Our video of the Mirror Lake hike highlights
Most summers, it seems there are a couple weeks in Portland that are swelteringly hot. Last time our usually mild weather spiked to 100 degrees, Bryan and I headed to Mount Hood for the Mirror Lake hike. It’s cooler up there on the mountain’s slope, but not too cool for a swim in Mirror Lake. Mount Hood’s enormous, snowy peak rises above the lake, and on days with little wind, the mountain’s reflection appears in the shimmering lake surface.
There’s something about wading in a cool mountain lake that provides more than a respite from a hot summer day. A summer day up on the mountain is a special retreat that always leaves me with a deep sense of peace.
In today’s post, I’ll share an overview of the Mirror Lake hike and what you need to know to do the Mirror Lake hike yourself.
Mirror Lake Hike Overview
The Mirror Lake hike is a 4.2-mile lollipop loop trail. The first part of the trail climbs steadily to get to Mirror Lake. The lake is small, so the trail then loops around the whole perimeter before returning back downhill to the trailhead.
At first, the Mirror Lake trail seems really bland. It begins as a paved track through an open conifer forest. The understory is sparse here, and the highway is visible (and audible!) through the trees.
Bryan looked critically around the unusually open forest and immediately asked, “Where are the ferns?”
This hike may not be Fern Canyon, but once you get past the initial section, it becomes increasingly wild and scenic. A number of footbridges cross small streams, and wild rhododendrons soon fill in the understory. It must be striking in the rhododendron bloom season. From the wild rhododendron discussion on Oregon Hikers, it sounds like somewhere in the May – July zone is the bloom time. Next time we’ll try going in June! The photos in this post are from August.
Near the lake, a trail junction sign marked “Mirror Lake Trail” points both ways. This is initially puzzling, but it’s just because you can walk around the lake in either direction.
Traveling counterclockwise around the lake, the trail soon enters a marsh. It’s passable (as of summer 2022), but the trail becomes narrow and somewhat overgrown. The boardwalk sinks a little with each step. We crossed it without getting our feet wet, but take care in this section, and check the Mirror Lake hike entry on AllTrails for the latest on trail conditions if you’re concerned.
Here from the marsh alongside the lake is where you’ll begin to see Mount Hood behind the lake. Many short side trails off the main loop travel right to the lake’s edge. I’d recommend taking these side trails for different views of Mount Hood (and to choose a swimming spot, if you’d like!).
From most angles, the breeze blurred the reflection of Mount Hood in the lake the day we went, but we caught a pretty good view from one of the viewpoints. Make sure to check out a few spots if you don’t see it right away!
The Mirror Lake hike shares a trailhead with the hike to Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain, a likewise popular hike that’s known for its views. The beginning of both hikes is the same, and you’ll encounter a sign marking where the Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain hike splits off.
If you do the Mirror Lake hike in summer, look out for mountain huckleberries for a tasty hiking snack. To learn more about mountain huckleberries and other edible berries you’ll likely find while hiking in the Pacific Northwest, check out our blog post on wild edible berries.
Swimming in Mirror Lake
It was about 100 degrees in Portland when we did the Mirror Lake hike, but up on the mountain we found a warm day in the 80s. The water was cold, but not too cold for swimming on a hot summer day. We saw several people swimming on the far side of the lake, and I waded in to cool off.
If you’re planning to go into the lake, I’d recommend packing water socks, sandals, or booties, because the mud is pretty extreme on the lake bottom.
Getting to the Mirror Lake Trailhead
The Mirror Lake trailhead parking lot is right off Highway 26. Since there’s no bumping along dirt Forest Service roads required to get to this hike, you’ll likely find it crowded. We were lucky to get the last parking spot (arriving around 11 am on a summer weekend).
The drive to the Mirror Lake trailhead from Portland is about 1 – 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. As you approach it, you’ll start to catch great views of Mount Hood. Even the parking lot has a good view, with Mount Hood rising from behind the trees.
Parking passes accepted at the Mirror Lake trailhead are the Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful pass.
Hikes Similar to Mirror Lake
If you enjoy the Mirror Lake hike, I’d recommend the Burnt Lake hike as well. It’s longer and more remote, and it also features a great view of Mount Hood behind a mountain lake. The name “Burnt Lake” may not sound as romantic as “Mirror Lake,” but the forest isn’t actually burned at all. The fire that gives the lake its name happened more than a hundred years ago.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
Thanks for joining us on the Mirror Lake hike! For more adventure 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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