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Trillium Lake

4.5 (98 reviews)

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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.

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!

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

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!

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.

Atul S.

Incredible views and best place to relax with family. $5 day use entrance fees but worth it. One of the best view of lake and mountains together ever I have seen. Reflecting mt hood in lake creates all time favorite picture. Fishing , paddling, kayaking and bbq on the side - all can be done while enjoying beauty. Must visit place for sure.

Flory W.

Whenever we visit my son, at Gov. Camp, we take the kids here, day or night. The first night, we went to see the sunset. I thought, if I wasn't having shingles at the moment, the ride would have been pleasant, not very pleasant for me with all the bumps and dust. The view, was magnificent, afterall that!

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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.

Lovely piece of the Gorge. We've stopped by the lake portion and checked out the Petroglyphs before…read morewhile passing through, as well as briefly jumping onto a trail at the Butte. This weekend we got around to investing more time in the trails of Butte and it was pretty fun. The trails don't allow for a complete loop around the rock, as there's a block for restoration on the east side. But you can wander most of the way around the water side...up and around the rocks is really where's it at though. There are 3 access points to the top from the trails, and the bouldering up is loads of fun. Once atop you can roam all about and enjoy fabulous views from every angle. While the remainder of the trails at Butte are average, we found it pretty entertaining to climb around the rock portion. There's a decent amount of parking...Discover Pass required...as well at a vault toilet at the trailhead.

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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

4.1(87 reviews)
19.7 mi

I LOVE coming here! I first tried out this place a little more than a year ago, with aspirations of…read morestarting a new hobby. I then tried to fish for trout out in nature but due to my track record and queasiness of what to do after I catch, I just end up continuing to come here!! The staff has ALWAYS been extremely helpful for me when I have issues removing a hook, or any questions I may have. They even give advice and show you how to do XYZ. You can bring your own gear, or use theirs for free! No license required since it is a farm. You will pay based on inches of the fish, and they will gut it and cut it and you will be on your way to a delicious dinner!!

We visited this farm recently and unfortunately had a very negative experience. The staff we…read moreinteracted with were unfriendly and spoke to us in a harsh and unprofessional manner. We were told that if the roots of the fish became tangled, they would not replace them, and we were advised to bring our own equipment in a way that felt unnecessarily aggressive. The interaction was uncomfortable, even for the children with us. Based on our experience, we would not recommend this place. "We've visited this fish farm many times, but this visit was extremely upsetting. The staff refused to give us the equipment we needed and spoke to us in a harsh, unprofessional way. When the owner came over, he was aggressive, told me not to speak, and asked our whole group to leave -- including our two kids (9 and 11) who were checking in with us, and even my daughter's Girl Scout group who had not spoken to him at all. He raised his voice at the children, leaving them very upset. Based on this experience, we cannot recommend this place.

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Rainbow Trout Farm - Holding our first fish

Holding our first fish

Rainbow Trout Farm
Rainbow Trout Farm - Watching the fish get cleaned

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Watching the fish get cleaned

Trillium Lake - lakes - Updated May 2026

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