tried to visit as many as I could. 

Below are three of my favorite lakes I have been to so far. They are all great camping spots and they range in hiking difficulty from easy to moderate. 

I hope you get the chance to visit at least one of them soon!

1. Burnt Lake

Burnt Lake is one of my favorite lakes in the Mt. Hood area. Read about my love for this location here. I visited on a foggy day, but I’ve heard you can get a great view of Mt. Hood on a clear one!

It’s perfect for a day hike but it’s also a great place for a quick overnight camping trip. The lake is quiet and calm and there are a few campsites right on the water.

If you want to go off the grid for a day or two (literally – you won’t have cell service!) head up to Burnt Lake. 

2. Lower Twin lake

Lower Twin Lake is another great place for a short camping trip because it’s super easy to get to the trailhead and there’s a lot of parking.

It’s a pretty quick 2-mile hike up to the lake. The water is a beautiful clear blue -green color and there’s even a rope swing if you want to catapult yourself into the lake. 

You can read my more detailed post about Lower Twin Lake here. 

Photo: David Kovalenko on Unsplash

3. Trillium Lake

Trillium Lake is the most popular lake in the Mt. Hood National Forest. It’s very easy to get to, has a ton of camping sites, and has an incredible view of Mt. Hood on a clear day.

If you want a summer adventure full of kayaking, swimming, fishing and minimal hiking, this is the best place for it. Check out my more detailed post for information about booking campsites and kayaks.

Let us know what your favorite lakes are in the comments below!