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Mirror Lake Loop
By Kelsey Samsel | Hiking
One of the most popular places to take the perfect photo of Mt. Hood is Mirror Lake. If you are staying at Whispering Woods Resort, hop in your car and drive 15 minutes up the road to the trailhead.
Mirror Lake is part of the Mt. Hood National Forest so before you leave, visit the front desk to purchase a $5 forest pass.
If you aren’t paying attention, you might miss the parking lot as it is very small. If you do happen to miss it, it will take you about 10 minutes to turn around, drive back down the mountain a bit and come back.
The hike is only about 3 miles round-trip and it’s classified as easy but be prepared for a few steep switchbacks on the way up.
Once you get up to the lake, there will be a sign that says to go left for the Lake Loop or to continue straight up to Tom Dick & Harry Mountain.
If you are planning to hike up to Tom Dick & Harry Mountain, make sure you have time to walk the Mirror Lake Loop before or after to get some really beautiful views of the mountain. It truly does look like a mirror of the mountain on the water.
If you want to swim or sit by the water, walk around to the other side of the lake where there’s a small beach with rocks. It’s the least mushy area to walk in. You may even see some crawdads!
On the way to the other side, you will walk over a path covered in wood that’s surrounded by beautiful flowers and another great view of Mt. Hood.
Type of Trail: Loop out and backLength: About 3 MilesDifficulty: In between easy & moderate, family-friendlyElevation Gain: 780 ft. – Trail is 4,100 at the high point
Extra Details: If you are feeling ambitious, continue up the trail to Tom, Dick & Harry Mountain. This trail is more difficult and not as family-friendly. There are also a few primitive campsites just above Mirror Lake
The trail is dog-friendly (on a leash) and bring bags for waste disposal.
You need a Forest Pass for this hike. Grab one from the Front Desk of Whispering Woods Resort or at different local location. This page will help you if you don’t know where to look.
After hiking, head back towards Welches to get a bite to eat. Some local options are: