Camping at Trillium Lake

Trillium Lake is one of the most popular places to camp in the Mt. Hood National Forest. It’s also one of the best places to take an up-close photo of Mt. Hood. When I went, it was foggy and dreary so the mountain wasn’t visible but it was still really beautiful. 

For those of you who aren’t into camping, this is a great place to stop and watch the sunset after a day of fun in the Mt. Hood area.

To get to the lake, take Highway 26 and turn right about two miles after Government Camp. Just follow signs for Trillium Lake. Grab a $5 Forest Pass from Whispering Woods Resort because you will need one to park.

If you want to camp, there are 52 single campsites and 5 double but they are next to impossible to book last minute so try to reserve your campsite as early as possible. It’s $22-45 per night for standard site, $65-90  per night for group sites and $5 per vehicle per day for a Forest Pass. 

The camping season is open from May until September. More specific dates can be found on the Mt. Hood National Forest website.

For a fun experience on the lake, call ahead and rent a canoe or kayak from Skibowl. They will drop it off and pick it up when you are done. You can also swim, fish, (bring your own gear) and hike the 2-mile loop around the lake.

Add Trillium Lake to your list of summer camping spots because it’s the perfect place to go whether you’re by yourself or with your family. Let us know what some of your other favorite camping spots are in the comments below.

Photo: David Kovalenko on Unsplash

Check out this gorgeous photo by David Kovalenko from Unsplash. Trillium Lake is beautiful when it’s foggy AND when it’s clear.