Hiking and biking at Mount Hood in 3 days
Majestic mountain with alpine lakes.
There are many rustic cabins in Mount Hood National Forest; we stayed 2 miles from Trillium Lake. Our first lake hike was Trillium Lake Loop, which is in utter disrepair. However, the problem with Trillium Lake is crowds - if you want to see Trillium lake, do it at dawn or dusk.
If you like to road bike, there is a great climb up main road to historic Timberline Lodge. From bottom to top, trip was ~5.5 miles with 1,900 feet of elevation gain - I did 2 repeats. After bike, we drove to Veda Lake TH, which is ~45 minute drive from highway along one of the worst roads you will ever find. However, our second lake hike (short Veda Lake hike) was glorious with epic views of Mount Hood and culminates in serene lake setting.
Our third lake hike was Mirror Lake Loop. Again, get there early for parking and avoiding crowds. Pretty lake, but add the Tom Dick and Harry extension.
We trip to Mount Hood every summer to escape the heat of Bend, OR.
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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