Find your way to Oregon's Lost Lake
LOST LAKE, Ore. - There's a lake on the north side of Mount Hood with views as breathtaking as they come: Deep blue water, thick, lush forest and Oregon's tallest peak looming in the distance.
What sets Lost Lake apart from other Cascade lakes near the mountain is that it provides a close-up view of Mount Hood's northwest side. Such a view typically requires a miles-long, sweaty slog to the pinnacle of a Columbia River Gorge trail.
But Lost Lake - at 3,100 feet - is just 10 miles northwest of the mountain and you can drive there, making it a popular spot for those in the know.
And that includes plenty of fishermen, who grab their favorite spot along the shoreline or paddle their boat out to where the fish are biting. I want to emphasize the word "paddle" as no motorboats are allowed on the lake. I found that the lack of buzzing motors added to the tranquility of the place. But the regulation certainly does not detract people from spending time there.
The campground typically fills up on summer weekends, the campground host says. All tent and RV sites are first-come, first-served, which means you can still get a spot without reserving a year in advance. But you should call ahead. I recently went there on a Tuesday and was told that I'd have trouble finding a spot later in the week.
The best tent camping sites are located close to the shore in the F Loop. They are heavily canopied and spaced far enough apart to allow some seclusion. And thus they are highly coveted.
I was lucky enough to snag one but then found myself later "harassed" by others as I was packing up to leave. I was asked multiple times by different people when I planned to drive away; one woman even asked if she could park her car behind mine until I left.
The other camping sites are a good walk from the lake but certainly not miles away. You can take your RV to the campground, though there are no electrical hookups. There are also rustic cabins for rent, though they have no plumbing.
If you don't fish, there are still plenty of things to do, including mountain biking, swimming, boating and picnicking. A visit is incomplete without traversing the well-maintained, 3.2-mile trail that circles the lake. Much of the trail is raised boardwalk to keep you out of the mud, and you can stop and relax in numerous secluded nooks off the trail. Make sure to head to the lake's north side as it gives you the best view of Mount Hood.
If you want even more of a challenge, there are several trails leading from the lake in various directions. The Huckleberry Mountain Trail connects with the famed Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico, and it can take you closer to Mount Hood.
The highlight of my trip to the lake came after a two-mile hike to the top of nearby Lost Lake Butte, which is about 4,400 feet in elevation. The unobstructed view of Mount Hood is priceless, awe-inspiring even. While it is a somewhat steep climb up the trail, it was over in about an hour for me and definitely worth the effort.
Here is what it looks like at the top:
Directions
- From Interstate 5 in Portland, take Interstate 84 east to Hood River.
- Take exit 62, head south on 13th Street and follow the signs to the Hood River airport.
- Continue on toward Dee on the Hood River Highway and then follow the signs to Lost Lake.
You can also take Highway 26 (Mount Hood Highway) to Zigzag. Turn left onto Lolo Pass Road and follow the signs to Lost Lake. (This route include four miles of gravel.)