There are loads of lakes by Mt Hood, but they aren’t all created equal! If you’re looking to escape to a Mount Hood lake, this post explains what each lake is good for, distance from Portland, and what’s involved with reaching each!
Most of the lakes on Mt Hood in this post are within 2-hours of Portland, making them ideal for day trips to escape the heat from the city!
During our three years living in the Mount Hood National Forest, we made it a point to visit as many lakes as possible. While we didn’t get to all the hike-to Mt Hood lakes listed at the end of this post, most of the others we’ve enjoyed!
If we’ve yet to visit a lake near Mount Hood in this post, we mention it in the description. Otherwise, we share our firsthand experience of visiting each of these lakes near Mt. Hood.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure policy.
Lakes By Mt Hood Off Highway 26
Mirror Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.297013, -121.792923
- Distance from Portland | 1.5 hours
- Views of Hood | yes
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | NW Forest Pass and Interagency Pass
- Camping | yes, backpack in camping
- Hike | yes, 2 miles of switchbacks there and then return
Mirror Lake is a gorgeous lake right in Government Camp. Most times we’ve driven by this trailhead, the parking lot is completely full.
It’s a super popular day hike in the Mount Hood National Forest, and as the name suggests, it offers a lovely mirrored image of Mount Hood. We’ve done this hike three times, and each time we’ve been blown away by the wildflowers in the area and the views of Hood.
Now, while the hike is rather short, the trail can be brutal for those not used to the elevation.. as the hike starts out at a higher elevation being right in Government Camp, and then the trail is just switchbacks up to the lake.
There’s a bathroom both at the start of the hike, and right at the lake — but the lakeside bathroom was nasty when we were there! It’s a great option though if you choose to backpack in and stay at any of the multiple dispersed backpacking sites right above the water!
Trillium Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.268162, -121.739707
- Distance from Portland | 1 hr 40 minutes
- Views of Hood | yes
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | Annual NW Forest Pass
- Camping | yes, reservable in advance here
- Hike | no
Trillium Lake was really the only lake by Mt Hood that we knew of before coming up and working in the Mount Hood National Forest. And holy smokes, it’s by far the busiest and most touristy lake near Mount Hood we’ve visited.
Sure, Trillium Lake offers incredible views of Mount Hood, but trying to get that view without literally hundreds of other people around, you’re really out of luck.
We’ve been to Trillium Lake a couple of times, and after the last time visiting on a Tuesday being packed like sardines, I don’t think we’ll be visiting again.
There is a campground at Trillium, a day use area, non-motorized boat rentals, and nearby dispersed camping. But with all that comes the loads of people.. so many people that we’ve heard countless stories of cars having to wait in line for over an hour to just enter into the day-use area!
It’s pretty, but arguably not worth the chaos!
Mount Hood Lakes Off Highway 26 South of Highway 35 Junction
Continuing down Highway 26, there’s a semi-confusing junction. You want to stay on the highway heading toward Bend, keeping left. You’ll loop down below the overpass, and soon be coming up on a handful more lakes near Mount Hood!
Frog Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.219343, -121.696114
- Distance from Portland | 1 hr 40 minutes
- Views of Hood | yes
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | Annual NW Forest Pass
- Camping | yes, small campground with reservable sites
- Hike | no
At certain times of the year, Frog Lake is full of frogs. We’ve heard camper stories about visiting Frog Lake and having hundreds of baby frogs all over the place. That would certainly be quite the sight to see!
When we went to Frog Lake we didn’t find the loads of frogs, but we did find incredible views of Mount Hood right from the day use area! The campground is quaint and a bit rough to get into and the lake is small.. but it’s a great option for those with little kids!
Our friends camped at Frog Lake in the beginning of September and the water levels were extremely low, making a long walk from camp to the water, so that’s definitely something to keep in mind when planning a trip to Frog Lake!
Clear Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.178437, -121.697067
- Distance from Portland | 1 hr 45 min
- Views of Hood | no
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | Annual NW Forest Pass
- Camping | yes, reservable here
- Hike | no
Oh my goodness, the stories we’ve heard of Clear Lake have me laughing just writing this! Clear Lake is a lake that’s really not super clear and is a bit rough around the edges.
We visited Clear Lake with hopes of finding an epic dispersed campsite on the water, and while we eventually found a spot kind of close to the water.. it was water we couldn’t get in, and the road was the worst we’ve ever been on!
There are a couple of campgrounds at Clear Lake; however, we couldn’t even drive into one of them, and the other campground is the one we’ve heard hilarious stories about.
The lake itself has a boat launch and is open for water activities, but the water levels get pretty low later in the season.
Little Crater Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.148213, -121.750902
- Distance from Portland | 2 hours
- Views of Hood | no
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | Annual NW Forest Pass
- Camping | yes, small campground reservable here
- Hike | short 200 yard walk from parking
Little Crater Lake is one of the only lakes by Mt Hood that you cannot swim in. It’s actually illegal to swim there, but for good reasons.
The water is freezing cold, and the lake is actually a spring. It’s a big crater filled by crystal clear spring water. And it’s beautiful.
There’s a viewing platform and a few places to sit and relax in the shade, but be forewarned… the mosquitoes are horrendous here! Definitely bring bug spray or wear a shirt like this.
There’s a small campground at Little Crater Lake, a single pit toilet, and well water at the entrance.
We’ve visited Little Crater Lake a couple different times, hiking there from Timothy Lake, using the Little Crater Lake trailhead, and biking there (walking our bikes) as well.
The wild flowers are lush, and the water is beautiful. For the best lighting, be sure to visit when the sun is directly overhead so the light really penetrates the water!
Timothy Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.126245, -121.782598
- Distance from Portland | 2 hours
- Views of Hood | yes
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | NW Forest Pass and America The Beautiful Interagency Pass
- Camping | yes, multiple campgrounds and dispersed camping
- Hike | no
Arguably one of the best lakes by Mt Hood, Timothy Lake boasts incredible views of the mountain, amazing fishing, and non-motorized boat fun, and is home to some of the best-kept campgrounds on Mount Hood.
Portland General Electric manages the day use and campgrounds on Timothy Lake, making them cleaner and nicer than all other campgrounds in the area we’ve been to.
The lake itself is stocked multiple times a season, and there are seasonal paddle craft rentals at the Pine Point boat launch.
Lake Harriet
- Lake Coordinates | 45.073689, -121.96544
- Distance from Portland | 1 hr 45 min
- Views of Hood | no
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | NW Forest Pass and America The Beautiful Interagency Pass
- Camping | yes, reservable here
- Hike | no
Also managed by PGE, Lake Harriet is a fisher’s dream! With ample space on fishing docks, and a boat launch, the lake is full of fishermen, women, and children — all out to catch some of the trophy sized stocked fish!
At any given day, you’ll find the campground (with seven sites) full, and people out fishing on the water and off the fishing docks.
This lake isn’t really a lake to swim in, as the water is really cold, but it’s a lovely place to relax for the day and catch some fish too!
Clackamas Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.096121, -121.742456
- Distance from Portland | 2 hours
- Views of Hood | no
- Day Use Fees | free parking outside campground
- Passes Accepted | Annual NW Forest Pass
- Camping | yes, small campground with equestrian stalls, reserve here
- Hike | yes, short hike to lake
The number of campers who told me they booked at Clackamas Lake, expecting a lake, is genuinely surprising. Contrary to what the name suggests, Clackamas Lake is really just a big meadow. Sunset here is incredible, and there are some great places to pick berries in this area.
With that said, if you’re looking for a lake to take a dip in, Clackamas Lake isn’t for you. It’s the headwaters of the Clackamas River, and is a great place to hike around.. so plan a visit on a not so hot day.
When we were told of Clackamas Lake being the headwaters of the Clackamas River, where the water literally flows underground right beneath your feet, we jumped on our bikes and rode out there the first chance we got.
It’s super peaceful around the lake, and the campground offers horse corrals if you plan on camping with horses!
To visit Clackamas Lake, we recommend parking just before the campground and taking the Miller Trail to the headwaters of the lake at the following coordinates, 45.095327, -121.742119.
You can do this as an out and back, or do the entire loop, hiking on the road for a good portion of the trail.
Olallie Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 44.811528, -121.791396
- Distance from Portland | 2 hrs 40 min
- Views of Hood | no, but of Jefferson
- Day Use Fees | none
- Camping | yes, non-reservable, but find information here
- Hike | no
Olallie Lake is one of the first lakes we visited after we started our first year working in the Mount Hood National Forest. The drive to Olallie Lake is beautiful, even though you drive through a massive burn area from a fire.
There are cabins to rent on the lake, a couple small campgrounds, paddle craft rentals, and great views of Mount Jefferson.
Lakes By Mt Hood Off Highway 35
Lost Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.489332, -121.82249
- Distance from Portland | 2 hrs 10 min
- Views of Hood | yes, incredible
- Day Use Fees | $15
- Passes Accepted | none
- Camping | yes, tent, non-electric sites, yurts, and cabins
- Hike | not for view, but can hike around the lake
For three years now people have been telling us we need to make it to Lost Lake, and we went for the first time recently and holy smokes, the views of Hood from there are amazing.
But, I’d give the same advice we got, if you want to visit Lost Lake, I would do so in the early season, before school is out. When visiting, it was extremely clear to us that this place gets slammed!
There are cabins, yurts, campgrounds, a general store, boat rentals — it’s a full on resort, that “is a zoo” in the busier months as people have told us.
The views of Mt. Hood from Lost Lake are incredible. We actually hiked in on Old Skyline Trail for sunrise, and we had the entire place to ourselves!
With pit toilets, picnic tables, bbqs, and non-motorized boat rentals, Lost Lake would be a great place to spend the day. However, with steep prices — upward of $40 a night to camp, I’d recommend only visiting for the day.
Laurance Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.459346, -121.6661
- Distance from Portland | 1 hr 55 min
- Views of Hood | yes, from across the dam and on the water
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | none, but free parking outside fee area
- Camping | yes, small campground mainly first come first serve
- Hike | no
After a beautiful sunrise at Lost Lake, we spent the morning in Parkdale, then popped up to Laurance Lake for the afternoon, making the perfect day in this area!
Laurance Lake is a dammed lake that’s a fly fisher’s paradise. The lake is quite small, but it offers incredible views of Mount Hood, and really good fishing too.
There are two different boat launches, a campground with 20 sites, two pit toilets, and a small day use area.. all for use with a fee.
However, there’s also room for about eight cars to park for free just before the fee area begins, closer to the dam and Laurance Lake trailhead, which is where we spent the day.
This area was amazing for parking the van in the shade, just steps away from the water, and then being able to set up shop for a day by the lake.
While there aren’t views of Mt. Hood from the campground or free day use area, we were blown away with the mountain views we got after taking the short walk across the dam. It really feels like the Mount Hood towers right above the lake with how close Laurance Lake is to the base of Hood.
Wahtum Lake
- Lake Coordinates | 45.581077, -121.794515
- Distance from Portland | 2 hours
- Views of Hood | no
- Day Use Fees | $10
- Passes Accepted | Annual NW Forest Pass
- Camping | yes, first-come first-serve
- Hike | yes, short hike from campground
We have yet to visit Wahtum Lake, but we’ve heard great things. When we were at a bike shop and cafe in Hood River, we were told by multiple people that Wahtum Lake was their favorite Mt Hood lake.
The drive is a bit of a winding climb up a single-lane dirt road, but people say it’s worth the peacefulness the lake offers.
While the lake itself doesn’t have views of Mt Hood, there are plenty of hiking trails in the area that are said to have incredible Mount Hood views.
Hike To Lakes On Mt Hood
If you’re looking for a backpacking trip, the following lakes are hike in lakes only. These provide a much more natural experience to enjoying a lake, and will definitely have fewer crowds!
With that said, Timothy Lake has 40 designated dispersed sites around the lake, making it a great place to backpack, and you can also backpack into Mirror Lake too!
If you choose to hike and camp at any of these lakes, be sure to read our guide to Dispersed Camping in the Mount Hood National Forest!
Badger Lake | I’m classifying this lake near Mount Hood as a hike to lake because the road there is said to be extremely rough and only for those with high clearance and 4×4.
This lake is known for its remoteness and is said to have good fishing.
Boulder Lake & Little Boulder Lake | While we were camp hosting in the Mount Hood National Forest, there was a big fire right in the area of these lakes.
So while the lakes used to be beautiful and the water is still pristine, currently the lakes are covered with a burn scar from someone leaving their campfire going.
It’s a good reminder of always making sure you’re campfire is dead out!
Twin Lakes | Twin Lakes in the Mount Hood National Forest are said to be some of the most beautiful backpacking lakes around. You park at the Frog Lake Snow Park and can keep the hike to under 5 miles by hiking to Lower Twin Lake, or can make it longer by hiking to Upper Twin Lake.
At Twin Lakes, you’re greeted with alpine waters… but keep in mind, it can get crowded in the summer!
Burnt Lake | One of the more popular day and overnight hikes in Oregon, Burnt Lake is a 7.1 mile hike to a lake with great views of Mount Hood.
I have read reviews of people not properly pooping outdoors. If you plan to do this hike and stay overnight, be sure you know how to properly poop outside.
This hike takes off near ZigZag, and is best done in late June after the snow melts on the trail.
Best Time To Visit Mt Hood Lakes
Keep in mind, during the winter, many of these lakes are iced over or inaccessible due to snow. With the elevation of Mount Hood and the lakes nearby, these lakes are best visited in the summer.
With that said, summertime can get busy! And, the later in summer you visit, the lower water levels tend to be. If you’re visiting these lakes by Mt Hood in the summer, try to visit during the week for fewer crowds and a much nicer experience overall!
Enjoy these beautiful lakes by Mount Hood! If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, I think you may like some of these posts below!
READ MORE | 10 Mount Hood Summer Activities
READ MORE | Our Top 10 Free Campsites in Mount Hood National Forest
READ MORE | Things To Do At Timothy Lake