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Trillium Lake

4.6 (102 reviews)

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Jayden S.

Trillium Lake is a nice spot to relax and take a break from the busy Portland city life. There is a wonderful trail around the lake that gives you great views of the water and of Mount Hood in the distance. It is also a great place to go camping, go for a swim, or kayak out in the water. You could tell it was a very lively place that many people enjoy and all the staff there was very friendly and cooperative. Overall, I recommend Trillium Lake to anyone looking for a calm place to unwind with amazing views.

Entrance tent where you pay parking fee. $10. Sept 2024.
Laura S.

Trillium Lake (Oregon), with Mount Hood as a stunning backdrop, is one of the most popular destinations in Mt. Hood National Forest. We visited on a Tuesday in early September, 2024, around noon, and it was quite busy and the main parking area was already close to full but we did find a space. We started by walking the easy, kid-friendly 1.9 loop trail that goes around the lake. It is mostly wide and flat, and included many boardwalks over swampy areas. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch at one of the picnic tables that was lakeside with a view of Mount Hood and of the kayakers and paddleborders on the lake. (We noticed that kayaks were available for rent -- $25 for one hour for a single; $35 for a tandem). There is a $10 parking fee, which was collected at a tent on the entrance road. Interagency passes are not accepted. You can combine an outing here with a drive up to Timberline Lodge or a hike to Mirror Lake.

The trail around the lake offers

If you're visiting the Mt. Hood area I would definitely recommend stopping here. The lake offers an incredible view of mt hood and is a great spot for people to kayak, paddle board, or walk along the relaxing trail. Me and my family came here after going to Mt Hood and walked the trail around the lake which was very pretty and not challenging at all. This lake is defiantly a great spot to go if you're looking for something to do on a hot day.

Marissa N.

A Picture-Perfect Lake! LOCATION: The drive from Portland to the Mt. Hood area was absolutely beautiful! We paid for an all-day pass, which I believe was $10. We arrived around noon on a random weekday in autumn, there was plenty of parking available. EXPERIENCE: There's a wooden trail that circles the lake, although not all of it is paved. It's accessible for anyone, but I recommend stopping to enjoy the viewpoints along the way. You'll likely see kayakers on the lake (you'll need to bring your own kayak), and there are campgrounds in the surrounding area. OVERALL: I would love to come back and kayak soon! If you're in the city, this spot is definitely worth a day trip, even if its a 2-3 hour drive.

Kylie P.

Gorgeous lake with incredible views of Mount Hood. Seems like a very local spot with lots of people enjoying their summer afternoon either swimming, kayaking, or sunbathing. There is a campground as well. There is a path that is supposed to go around the entire lake but some parts were inaccessible while I was there. Regardless, was still able to take a nice long walk around the lake and find a quiet beach portion that wasn't too busy to read a book and swim. Be aware that parking can be a little tight and you may have to park a ways away and walk. Great spot!

Sara C.

Trillium Lake is a gorgeous little spot with excellent views of Mount Hood close by. It's about an hour drive outside Portland, so an easy little day trip to make and get out into nature. The area offers camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, trail walking, kayaking, and tons more outdoorsy, fun things to do. Even if you're just stopping by for the amazing reflection of Mt. Hood that can sometimes hit the lake, that is worth it in itself. Make a day or weekend of visiting Trillium Lake and Mt. Hood, you won't regret a visit!

WW T.

Excellent lake for paddle boarding, kicking back and relaxing. Amazing views of mount hood and the water was not too cold and refreshing. Great place to spend a weekend day getting away

Hee Y.

The view is spectacular. I arrived maybe 8:30am on a Saturday and the parking lot for day use was filling up. There was a park employee walking around near the parking lot - I purchased the day use pass from her to put in my car. She only accepts cash or check. I walked about half of the perimeter of the lake. The path is overgrown and they're still constructing the boardwalk in some parts. I witnessed a wedding. Next time, I'll bring a paddle board or rent a kayak (unfortunately the rental here opens at 10).

Michael B.

Awesome spot for views of Mount Hood. Fisherman will be on the dam by sunrise. There's a small parking lot by the dam and by the boat ramp. Camping here is ideal, but know there are no showers or flushing toilet, but vault toilets do exist. As of June 2024 the water is broken so you'll have no water in the campground for the time being. The best views of Mount Hood are on the wooden dock by the boat ramp in the day use area. I did get cell service a bit on Verizon.

Hiking the Lake Loop in late May brought us up close to a bunch of snow on the trail. Pro tip: don't wear sneakers
Andrew C.

Eh, I know folks rave about this spot, but I guess it depends on what you're looking for. Yes, the views of Mt Hood lording over the crystal blue waters of the lake are magnificent, but how much of that you'll see is weather-dependent (as you can tell from my photos), and if you go on a weekend? Prep yourself for crowds, because as you know Trillium is only about an hour and a half from Portland so everyone and their screaming 6 year old will be there if it's a sunny Saturday. Bring a kayak (or rent one there) for a cooler view of the mountain but know that the lake isn't all that big. For a more satisfying hiking experience, take the Trillium Lake Loop rather than just sashaying lazily down the boring paved access road to the lake. The good news is that if you're camping, the campground is sited nicely, close to the lake with a good layout amongst the trees.

Kim G.

You have all seen the pics and when you visit in person, it is just as gorgeous! Especially in a clear day. Mount Hood stands tall and proud with her winter coat, making a magnificent backdrop to the pristine waters of Trillium Lake. My only regret is that I lived in Portland for 22 years before visiting. I know! What the heck is wrong with me? It's about an hour and 20 minute ride from downtown Portland. Once you get off I-84, the scenery along the way is beautiful as you make your way out of the denser populated areas, through Sandy, and up the mountain. There are several spots where Mt. Hood reveals herself and you can safely pull over to snap an amazing shot. Signs to Trillium Lake are well marked, just follow the, When you get to Trillium Lake, there are several different areas to park. i chose to park in the Dam area as this is where you get the money shot! In addition to the small parking lot that fills up by 11am, you can park along the driveway. People come and go all the time so spaces free up. Wherever you park, walk to the kiosk and fill out and pay the required day pass. Put $10 in the envelope and drop box, and the receipt on your dash. They absolutely patrol and ticket. The $10 car fee is well worth it! From the dam, the most magnificent view awakes! Literally, breathtaking. I loved watching various people approach and immediately smile and stand in awe. It's as beautiful as the pics you have seen! Lots of people kayaking, fishing, playing in the water or just sitting and picnicking along the bank. The water is calm and clear, but cold! There is a kayak kiosk to the right of the dam area and they rent by the hour 7 days a week during the summer, one or two people kayaks. There is a 2 mile trail along the river with different yet equally spectacular views from many vantage points. The trail is flat and easy to follow, most anyone can handle the trail and you can go as far as you want. Views ofthe lake on one side and lots of picnic tables and camp sites on the other side for the entire way around. Facing the mountain, I started to the right and feel this is where you get the most glimpses of Mt. Hood and all the vibrant kayaks on the lake. On the other side, there is an area under construction and you can not pass. There are several bathrooms located in the parking lots but no running water so bring hand sanitizer. Already planning a trip back with friends visiting from New Jersey. We will walk the trail, go kayaking and picnic. Afterwards I'll take them to Timberline Lodge which is about 12 miles away so we will make a full day of our Mt. Hood adventure.

Gate is only open half the year but pretty all year round if you want to hike in.
Katie S.

This place is gorgeous but so crowded with tourists now... you can't even find a parking spot in the summer. Fishing is decent if its just stocked and water isn't too warm. Right now they're redoing the trail around the lake so you can't even walk all the way around. A lot of kayakers...

Stephanie J.

The Trillium Shoreline Trail is an easy 2 mile walk that circles the lake and is located in Mt Hood National Forest. There are so many different activities that you can do here, such as fish, kayak, camp and more. I personally loved the views of Mount Hood here, they were beautiful. Unfortunately the trail was under construction so we were not able to walk all the way around.

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Breathtaking views! It was very clean and all of the staff was helpful. Water was super cold, but that was part of its charm.

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Review Highlights - Trillium Lake

“Trillium Lake (Oregon), with Mount Hood as a stunning backdrop, is one of the most popular destinations in Mt.”

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Horsethief Lake State Park - Horsethief Butte - from the top

Horsethief Lake State Park

4.4(12 reviews)
39.3 mi

With Horsethief Butte as the scenic backdrop, this lake is a relaxing spot for fishing & kayaking…read more Equipped with bathrooms & showers, a popular place for camping & RV sleepovers. Not naturally formed, flooded into existence by the Dalles Dam. Without a natural circulation of water, the summer creates toxic algae harmful to humans and fish. Warning signs are posted. A petroglyph trail is a highlight for all; in depth tour guide available by reservation. Boat launch access to the Columbia River.

Part of Columbia Hills State Park in the Columbia Gorge, Horsethief Lake offers a beautiful and…read moreserene setting for camping, fishing and exploring. There is an RV camping area and a Teepee for tent campers with a nice shady area and easy access into the lake, where people swim in warmer weather. Plus there is a trail through Horesthief Butte with views of Mt. Hood and snow on the surrounding cliffs depending on the time of year. The park is also the new home of dozens of Petroglyphs, images etched into rock surfaces. Many of the petroglyphs are from the now submerged Petroglyph Cannon. Recovered in 1956-1957, they been placed along a protected walking path in front of the butte For easy viewing. There are several placards describing these carvings which are sacred to the local Native Americans and were moved to this open display "for the benefit of all people as a tribute to all living and non-living things." There is a hiking trail through Horsethief Butte, which I did not do. The Butte is the backdrop to these ancient works of art and storytelling so even if you are here to hike or fish or camp, do stop and view the petroglyphs, an important part of local history. The lake itself is quite lovely, very still and it borders the Columbia River with a train track in between. Trains do go by often so for campers this may be annoying; but for a day visitor, it didn't bother me at all. I found the setting tranquil and picturesque and will definitely come back.

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Horsethief Lake State Park - Horsethief Butte

Horsethief Butte

Horsethief Lake State Park
Horsethief Lake State Park - Beautiful ;)

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Beautiful ;)

Rainbow Trout Farm - beautiful rainbow trout. you will keep all fish you keep in the bucket of shallow water until you are ready for them to be handled

Rainbow Trout Farm

4.0(91 reviews)
19.7 mi

Family friendly | lots of fun guaranteed…read more Our 6 yr old daughter has been into fishing since she was 2 yrs old. She started off with a Fisher Price fishing kit and then was given a real set of her own. We took her to places like Bishop, Leavenworth, Clear Lake and Lost Lake, and other camping spots to practice her casting, but yesterday was her first time catching REAL trout! This may be the highlight of the summer for her. Easy to navigate finding this trout farm. There are signs everywhere in what seems like a residential place. We were greeted by this friendly woman who gave us fishing rods, some worms, a bucket with some water, and a net. She told us that ponds 1 & 2 have smaller fish, ponds 3-5 have medium to big fish, and the pond further in the back has the biggest fish. They were restocking ponds 4 & 5 when we arrived on a Tuesday. This is an excellent place to take your kids and for everyone to learn how to fish. We were told by friends and family we were guaranteed to catch fish here, so we expected to easily get our first one within an hour of arriving, but we ended up spending a couple of hours here first before catching our first one. We learned a lot! Everyone was catching fish all around us, so we stepped up our luring game and bought a small jar of power bait. We even put a worm with the power bait and that's when we started catching fish. I did see some folks catch with just a worm on their hook, and there were some others with power bait. My kid was so excited to catch her first fish. It's exciting to feel the fish fight back when you reel them in. We caught 3 trout at pond 5. There are benches to sit on. Lots of trees for some shade. Two 13" and one 14" rainbow trout is what we walked away with. The man at the cleaning station was friendly and did everything for us. All we had to do is show up and have fun at this place. Two portable potties in the parking lot and flushing toilets near the cleaning station. In the women's restroom there is a smaller toilet for the kids next to an adult toilet. I thought that was very accommodating. Vending machines for drinks and snacks.

Not what it used to be , i have been coming with my grandpa since I was 3 years old and i am almost…read more30. I took my grandpa back for the 1st time in many years and unfortunately the owner I'm assuming older gentlemen. was incredibly rude to my grandpa for absolutely no reason , has a terrible attitude and made the experience awful after all this time we well no longer be returning or bringing our children and will find a new place to make these memories.

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Rainbow Trout Farm
Rainbow Trout Farm
Rainbow Trout Farm

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Trillium Lake - lakes - Updated November 2026

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