Mirror Lake Trail
I usually try to avoid the crowds when I go hiking. On the Mirror Lake Trail, I almost don’t care. Looking for solitude is an exercise in futility on this extremely popular hike near Mount Hood. It has a winning combination of a convenient trailhead and a stunning destination. Just off Highway 26, a large overflow parking lot makes it realistic to find a spot at noon on a Saturday. After two miles on the trail, you’ll see Mount Hood’s summit reflecting off the lake like a mirror on calm, clear days. Turn around here for a short and rewarding hike or continue up to the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain to see more Cascade peaks. Here’s everything you need to know about the Mirror Lake Trail.
Beargrass blooms around Mirror Lake in summer
Know before you go
To park at the Mirror Lake Trailhead, you need a Northwest Forest Pass ($5/day) or an America the Beautiful Pass. Buy a pass before arriving. If you visit from November through April, you’ll need a Sno-Park Pass ($4-6/day).
Parking is limited at the trailhead and fills up, especially on summer weekends. If it’s full, you can use the Skibowl West parking. The lots are right next to each other.
The trailhead has vault toilets and a picnic table.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the trail to Mirror Lake.
The Mirror Lake Trail has two logical end points. The first is the little loop around Mirror Lake, 4 miles out-and-back. For a longer hike, you can continue from the lake to the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain, 8 miles out and back.
Bunchberry on the Mirror Lake Trail
On the trail to Mirror Lake
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation gain: 700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass required: NW Forest Pass
Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.
ADA access: Not really. The trailhead is great. Accessible parking, restrooms, and a picnic table. The first quarter mile of the trail is paved and even with a maximum grade of 3%. After that, it’s steep, unpaved, and uneven.
Season: Potentially all year. Mirror Lake becomes a snowshoe trail in the winter. Expect snow from around December until May.
The details
I recently revisited the Mirror Lake Trail for the first time since the improvements to the trailhead in 2018. It’s so much better now. Gone is the awkward walk along Highway 26 that began the hike. The parking lot is small, but the large Skibowl lot is right next to it. My friends and I had no problem parking on a beautiful and crowded Saturday.
Mirror Lake Trailhead
The Mirror Lake Trail starts behind the restroom building. The first quarter mile is paved and fairly flat.
Start here
One of the highlights of the Mirror Lake Trail in summer is seeing the wild rhododendrons. The first blooms were opening in mid-June. I’d expect many more in a few weeks.
Rhododendrons bloom along the trail in summer
Besides improvements to the trailhead, the Mirror Lake Trail got many new footbridges. You’ll cross the first of them toward the end of the paved section.
First footbridge
When the pavement ends, the trail continues steadily uphill. The terrain gets a little rougher, but it’s in good condition and easy to follow. Doug firs, hemlock, and cedars shade the Mirror Lake Trail. Bunchberries were blooming in the undergrowth on my June hike. Look for some skunk cabbage around the streams that run under the footbridges.
Stream on the Mirror Lake Trail
After about two miles, you’ll reach the start of the short loop around Mirror Lake. You can go either direction at the sign. We’ll go left to do the loop clockwise.
Mirror Lake Loop starts here
Use the logs and rocks to hop across the stream and continue the trail.
Cross here
The loop around Mirror Lake is about 0.3 miles. You’ll pass gaps in the greenery that let you get down to the water. The best photo opportunity is on the far side of the loop, where Mount Hood reflects off the lake on clear days. Mostly, it’s kinda ripply. On a perfectly calm day, it’s as mirror-like as its name suggests. Unlike the larger Trillium Lake, no dam augments Mirror Lake. It forms naturally in a glacial cirque.
Mount Hood reflects off Mirror Lake
Continuing around the loop, you’ll pass a few primitive camp sites. They’ll probably be occupied. You’ll also reach a few more places to see Mount Hood from the lakeshore. It’s worth saying some awkward excuse me’s to the people who brought lawn chairs for the day to have a quick look.
Mirror Lake
Toward the end of the loop are some planks floating in standing water. Crossing them was a fun jolt of adrenaline when I visited. The planks sink as you go, and running works better than walking if you want to keep your feet dry.
Do your best
After the plank bridge, you’ll reach a sign. You can finish the Mirror Lake Loop (you’re almost done at this point) or take the trail up to the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain.
Decision point
The end of the loop is the best place to see wildflowers next to Mirror Lake. Rhododendrons and beargrass start blooming in early summer. Some of the first paintbrush blossoms had opened next to the lake in mid-June. Expect flowers until around early August. Across Mirror Lake, Tom Dick and Harry Mountain rises above the conifers.
Tom Dick and Harry Mountain behind Mirror Lake
After finishing the Mirror Lake Loop, you can head back the way you came. You’ll also get another chance to continue to the top of Tom Dick and Harry.
Tom Dick and Harry Mountain
Distance: 8 miles (total)
Elevation gain: 1,400 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
The hike from Mirror Lake to the summit of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain is about the same distance and intensity as the hike to the lake. You’ll climb steadily uphill on a trail that never really lets up but also doesn’t get intense. Most of the trail is through the woods, but you get a Mount Hood sighting before the grand finale.
Clearing along the trail up Tom Dick and Harry
Toward the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain, the trees thin. Look for wildflowers like paintbrush and lupines blooming in the summer. The top of the mountain is a rocky and open ridgeline with panoramic views.
Tom Dick and Harry
You can see several Cascade peaks from the top of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain. Mount Hood is the most impressive. Below it, Mirror Lake is a tiny blue pool amid the conifers. On a clear day, look for Mount St Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, and Mount Jefferson.
Mount Hood from Tom Dick and Harry Mountain
From the top of Tom Dick and Harry, you can head back down the way you came or make a loop ending at Skibowl West. I’ve never done the loop, but based on the All Trails comments, it seems like it’s not necessarily better than the out-and-back version, just offers the novelty of not returning on the same trail.
Getting there
The Mirror Lake Trailhead is directly off Highway 26. From Portland, take Highway 26 E. Look for the right turn just before Skibowl West. The drive takes about 75 minutes.
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