Trillium Lake
Trillium Lake
4.5
About
Against the majestic Mount Hood and surrounded by a sea of pine trees is the quiet Trillium Lake. Less than two hours' drive from Portland, this lake is the perfect outdoor getaway. Here, you can camp overnight at the campground, go kayaking and fishing, and hike along the multiple trails available in the area—all while enjoying stunning views of Mount Hood. Snap a picture at the boat launch for an iconic shot of the mountain being reflected into the calm waters of the lake. It's often a stop along a day tour to Mount Hood, along with Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls. – Tripadvisor
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  • TOURtheWORLDMexPal
    United States3,098 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not to be missed
    This lack is perfect spot for camping, the campground is well designed. Perfect for families with kids to enjoy water sports. To walk around the lack, flats easy walk, it is 2 miles loop. Perfect for easy hike. Most of the path paved or board walk in muddy areas. Just beautiful and serene area. Admission fee $10 per car for day pass. Not sure about the campground overnight. I guess $26!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 3, 2024
  • Lee M
    41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful & Picturesque
    We visited on a Friday midday, renting a tandem kayak ($35) 11:30am-12:30pm. (Ideally, earlier would have been better — it got very busy by the time we were finished and parking was almost non-existent.) The lake and peaceful paddle were amazing! We saw a lot of dogs on SUP, which was fun. This is a great spot for scenic walks, picnics … or take a book and just relax, Mt Hood is majestic rising above the tree line.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 27, 2024
  • Have Camera, Will Travel
    South Bend, Indiana3,688 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cloudy, with a chance of no mountain view.
    No awesome view for us, but it was still a nice little stop. The lake is a short walk from the parking area and there are a few covered pavilions that we walked past. we went out on the docks for a bit and took some pictures of the clouds where Mt. Hood was hiding. It just odd to know it is out there, but with the clouds, there is nothing that even suggests it's there. Hopefully you have better luck. We knew we probably wouldn't be seeing it as we stayed at the Timberline the night before and could barely see the lodge, let alone the mountain it was on.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 1, 2024
  • nowpacking
    Dallas, Texas3,783 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    STUNNING
    Absolutely the most gorgeous shots of beautiful Trillium Lake with Mount Hood! Go early in the morning and try for some reflection shots, then walk the two mile loop around the lake and photograph until you think you have enough! Well worth the $10 fee even if that’s all the time you have!
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 19, 2024
  • southerncaligirl72
    California793 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful views!
    So glad we came here after visiting Mount Hood. There is a $8 charge to enter but well worth it! Absolutely breathtaking view. We took a nice little hike around the lake. Enjoyed watching the people kayaking and fishing. So peaceful to just sit at the edge of he water looking towards the mountains. Nice place to have a picnic. A must see for sure!
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 7, 2024
  • Sara G.
    Saint Louis, Missouri722 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Perfect Hike
    Trillium Lake's 2-mile loop hike offers a perfect blend of serenity and stunning views. The trail is easy and well-maintained, making it accessible for all levels. The highlight, without a doubt, is the serene reflection of Mount Hood on the lake. It almost looks fake. Whether you're walking through the tall trees or along the peaceful shoreline, this hike is perfect. It's a great spot to take your time, breathe in the fresh air, and simply enjoy nature’s tranquility.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written September 11, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles467 reviews
Excellent
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97
Average
22
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3
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Linda D
Saint Louis, MO22 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Family
Very small lake for kayaking. We went on a Saturday morning and it’s very busy. Few parking spots but we got one. Kayak rental people were super nice and helpful but you can kayak around this lake in a half hour. Not worth $30/kayak x 4 people. Lots of people fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding. No loud music like other reviewers mention. Would recommend just the hike. $10 parking can be paid with cash or check. Bring exact change as today it was just the honor system.
Written June 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

keakealani
Orlando, FL69 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Couples
Get there early for parking - especially on weekends! Nice short, level hike around the lake with gorgeous views of Mount Hood on a clear day. Some of the boardwalk is in need of repair and with the water level high part of it dips into the lake for a short distance. Just be careful and watch where you step. No one pays attention to the ‘closed’ signs 😊. Lots of people there on the weekend fishing and boating and hiking. No motorized boats allowed which is great so you can enjoy nature’s sounds!
Written June 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

The_Wanderer1992
Columbia, MD2,542 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
As my husband and I were traveling around Mount Hood National Forest, we ran into this lake. This is a calm lake with a gorgeous view of Mount Hood reflected into it. I was completely mesmerized by the view. It was an early Friday morning, so it was still quiet with hardly any people. It was peaceful and a perfect place to relax. To leave the area of the lake, the GPS led us down a very bumpy, 5-25 mph road.
Written September 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lee M
41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
We visited on a Friday midday, renting a tandem kayak ($35) 11:30am-12:30pm. (Ideally, earlier would have been better — it got very busy by the time we were finished and parking was almost non-existent.) The lake and peaceful paddle were amazing! We saw a lot of dogs on SUP, which was fun. This is a great spot for scenic walks, picnics … or take a book and just relax, Mt Hood is majestic rising above the tree line.
Written July 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ndantonio
New York City, NY306 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
We went on our own without a tour. THe lake is situated beautifully at the base of Mt. Hood and has spectacular views and nice clear water. We were there on a sunny, July 3rd day. The parking area was overcrowded and there were many people unloading and pumping up their SUPs and kayaks in the parking lot so that made things a bit tricky for drivers in addition to all the cars vying for parking spots. There was one stinky porta potty with a very long line and as we hiked around the lake, every picnic spot and possible place to sit by the water was taken. There is also a Kayak rental along the trail. We hiked the perimeter of the lake and it was quite nice. The BOARDWALK HAS BEEN REPLACED and you can walk on it although the trail specifies that it's closed for repair. The signs and trail blazes could have been better but we had a nice relaxed hike. You can't see the volcano on most of the trail because it's wooded, but the trees and wildflowers were nice and the trail is mostly flat.
Written July 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gwen W
Murfreesboro, TN2,057 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Couples
We had such a wonderful and beautiful visit to Trillium Lake today with our family. We loved every minute of hiking the trail and smelling the beautiful forest. The trails were kept clean and there wasn’t any trash around either. The lake was absolutely pristine. We even got to see the lake being restocked with fish for the fisherman who were at the ready with their poles and equipment. So were the bald eagles! It was absolutely beautiful and we have great memories!
Written September 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeremy V
Sioux Falls, SD84 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
I don’t know if I have seen very many vistas that are more beautiful than the view of Mt. Hood we took in on a beautiful July day. I’m sure it’s not always calm and a perfect temperature like it was when we visited. We enjoyed a hike through the trees and over the dam. Many people had brought their own paddle boards or kayaks, and there were families fishing and swimming. We were disappointed that at 10 am the kayak rental wasn’t available, but to be fair it was a weekday. I have a new favorite peak in the Pacific Northwest after staring at the still somewhat snowy Mt. Hood in her reflection on Trillium Lake. The only thing that would have been better would have been to find some actual trillium flowers to enjoy.
Written July 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

nowpacking
Dallas, TX3,783 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
Absolutely the most gorgeous shots of beautiful Trillium Lake with Mount Hood!
Go early in the morning and try for some reflection shots, then walk the two mile loop around the lake and photograph until you think you have enough! Well worth the $10 fee even if that’s all the time you have!
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cathy C
Inver Grove Heights, MN333 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
I'm so happy I did my research so I knew about this turn off. We took it and had to pay $10 upon entering (our National Parks Pass didn't apply evidently, but would've if we were camping - what??), but it was well worth it. There were limited parking spots, but we did find one and got out to hike around the immediate area. We were drawn to the view of Mt Hood. INCREDIBLE!!! We got our Christmas card pic and will also be mounting it for our wall. Highly recommend.
Written October 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

montanaJIm
Missoula, MT2,333 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Wonderful place to visit to and catch the reflection of Mt. Hood. There is a walking trail around the lake, which is closed at certain point right now. You can drive right to this spot at the boat launch to capture the reflection. There are picnic tables in the day use area.
Written October 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Trillium Lake - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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