Mirror Lake on Mt. Hood reflecting the snow-covered summit on a clear summer day in the Mt. Hood National Forest

Mirror Lake Trailhead, Mt. Hood

A 4.3-mile lollipop loop to a glacial cirque lake with postcard views of Mt. Hood reflecting in the water on calm days. The trail is just off Highway 26 next to Skibowl West, which means it gets crowded on summer weekends, but it’s worth the early start.

11 min read Updated May 2026 Trail #664 · Mt. Hood NF

Mirror Lake Trail Quick Stats

Trail NameMirror Lake #664

Round Trip4.3 mi

Elevation Gain~550 ft

Total Time~2 hr

DifficultyModerate

Trail Rating4.7★ (8,679)

Best SeasonJun-Oct

Lake Loop~0.4 mi

DogsLeashed

Parking Fee$5/day*

Mirror Lake is one of the most popular short hikes on Mt. Hood, and for one specific reason: on a calm, clear day, Mt. Hood’s south face reflects almost perfectly in the lake. It’s one of the most photographed views on the mountain, and the trail is short enough to be doable in half a day. The trail is officially Trail #664 in Mt. Hood National Forest, runs 4.3 miles round trip with 550 feet of elevation gain, and ends at a small glacial cirque lake fed by snowmelt and springs from the ridges above.

The trailhead opened in fall 2018 on a new alignment that added about a mile of trail and 10 helicopter-airlifted footbridges, replacing an awkward old route that started with a walk along the shoulder of Highway 26. The new trail is wider, gentler, and starts in a real parking lot with bathrooms next door to Skibowl West. It is also a fee area: a $5 day-use pass, Northwest Forest Pass, or America the Beautiful pass is required May 1 through October 31. Winter hikers need an Oregon Sno-Park Permit instead. This guide covers the route mile by mile, the optional climb to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain for a full Cascade-range view, the camping situation, and the surprising number of things to do at Skibowl right next door if you’ve still got energy after the hike.

The story behind the lake

A glacial cirque carved into the south flank of Mt. Hood

Mirror Lake is a textbook glacial cirque: an amphitheater-shaped basin scooped out of the mountainside by the slow grinding action of a glacier during the last ice age. The steep slopes rising to the south and southwest of the lake are the cirque headwall, the back wall of the basin where the ice was thickest. As the glacier retreated, it left a depression that filled with snowmelt and spring water, forming the small alpine lake you see today. Unlike Trillium Lake just down the road, Mirror Lake has no dam: it forms naturally from the geology of the basin.

The forest you walk through to get there is a mix of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, silver fir, noble fir, and western red cedar, a classic Cascade mid-elevation conifer mix. In June and early July you’ll see wild rhododendrons blooming pink in the understory. The route crosses about ten footbridges over creeks and seasonally dry gullies that drain the ridges above, including Camp Creek and Mirror Lake Creek. The whole hike is part of Mt. Hood National Forest, and the optional Tom Dick and Harry Mountain extension above the lake crosses into the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness.

Mt. Hood seen through tall conifer trees from across Mirror Lake on a clear summer day in the Mt. Hood National Forest — Mt. Hood from across Mirror Lake. The best reflection views are from the southwest corner of the loop.

The new Mirror Lake Trailhead opened in fall 2018

The original Mirror Lake Trailhead sat directly on the shoulder of US Highway 26, and the hike began with an awkward walk along the highway before the trail proper started. When ODOT widened the highway in the late 2010s, the U.S. Forest Service decommissioned the old trailhead and built a new alignment that opened in fall 2018. The new route is wider, gentler, and machine-built, with about 10 footbridges across creeks and gullies. Nine of the bridges were airlifted in by helicopter because the new section runs through terrain that is difficult to reach with vehicles. The result is roughly a mile of added distance but a much better hiking experience, with a real parking lot, restrooms, and an info kiosk where the old trailhead had only a roadside pullout.

Getting there & parking

The Mirror Lake Trailhead sits directly off Highway 26, just before Government Camp, sharing the same exit as Skibowl West. The drive from downtown Portland is approximately 54.8 miles or about 1 hour 10 minutes. The trailhead has 49 parking spaces, a paved plaza with the trail starting behind the restrooms, an information kiosk, bike racks, and a picnic table.

Mirror Lake Trailhead is at 87000 US 26, Government Camp, OR 97028.

From Portland: Take I-205 south to US-26 east. Continue east on US-26 through Sandy and Rhododendron for about 27.5 miles past Sandy. Turn right at the Skibowl West / Mirror Lake Trailhead exit, just before Government Camp.
From Government Camp: From the west end of the Government Camp Loop Road, turn right (west) onto Highway 26 and drive 0.4 miles. The Mirror Lake Trailhead Parking Area is on your left.
Parking: 49 spaces fill up quickly on summer weekends. Arrive before 9 a.m. on a Saturday in July or August, or come midweek. The Skibowl West lot next door functions as overflow parking, separated from the trailhead lot by concrete barriers.
Trailhead facilities: Pit toilets, info kiosk, bike racks, picnic table, trash receptacles. The trail starts behind the restroom building. There are no facilities at the lake itself.

Topographic map of the Mirror Lake Trail #664 area showing the route from the trailhead at Highway 26 up to Mirror Lake and the connection to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness — The Mirror Lake Trail #664 corridor, including the lake loop and the connection to Tom Dick and Harry Mountain in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness.

Walkthrough: trailhead to lake

The route is straightforward: 1.9 miles up to the lake, an optional 0.4-mile loop around the lake, then back the way you came. Here’s what to expect mile by mile.

The first 0.2 miles is paved and accessible

The opening section behind the restrooms is a paved, ADA-compliant path through six gentle switchbacks down to a footbridge over Camp Creek. Strollers, wheelchairs, and walking aids work fine to that point. The pavement ends at the bridge; from there the trail becomes wide dirt with embedded rocks and roots. If you’re hiking with a non-mobile family member, the paved section gives a real Mt. Hood forest experience without committing to the full 4.3-mile loop.

Mile 0.0 to 0.2

Down the switchbacks to Camp Creek

Behind the restroom plaza, the paved path drops through six gentle switchbacks under tall Douglas-fir and western hemlock. You’ll hear Camp Creek before you see it; the rush of water through ferns and rotting logs gets louder with every switchback. The pavement ends at a wide wooden footbridge over the creek, and most hikers stop on the bridge for a minute to look down at the water before continuing. From here, the trail surface changes to packed dirt with embedded rocks and surfacing roots.

Mile 0.2 to 1.5

The footbridge climb through the conifers

After Camp Creek, you’re on a wide, machine-built dirt trail with embedded rocks and protruding roots. Nine more footbridges take you over creeks, drainage gullies, and Mirror Lake Creek. The grade is steady but moderate. Watch for rhododendrons in the understory in late June through early July, when the pink blooms are out. Wild lilies and beargrass appear later in the summer.

View of Mirror Lake from the western shore on Mt. Hood with bright green grasses and reeds in the foreground and clear water reflecting the sky — Approaching the lake from the west side. The first lake views start to open up around mile 1.5.

Mile 1.5 to 1.9

The final climb to the lake junction

The grade picks up briefly through a few small switchbacks, and the trail intersects the old route that came up from the original Highway 26 trailhead. Stay on the new alignment, and at the lake junction you’ll have a choice: go left (clockwise) or right (counterclockwise) around the 0.4-mile lake loop. The southwest corner of the lake has the postcard Mt. Hood reflection view, so most photographers head counterclockwise to save it for last.

The lake loop

0.4 miles around Mirror Lake (with the marsh planks)

The lakeside trail is narrower than the climb up. You’ll pass a few primitive campsites and several gaps in the greenery where you can walk down to the water. The far side of the loop is where Mt. Hood lines up perfectly with the lake on calm days. Continue around the lake to the marshy section on the western shore, where unanchored wooden planks float across standing water.

Photographer’s notes

The three best photo spots at Mirror Lake

The lake’s small size means you have to know where to stand for the iconic shot. Three angles are worth the walk:

Southwest corner of the loop: the postcard angle. Mt. Hood lines up directly with the lake’s surface on calm days. Best at sunrise (the mountain catches alpenglow) and within the first 90 minutes of light. Early September after the first cold nights tends to deliver the calmest reflection days.
South shore primitive campsite area: lower angle, with reeds and shoreline grasses framing the bottom of the frame. Better in afternoon light when the conifers on the far shore go warm-green.
Northeast corner near the lake junction: the wide-angle establishing shot that shows lake, Mt. Hood, AND the Tom Dick & Harry ridge in a single frame. Hardest of the three because of tree cover; look for a small gap right where the loop trail starts.

The two enemies of the reflection shot: wind and people. A 5 mph breeze ripples the surface enough to break the reflection. Weekend afternoons in summer often have a dozen people in the water swimming. Weekday mornings before 9 a.m. are the surest path to a clean shot.

Wooden plank bridge across the marshy western shore of Mirror Lake on the Mt. Hood Trail #664 — The plank crossings on Mirror Lake’s west shore. They aren’t anchored, so they can submerge or seesaw under weight.

Heads up

Cross the marsh planks one at a time. The wooden planks across the marshy section on the lake’s west shore are not properly anchored. They can submerge into the surrounding water when you put weight on them, and a single board with weight on one end will see-saw. Cross them one person at a time, and don’t take them at speed; people fall in regularly. If you have small kids or unsteady footing, it’s fine to turn around at this section and retrace the loop the other direction.

Tom Dick & Harry Mountain extension

From the southwest corner of the lake, the trail continues up the slope and onto the ridge of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain, gaining about 1,000 feet of elevation over 1.8 miles. This section is much steeper and rougher than the lake loop, with the last 200 yards being very steep, rocky, and exposed. It’s not appropriate for young kids or anyone uncomfortable with scrambling.

The reward is one of the best Cascade panoramas in northern Oregon. From the summit ridge on a clear day, you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Jefferson all in one sweep. Mirror Lake sits below as a small blue pool surrounded by conifers. The trail enters the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, where wilderness regulations apply: no mechanized vehicles, no group sizes over 12, and Leave No Trace principles. Plan on adding 2 hours to your total time if you do this extension.

Winter recreation note: Snowshoeing is allowed on the trail, but signage is not installed for winter recreation. Route-finding and basic navigational skills are highly recommended for winter use; the trail can be hard to follow under snow. An Oregon Sno-Park Permit is required from November 1 through April 30.

Fees, permits & trail facts

Summer fees (May 1 to October 31): $5/vehicle/day OR Northwest Forest Pass ($30/year), Interagency Annual Pass, or America the Beautiful pass. Day passes are not sold at the trailhead. Buy ahead at recreation.gov or any Mt. Hood NF ranger station.
Winter fees (November 1 to April 30): Oregon Sno-Park Permit required. Buy at DMV field offices, winter resorts, sporting goods retailers, or various permit-sales agents.
Elevation gain: ~550 feet to the lake (~666 ft total per AllTrails when including the lake loop). Tom Dick and Harry adds another ~1,000 ft.
Amenities at trailhead: Pit toilets, picnic area, information kiosk, bike racks, trash receptacles. No facilities at the lake.
Open: Year-round. Snow typically covers the upper sections from late October through April.
Wilderness: The Tom Dick and Harry section enters the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. Standard wilderness regulations apply.
Bikes: Not allowed on the trail.
Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Camping at Mirror Lake

About 6 to 12 walk-in primitive campsites are scattered around the shore of Mirror Lake. Note that this is one of the most popular hikes around Mt. Hood, so finding an open campsite during peak summer weekends is far from guaranteed. The good news: most visitors hike up for a day trip and leave by evening, so by 6 or 7 p.m. on a Saturday the lake usually clears out.

Two ducks swimming on the still water of Mirror Lake on Mt. Hood with mountain reflections visible in the surface — The lake quiets down in the evening. Most day hikers are gone by 7 p.m.

There are no facilities at the lake itself: no toilets, no picnic tables, no piped water. A few rock fire pits and a makeshift bench have been built up near some of the sites. Pack everything in and pack everything out, including human waste (bury cat-holes well away from the lake or pack out with WAG bags). Mirror Lake is surrounded on three sides by mountains and is genuinely peaceful at night, with views of Mt. Hood and the Tom Dick and Harry ridge from the lakeshore.

Mirror Lake at Mt. Hood from the beach with mountains rising on three sides and conifers reflected in the still water — Mirror Lake is surrounded on three sides by mountains, with views of Mt. Hood and the Tom Dick and Harry ridge.

Bug warning: Mosquitoes are heavy at the lake from late spring through mid-summer because of the standing water and marshy west shore. Bring DEET or picaridin, and consider a head net for the worst weeks (mid-June to early July most years).

Fishing at Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake holds a small but fishable population of brook trout, cutthroat trout, and crawfish. The brookies tend to run small (8 to 9 inches) but feed actively on the surface during summer evenings, making this a fun fly-fishing spot if you’re up for hauling a rod the 1.9 miles in. Anglers report the best bite from July through early October once the water warms above 50 degrees.

The fishing window is small. Mirror Lake is shallow at the shoreline (about 2-3 feet deep until you wade out roughly 40 feet) and the surrounding trees and reeds limit backcasting space, so an ultralight spinning setup or short fly rod (7 to 8 feet) works best. Waders help if you want more casting room. An Oregon fishing license is required; check current regulations on the Oregon Tails fishing map and guide. As with any wilderness lake, practice catch-and-release, pack out all line and tackle, and don’t gut fish in or near the water.

Wildlife at Mirror Lake

Beyond the fish and crawfish, the lake and the surrounding forest support a steady cast of Cascade wildlife. What you’ll likely see, in rough order of frequency:

Ducks and waterfowl: most often mallards and the occasional bufflehead. They’ll be the small dark shapes paddling across the lake’s surface in the early morning.
Steller’s jays: bright blue, loud, and bold. They’ll show up at any campsite with food.
Red-tailed hawks and bald eagles: visible overhead, especially near the Tom Dick & Harry ridge.
Black-tailed deer: most common at dawn and dusk, browsing in the meadows just below the lake.
Mosquitoes: the dominant lifeform from mid-June through mid-July. Bring DEET or picaridin.
Black bears: present in the broader Mt. Hood NF but rarely seen on this trail. Hang food at camp anyway.

What to pack

Mirror Lake is a short, well-marked trail, but it’s still 4,000 feet up Mt. Hood. Weather can change fast. The basics:

Hiking shoes or trail runners The trail surface has roots, embedded rocks, and footbridge boards that are slippery when wet. Trail runners or low-cut hiking shoes with grippy soles handle it; flip-flops absolutely will not. Footwear picks → Layers (Mt. Hood weather) It’s typically 10 to 15 degrees cooler at the lake than it is in Government Camp parking lot, with a chance of rain even in summer. A fleece plus a packable rain shell covers most days. Apparel picks → 1-2 liters of water There’s no potable water on the trail or at the lake. A 1-liter bottle is enough for most adults, but bring 2 if you’re doing the Tom Dick and Harry extension or hiking on a hot day. Hydration picks → Bug spray (DEET or picaridin) Mosquitoes are aggressive at the lake from mid-June through July. A small bottle of repellent will save your evening if you plan to swim, picnic, or camp. Safety gear → Daypack (15 to 25L) A small daypack is plenty for the lake hike. If you’re adding Tom Dick and Harry or doing an overnight, size up to 30 to 50 liters with a hip belt for the extra water and gear. Daypack picks → Camera or phone with wide lens The Mt. Hood reflection from the southwest corner of the lake is the photo. A phone in HDR mode handles it; for better results, a 24mm to 35mm equivalent lens captures both the reflection and the surrounding ridge in one frame. Camera gear → Microspikes (Oct – May) From late October through April the upper sections can be packed snow or ice; microspikes turn an unsafe scramble into a normal hike. They weigh about 12 oz and pack into a daypack pocket. Trekking poles help too. Safety gear →

Things to do nearby (Skibowl)

If you’re passing through Government Camp or looking for things to do after your Mirror Lake hike, head right next door to Mt. Hood Skibowl. Skibowl shares the Mirror Lake Trailhead exit and is the closest mountain resort to Portland. Its terrain covers 960 acres with 69 different runs, plus a substantial summer adventure park.

Cosmic Tubing at Mt. Hood Skibowl with colorful lights illuminating snow tubing lanes and fireworks in the night sky — Cosmic Tubing

Skiers at Mt. Hood Skibowl in winter with snow-covered evergreen trees and a Lower Bowl trail sign visible — Skiing

Riding the Alpine Slide at Mt. Hood Skibowl in summer with the snow-capped Mt. Hood summit visible in the distance — Alpine Slide

Skibowl runs a real range of activities across all four seasons. In winter, that’s night skiing, Cosmic Tubing (snow tubing under colored lights with a DJ), and luxury lodging. In summer, the slopes turn into an adventure park with the Alpine Slide, zip line, and go-karts, plus mountain biking and disc golf. It’s a natural pairing with a Mirror Lake hike: park once, hike the lake, and walk over to Skibowl for the afternoon.

For more in the area, check our guide to fun day trips from Portland with tips on Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, and other quick weekend escapes.

More hikes near Mt. Hood

Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge have some of the best day hikes in Oregon. If you finish Mirror Lake before lunchtime and want more, here are some natural pairings.

Hub · All gorge hikes

Columbia River Gorge Hikes

Browse the full Oregon Tails collection of Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood area hikes, from short waterfall walks to long Wahkeena and Eagle Creek loops.

Statewide guide

Best Oregon Waterfall Hikes

Oregon Tails’ complete guide to the best waterfall hikes in the state, from Multnomah Falls in the gorge to hidden cascades in the Coast Range and Cascades.

Portland day trips

Fun Day Trips from Portland

A planning guide to the best day trips from Portland, including Mt. Hood, the Columbia Gorge, the Oregon Coast, and Willamette Valley wineries.

Statewide map

Oregon Lakes Map

Searchable map of Oregon’s lakes for fishing, swimming, paddling, and scenic photography. Mirror Lake is one of more than 100 mapped here.

Swimming holes map

Oregon Swimming Holes

An interactive guide to Oregon’s best swimming spots, from alpine lakes like Mirror Lake to the river pools of the Cascade foothills and the Coast Range.

Day-hike hub

Hikes Near Portland

All Oregon Tails hikes within easy day-trip driving of Portland, sorted by region. Mirror Lake is one of the closest “real Mt. Hood” hikes in this collection.

How Mirror Lake compares to other Mt. Hood & Cascade lake hikes

Mirror Lake is one of several alpine lake day-hikes in this part of Oregon. Here is how it stacks up against the most-asked alternatives:

Hike	Distance	Difficulty	Best for
Mirror Lake (this guide)	4.3 mi loop	Moderate (550 ft)	Mt. Hood reflection, families, photography
Trillium Lake Loop	1.9 mi loop	Easy (flat)	Stroller/wheelchair access, picnicking, paddleboarding
Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)	4.4 mi out-back	Easy-Moderate	Turquoise pool, riverside scenery, McKenzie River
Tom Dick & Harry (full)	7.6 mi out-back	Hard (1,550 ft)	5-Cascade panorama, wilderness experience, advanced hikers
Mirror Lake snowshoe	4.3 mi loop	Moderate-Hard	Winter hiking, snow photography, off-season visitors

If you want the easiest possible Mt. Hood reflection hike, Trillium Lake is the easier sister to Mirror Lake (1.9-mile flat loop with the same iconic mountain reflection from the south shore). If you want a bigger payoff for similar effort, Tom Dick and Harry Mountain as an extension to your Mirror Lake hike is the highest-impact upgrade.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Mirror Lake Trail at Mt. Hood?

4.3 miles round trip. The hike from the trailhead to Mirror Lake is 1.9 miles each way, plus an optional 0.4-mile loop around the lake itself. Total elevation gain is 550 ft. Online estimates that say 1.9 miles refer only to the trailhead-to-lake distance, not the full round trip.

How long does it take to hike Mirror Lake?

About 2 hours. The 4.3-mile loop takes most hikers between 1 hour 56 minutes and 2.5 hours according to AllTrails averages (4.7 stars, 8,679+ reviews). Add another 30-60 minutes if you stop at the lake for lunch or photos. The Tom Dick and Harry Mountain extension (3.6 extra miles with steep climbing) brings total time to about 4 hours.

How far is Mirror Lake Trail from Portland?

54.8 miles. Mirror Lake Trailhead is about 1 hour 10 minutes of driving from Portland via US Highway 26 east through Sandy. The trailhead is just before Government Camp; turn right (south) at the Skibowl West / Mirror Lake Trailhead exit. From the west end of the Government Camp Loop Road, it’s only 0.4 miles west on Highway 26.

Do you need a permit or pass for Mirror Lake?

Yes. From May 1 through October 31, a $5/vehicle/day pass or a Northwest Forest Pass ($30/year), Interagency Annual Pass, or America the Beautiful pass is required to park at the Mirror Lake Trailhead. From November 1 through April 30 (winter), an Oregon Sno-Park Permit is required instead, available from DMV field offices, winter resorts, and sporting goods retailers. Note that the day-use pass is not sold at the trailhead. Buy ahead of time.

Is Mirror Lake Trail open year-round?

Yes, the trail is technically open year-round, but it’s a different hike depending on the season. From late October through April, snow covers the upper sections and snowshoes or microspikes are recommended. Winter route-finding skills are highly recommended because snow obscures the trail and signage is not installed for winter recreation. The Sno-Park Permit is required in winter. Late spring through October is the easier window with the trail mostly clear of snow.

Can dogs go on the Mirror Lake Trail?

Yes. Dogs are welcome on the Mirror Lake Trail but must be leashed at all times. The trail accesses the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, where wilderness regulations apply. Leashed dogs are also allowed in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness section. Pack out all dog waste and keep your dog under control around the wooden plank crossings on the lake’s west shore, which can be unstable.

Can you swim in Mirror Lake?

Yes, swimming is allowed in Mirror Lake. The water can be quite cold even in late summer because Mirror Lake is a glacial cirque lake fed by snowmelt and springs. The best swimming windows are typically July through early September. There’s no developed beach, but several gaps in the lakeside vegetation allow shore access. Don’t bring soap or other personal-care products into the lake; this is a wilderness-adjacent water source.

Is there camping at Mirror Lake?

Yes. There are roughly 6 to 12 walk-in primitive campsites scattered around the lake. There are no facilities at the lake itself: no toilets, no picnic tables, just a few rock fire rings and a makeshift bench or two. Bring everything in and pack everything out. Sites fill up fast on summer weekends; plan to arrive midweek or early in the day. The Mt. Hood area also has plenty of dispersed free camping if Mirror Lake is full.

Is the Mirror Lake Trail kid-friendly?

The 4.3-mile lake loop is family-friendly and a popular choice for hikers with kids. The grade is moderate, the trail is wide, and the 10 footbridges add a fun counting game. The lakeside loop has the unstable plank crossings on the west shore that require careful supervision with younger kids. The Tom Dick and Harry Mountain extension is NOT recommended for kids: the last stretch is steep with some scrambling near the summit.

How much elevation gain is the Mirror Lake hike?

About 550 feet. The Mirror Lake Trail gains roughly 460 to 550 feet of elevation from the trailhead (3,613 ft) to the lake (around 4,090 ft) over 1.9 miles. AllTrails reports 666 ft total elevation gain when you add the lake loop’s small undulations. The optional Tom Dick and Harry Mountain extension adds another ~1,000 ft of gain over 1.8 miles, peaking at 4,946 ft on the summit ridge.

When is the best time to hike Mirror Lake?

Late June through early October is the prime window. June brings wild rhododendron blooms in the understory, July and August are peak summer with the warmest swimming temperatures, and September delivers the clearest reflection days as the wind drops and crowds thin. Weekday mornings in any of these months are ideal for finding parking and getting an unobstructed Mt. Hood reflection. November through April requires snowshoes and a Sno-Park Permit.

How do you get to Mirror Lake Trailhead from Portland?

From Portland, take I-205 south to US-26 east. Continue east on US-26 through Sandy and Rhododendron for about 27.5 miles past Sandy. The Mirror Lake Trailhead exit is on the right (south side of the highway), just before Government Camp and right next to Skibowl West. The full drive from downtown Portland is approximately 54.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes in normal traffic.

Are there bathrooms at the Mirror Lake Trailhead?

Yes. The Mirror Lake Trailhead has pit toilets, an information kiosk with trail maps, bike racks, a picnic table, and trash receptacles, all clustered around the parking area. The trailhead itself begins behind the restroom building. There are no bathroom facilities at the lake itself, so plan accordingly before you start hiking.

What’s the closest ski resort to Mirror Lake?

Mt. Hood Skibowl is directly adjacent to the Mirror Lake Trailhead, sharing the same Highway 26 exit. Skibowl is the closest mountain resort to Portland, with 960 acres of skiable terrain, 69 runs, and night skiing in winter. In summer, Skibowl runs an alpine slide, zip line, go-karts, and the seasonal Cosmic Tubing event. It’s a natural pairing with a Mirror Lake hike for a full day at Government Camp.

Will

Founder · Oregon Tails

Will has hiked Mirror Lake more than 20 times across every season the mountain serves up: a perfectly still September morning when Mt. Hood reflected so cleanly in the lake that the photo looked photoshopped, a snowshoe trip in February that took him three hours to find the lake under fresh powder, and a June rhododendron-bloom afternoon when the understory was solid pink. He recommends going early on weekday mornings in late September for the cleanest reflection, and pairing the hike with the Skibowl Alpine Slide if you have kids. More about Will →

Last updated: May 2026 · Trail conditions, parking fees, and access dates can change quickly. The Mirror Lake Trail is in Mt. Hood National Forest; check the official Forest Service trail page for the latest conditions, especially before winter trips. AllTrails reports 4.7 stars across 8,679+ reviews. For day-use passes and Sno-Park Permits, see the Forest Service recreation pass page.