As our kayak bobbed gently on the water, we turned to the view of Mount Hood across Lost Lake. The mountain loomed so large it seemed to spring from the lake itself. The August sun threw shimmering lights across the lake’s surface. It was a hot day, but out here the lake kept us cool—especially since the lake water drifted in and out of our open kayak.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Bryan approaching in his white-and-red rowboat. Kel and I turned our kayak slowly to greet him. She was visiting from across the country, and today there was no more peaceful way to catch up than paddling across this mountain lake with its intriguing name: Lost Lake.
In today’s post, I’ll share the highlights of boating at Lost Lake in Oregon, including everything you need to know about getting there, parking, boat rentals, and lodging.
Why is it Called Lost Lake?
Per the US Forest Service, the Native American name for Lost Lake, Oregon was “Kwoneksamach,” which translates to “Unknown.” Unknown and Lost may seem similar as lake names go, but the origin of the names is different.
The name “Lost Lake” came into use when a group set out to find the lake in 1880, using a map that had been made several years before. When they couldn’t find it easily, the group claimed the lake was lost (mapped incorrectly)…it wasn’t that they had navigated poorly!
Despite modern GPS navigation, some people still get lost looking for Lost Lake. The reason: there are actually two well-known lakes in Oregon called Lost Lake.
The other Lost Lake in Oregon is near the town of Sisters in central Oregon. They’re definitely both worth a visit. The one in Sisters actually disappears every spring as the winter rains stop, and it’s not because the water evaporates. It actually drains into the lava rock below…through a 7-foot hole. It’s like a freshwater Thor’s Well.
Lost Lake (Mount Hood) in a Nutshell
Unlike some of the other lakes with great Mount Hood views, the Lost Lake near Mount Hood is directly accessible by car (some of the others are accessed by hiking trails only). Lost Lake’s accessibility makes it a particularly popular place for families.
We typically look for solitude when getting out into nature. If that’s the case for you as well, it may be a bit of a shock to arrive at this remote, “lost” lake only to find it’s packed with visitors. The sounds of children laughing and playing float over the water. The lakeshore is filled with brightly colored flotation devices. At first it seems a bit like a strange melding of a mountain lake and a waterpark.
But I’d encourage you to look past the initial crowd factor, because once you get away from the hub of activity (particularly near the boat rental and general store), it’s very peaceful to bob up and down on the water and take in the views of the giant mountain rising behind the lake. Like most places, once you paddle, row, or walk away from the beginning, it gets much quieter.
Recreation and lodging at the lake are managed by the Lost Lake Resort. Regardless of whether you’re staying at the Lost Lake Resort’s campground, cabins, or lodge, you’re welcome to rent rowboats, kayaks, and paddleboards to take out on the lake.
If you’d prefer to see Lost Lake on foot, there’s a 3-mile hiking trail that encircles the lake.
Boating at Lost Lake in Oregon
Hiking is our go-to way to get out into nature, but since boat rentals are available here, we decided to give boating at Lost Lake a try. Kel and I rented a double kayak, and Bryan got a rowboat rental.
We ended up quite grateful that Bryan chose a rowboat, because we soon realized our bags would get soaked in our open kayak. If you’ll be taking anything out on the lake that you’d rather not get wet, I’d recommend storing it in the driest boat (in our case, the rowboat).
It isn’t possible to reserve boat rentals in advance, so I figured there might not be any available by the time we arrived. But despite the place being packed and arriving on a weekend afternoon in peak season, there were lots of boats available to rent. After completing paperwork in the general store and taking a copy of the paperwork to a kiosk at the dock, we were given life jackets, paddles, and oars, and we were off!
We set out for the far side of the lake, where the views of Mount Hood are best and the crowds rapidly recede. I’ve heard that sometimes you can see a reflection of Mount Hood in Lost Lake, but the reflection wasn’t visible on the day we went. It was likely too breezy, which can make the surface choppier and blur the reflection.
If you’d like to rent a boat at Lost Lake, head to the Lost Lake Boat Rental Dock near the North Day Use Area. If you take your own boat from home, you can instead use the public boat launch near the South Day Use Area. Motorized boats aren’t allowed, so you’ll need to bring something like a kayak, canoe, or rowboat.
Lost Lake Resort
We took a day trip from Portland to visit Lost Lake, but since it’s a bit of a drive, it’s popular to make a weekend of it and stay on site at the Lost Lake Resort. The Lost Lake Resort has several lodging options depending on your comfort and price requirements:
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Tent campsites
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Horse campsites
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RV & camper campsites
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Yurts (bunk beds only)
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“Glamping” yurts (full bed, wood-burning stove, and decorations)
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Cabins
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Lodge rooms
Photos and price ranges for each lodging type are available on the Lost Lake Resort website here:
Directions, Fees, and Parking for Lost Lake, Oregon
Lost Lake is in the Mount Hood National Forest, about a 2-hour drive from Portland. Most of the drive follows the scenic Columbia River Gorge and Hood River valley. We made the drive a little longer by stopping along the way to enjoy the views from Vista House and along the Historic Columbia River Highway’s Waterfall Corridor.
We went on a Sunday afternoon in the summer, and Lost Lake was packed. I wondered if we’d find parking, but luckily a staff member directed us to parallel park along the side of the road leading to the day use area.
The Lost Lake, Oregon day-use fee is $11 in 2022. Since it’s privately operated, the annual passes that are often accepted elsewhere (e.g. the Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass, or Oregon State Parks pass) aren’t accepted there.
Boat rentals are on the pricey side, and there are two-hour minimums during the summer. The best way to conserve costs is to consolidate your group into fewer boats (e.g. rent a double kayak for two people instead of two single kayaks). Here is the boat rental page, for full details on current pricing and rules.
If a day at Lost Lake sounds like too much driving, congestion, or boat rental fees, check out our video tour below for a virtual day at the lake!
Video tour of Lost Lake in Oregon
Other Lakes with Mount Hood Views
If you enjoy Lost Lake, Oregon, you may also enjoy these other two lakes with Mount Hood views. These lakes don’t have boat rentals because you need to hike in a few miles to reach them. Click the links to view our blog posts of these other mountain lakes.
Mirror Lake
This 4.2-mile lollipop loop hike travels out to Mirror Lake, loops around the lake, and returns the same way. The lake has great views of Mount Hood. Check out our blog post on Mirror Lake.
Burnt Lake
This hike is a little longer (7.7 miles) and also features a great view of Mount Hood behind a beautiful mountain lake. The name “Burnt Lake” may not sound as romantic as “Mirror Lake” or “Lost Lake,” but the forest isn’t actually burned at all. The fire that gave the lake its name happened more than a hundred years ago. To learn more about Burnt Lake, check out our Burnt Lake blog post here.
Trillium Lake
We haven’t actually been to Trillium Lake yet, but it’s coming up soon! Trillium Lake is similar to Lost Lake in that there’s a short hiking trail (2 miles in this case), or you can rent a boat and paddle out onto the lake.
More Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
Thanks for joining us at Lost Lake in Oregon! For more travel ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!
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