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Summary: Mirror Lake is a staple of casual hiking in the Portland/Mt. Hood area. It's right on Hwy. 26 so it's easily accessed, it's a fairly easy hike, and you get to see a very nice lake. Kids wil enjoy this hike, and if you plan ahead they can wade in the lake when you get there. The trail is wide enough in most places to walk side-by-side with a friend, though it can be dusty. When you get to a point just below the lake you can take the loop trail in either direction. Taking the trail to the right connects you to another trail up Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain. This is also the direction to go if you want to get to the view of Mt. Hood quickly. You can camp at designated sites around the lake, though on a busy day you'll have plenty of visitors by your spot. Kids can wade, throw rocks, look for crawdads and just be kids while you sit and talk with family or friends. We did this walk 12-14 years ago when the kids were little, and they had just as much fun as teenagers. Trailhead: If you've driven over Mt. Hood you've seen the trailhead - it's on the right or south side of the road as you go east on a big bend just before Ski Bowl. It's a few miles above Rhododendron and just 2 or 3 miles below Government Camp. Mt. Hood is only 50 miles from Portland. A Northwest Forest pass is required to park at this trailhead. Buy the annual pass for $30.00 - otherwise pay $5.00 for a day pass. (Lat:45.30631 Lon:-121.7917) Trail Guides for Mirror Lake, near Government Camp on Mt. Hood: Pacific Northwest Hiking 1000 Hikes in OR and WA by Ron C. Judd and Dan A. Nelsen (Avalon Travel Publishing) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Mt. Hood National Forest Info Center, Welches, OR 503-622-7674 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Steve Snyder, who has posted 13 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Debbie on 9/14/2009 My son, Ryan Hite and Jennifer Rouse were married at the Summit, above Mirror Lake, on Saturday 12th 2009. It was a surprise to both parents. Great Day. 
Reviewed by JB on 1/25/2009 First time snowshoeing. The snowshoes weren't really necessary for most of the way up to the lake, because snow was so packed on the trail. But they would have been needed if we had tried going further up the mountain from there. Nice hike, mostly easy except for a couple of steep grades and tight switchbacks. There were quite a few other people on the trail. Very pretty in winter. We had to park in the Ski Bowl lot and it was packed.
Reviewed by Jill on 8/14/2008 Perfect hike for my 60-something mother and 30-something sister, visiting from Ohio. We planned to simply hike to the lake, have lunch and hike back down, but we couldn't resist exploring the flat trail circling the lake. It was 108 in Portland and was only in the high 80's on the mountain (the trail is mostly shaded). There wasn't a cloud in the sky, providing a crystal clear view of Mt. Hood! Spotted several fish, a crawdad and a chipmunk. There were a few large rocks on the path, so I recommend hiking boots.
Reviewed by rcwynn on 7/14/2008 My wife and I are in our 50s. We found this hike easy but some of the inclines were a bit of a challenge. We made this trip in mid-July on a 85 degree sunny day. From the lake the clear weather made for a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. We did not make the hike up Tom, Dick & Harry Mountain but you can see it and the lake here: http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5192/img0036ea3.jpg
Reviewed by John T on 6/14/2008 I have been up to this lake before and it was awesome. But me and my family attempted to go on June 13th 2008 and the snow was still all over the mountain. We followed what little part af the trail we could tell was a trail, then we were totally lost. No markers no posts to mark the way nopthing...we followed others footprints and we were basically lost, others had the same issue. Someone needs to mark the trails for times like these...it would have been nicer to find the lake.
Reviewed by EMO on 7/20/2007 When with a small group for cub scouts... very nice hike even for young kids. Beautiful view of Mt. Hood from the lake. The day we went the beach along the lake was covered with butterflies, it was a wonderful experience. I would love to go back and go up to the summit. The only problems I saw were the flimsy fencing that was put up to keep people from going off the paths near the lake, the fencing was falling down and you could see people were contining to go off into the bushes. The parking lot was also very full, but that was to be expected on such a beautiful weekend day.
Reviewed by Viewer on 7/18/2007 This hike was fantastic. I backpacked it with my friend and my 5 year old son and had an absolute blast. It was a fairly easy hike which was great for beginning backpackers and kids. The weather was great. Unfortunately the bugs were out in force, which I guess is to be expected around water. It is absolutely gorgeous at the lake and seemed to be a very popular day hike. There are some great camp sites, but fire wood is becoming very sparse. The only bummer of the trip is that it is apparently popular for the underage drinkers to come up late in the evening and leave in the morning. Not a big deal except for all the garbage they left behind. We will still be doing this overnighter again in the short future.
Reviewed by ALS on 7/8/2007 It's been years since I have been to mirror like but it is great place just to sit back and put your feet in a nice cool lake and gaze at Mt Hood. The trail is very well maintained and well traveled. There is a short section that crosses a old rock slide and you need to watch your footing...other than that ..and a few switch backs...it's a great hike, take your time and have a good time while on the climb uphill to the lake (coming down is much easier), and when you get their... take the left trail, over the foot bridge at the creek that comes out of the lake...I think more people head off to the right with has the camp ground area. Remember....take your shoes off and rest them in the cool water...it is a wonderful experience. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Oregon Hiking, Oregon Trails, Oregon Hikes, Clackamas County Hiking, Clackamas County Trails, Clackamas County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||