Key Takeaways

The Trillium Lake Loop Trail is an easy, flat 2-mile hike around Trillium Lake, offering views of Mount Hood from the south and east sides.

The trail allows camping and biking, with some restrictions on bikes in certain northeastern sections, and a campground requiring reservations.

Parking can be challenging in the shoulder/winter seasons due to snow, potentially requiring an extra 4-6 mile hike along Trillium Lake Road Trail.

Trillium Lake Loop Trail

The Trillium Lake Loop Trail at Mount Hood National Forest in Government Camp, Oregon is an easy 2 mile loop hike that encompasses Trillium Lake with amazing views of Mount Hood. You can technically start this hike anywhere along the south and eastern portions of the lake since there are various ways you can hop on the trail, but this GPS data starts on the southeast section.

The trail is flat with almost no elevation change, gain, or loss. From the southern end you can see Mount Hood and there are a few places along the eastern banks where you can get views of Mount Hood as well. On the northern and western sides of the lake the view of Mount Hood is obstructed by the surrounding trees, but it still makes for a really nice hike in the Mount Hood National Forest.

Trillium Lake is formed by a dam at the headwaters of Mud Creek, tributary to the Salmon River and was created by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1960. The area that the lake now covers was part of Barlow Road - a component of the Oregon Trail.

Camping: There's a campground at Trillium Lake that require reservations; however, I do not know if there are rules/regulations for winter campers. If you plan to camp off-season, check the national park's website for details, otherwise camping is allowed along this trail.

Biking: Biking is also allowed on section of this trail; however, there are some section (on the northeastern side) that state bikes are not allowed beyond a certain point.

Views/Lookout Point: Views of Mount Hood and the Lake.

Parking: Since I tracked this trail in late autumn, we had to park along the Mount Hood Highway and hike an extra 4 miles (out-and-back) along the Trillium Lake Road Trail; however, if you arrive during seasons without snow, parking can likely be found anywhere near the lake.

Shoulder Seasons/Winter trips: If there's snow on the ground, you'll need to hike in on the Trillium Lake Road Trail to get to Trillium Lake, which will make for a 4 to 6 mile trip depending on if you hike the entire Trillium Lake Loop Trail.