Burnt Lake is one of those cases where the name doesn’t at all capture the essence of the place. Looking out at the lush lake with Mount Hood views, I’d never think to call it “Burnt Lake.”
In today’s post, I’ll share the highlights of hiking the Burnt Lake Trail, the origin of its curious name, and everything you need to know to hike it yourself.
How Long is the Burnt Lake Trail?
The Burnt Lake Trail is 7.7 miles. It starts in a mossy conifer forest and ends at a mountain lake with Mount Hood views behind it. After circling around the lake, you return the way you came. Make sure to take the trail around the lake, because that’s where the great views come in! Here is the trail entry on AllTrails so you can find the trail map and recent trip reports easily.
Burnt Lake Trail in a Nutshell
The Burnt Lake Trail (#772) starts out relatively flat and becomes quite a bit steeper as it gains elevation on the approach to the lake. The plants change as the elevation increases. The differing microclimates increase your chances of seeing wildflowers somewhere along the trail.
The photos included in this post are from early July. A few wild rhododendrons were blooming (the first time we’d seen wild rhododendrons in bloom!). I thought this was particularly fitting since the closest town to Burnt Lake is Rhododendron, Oregon. We also saw beargrass and penstemon wildflowers on the Burnt Lake trail.
The views of Mount Hood behind Burnt Lake are the highlight from my perspective, but there’s also an optional detour to a waterfall that I’d highly recommend. We checked it out on the way back down the trail. As you can see in the photo below, it’s a quintessential Pacific Northwest mossy waterfall.
That’s one of the great things about this hike—it’s a good fit for people who like lush forests and for people who like mountains. Bryan’s definitely a forest-first hiker, so I usually hear about it if a hike doesn’t have enough trees!
Since the Burnt Lake trail is in the mountains, check weather conditions before you go. I’d recommend hiking it in summer to avoid snow.
We didn’t notice bugs very much until we stopped to eat lunch…and then they descended. They seemed to mostly go for Bryan instead of me, so I didn’t actually get any bites. I wouldn’t say the bugs are a major deterrent, but something to be aware of.
Why Is It Called Burnt Lake?
According to Portland History, the fire that gives Burnt Lake its name happened in the early 1900s. A rancher started the fire intentionally to burn brush, but it got out of control and burned through the surrounding forest. The Portland History link provides a fascinating look into the story, including excerpts from historical newspaper articles and oral histories. There are actually a couple of accounts of wildfires at Burnt Lake, one in 1904 and the other in 1906. There’s some speculation that they could have been the same fire, the date confused over the intervening years.
Burnt Lake Trailhead and Parking
The Burnt Lake Trail is in the Mount Hood Wilderness, about an hour and 15 minutes by car from Portland. There are some great Mount Hood views even on the drive to the trailhead!
You’ll need a recreation pass to park at the trailhead (a Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful Pass). There were a lot of cars parked at the trailhead on the day we hiked, but the trail didn’t seem crowded.
Other Lakes with Mount Hood Views
If you enjoy the Burnt Lake trail, you may also enjoy these other three lakes with Mount Hood views. Likely due to the longer hike, Burnt Lake is typically less busy than the others. Click the links to view our blog posts on these other mountain lakes.
Mirror Lake
This hike is shorter than the Burnt Lake trail, but the hike follows a similar pattern (an out-and-back hike that includes a loop around a lake with Mount Hood views). Check out our Mirror Lake blog post.
Lost Lake
Lost Lake is accessible by car, so boating is a popular way to experience it. The Lost Lake Resort has rowboats, kayaks, and paddle boards available for rent. While it’s busy near the boat launch, once you’ve paddled out into the lake, 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. There’s also a 3-mile hiking trail that encircles the lake if you’d prefer to hike instead. Check out our Lost 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 trail (2 miles in this case), or you can rent a boat and paddle out onto the lake.
Other Adventures
Thanks for joining us on the Burnt Lake trail! 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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