This easy Mount Hood loop circles a cedar-ringed lake, and the resort season ends October 10
You don’t have to climb anything to get a front-row seat to Mount Hood. At Lost Lake, a 3.1-mile loop does the work for you, tracing the shoreline through old-growth cedar, Douglas-fir, and hemlock until the mountain shows up across the water.
My plainly stated opinion: this is the loop to pick when you want the big-mountain view without the big-mountain effort. Who says a Mount Hood day has to end with sore knees?
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What the loop is actually like
The Lakeshore Trail is an easy 3.1-mile loop around the lake’s perimeter, and raised boardwalks carry you over much of it. The first mile is barrier-free, which makes it a friendly option for anyone who wants an accessible stretch.
Keep an eye out near the inlet, where you may spot beaver activity. The forest overhead is the real star, with western red cedar, Douglas-fir, and hemlock big enough to make you tilt your head all the way back.
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Where Mount Hood shows up
The mountain makes its entrance along the last stretch of the loop, and the payoff is the kind of view that stops conversations mid-sentence. For a photo, look for informal paths near the west shore, where the peak sits framed in cedar boughs.
Photographers favor sunrise and sunset for the light, so if you can swing it, bring a warm layer and go early or stay late.
Get out on the water
Motors aren’t allowed on the lake, which keeps things wonderfully quiet. The resort’s general store and boat house handles rentals, with jon boats, rowboats, kayaks, and paddle boards in the mix.
Fees and the October 10 deadline
Day use runs $15 per vehicle per day. Lost Lake Resort operates the site, and it doesn’t accept the Northwest Forest Pass or the Interagency Pass, so don’t count on a pass you already own.
The resort’s operating season runs through October 10, 2026, which makes this a use-it-this-week kind of trip. Check the Mt. Hood National Forest alerts page before you head out, since closures can pop up.
Want to stay the night? The campground offers tent sites, yurts, and A-frame cabins right at the lake.
Make it a bigger Mount Hood day
Lost Lake pairs well with the rest of the mountain. Our guide to Mount Hood adventures has more ideas, and the Trillium Lake guide covers another Mount Hood lake.
Staying down in the Gorge instead? Our Hood River guide is a good place to start.
What’s your favorite way to see Mount Hood: from the summit trail, or from a lakeshore with your boots barely dirty?
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
