For the second part of our day in the Mt. Hood vicinity (West Fork Falls was our morning excursion), my wife and I dropped down to Trillium Lake and picnicked in the day-use area. People should note that the Trillium Lake area, like Lost Lake, is managed by a concessionaire and the Northwest Forest Pass does not apply. The price of admission is $5, or you will get a ticket.
To do the loop hike around the lake, just head to the shore. We went left along the path. While the West Fork Falls trail probably sees only a few people a year, even though it is so close to civilization, Trillium Lake draws them in by the hundreds every day. Campers, tots on tricycles, paddle boarders, swimmers, barbecuers, and picnickers in boutique blouses, jeggings, and high heels - they’re all there enjoying the great outdoors. Despite this, the far shore is relatively peaceful and definitely worth the amble.
We went left on the trail and crossed below the causeway on the dam wall. These mallards took some time off for preening before begging for more snacks:
Trillium Lake dams Mud Creek. The area used to be an open marsh and in the 1860s a log road was built across it to form part of the Barlow Road on the Oregon Trail. No sign exists of that now, but there is a pioneer gravesite up near Summit Meadows. The trail alternates between shady stretches in the woods and boardwalks across sedge bogs and red-cedar/skunk-cabbage bottoms:
The north side of the lake runs into the bogs that form the headwaters of Mud Creek. Here are some boggy plants (in order): long-spurred bog orchid, marsh burnet, narrow-leaved cotton-grass, marsh cinquefoil, western water-hemlock
Soon you get around to the crowded area again, passing the campground, boat launches (no motor boats), and back to the day-use area. Here’s the Please Come and Vacation in Beautiful Oregon shot:
It’s a two-mile stroll around the lake. I often ski in this area in the winter, but it’s only the second time I’ve done this walk. The first was with two young children many years ago and we had a blast, so it’s a commendable diversion for young children, visitors, and people who like to barbecue with a view.
