Twin Lakes Loop Hike – Mount Hood
distance: 8.3 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 1,185 ft.
high point: 4,560 ft.
difficulty: moderate
drive time from Portland: 1 hour 20 minutes
parking pass: NW Forest Pass
more info: OregonHikers – Twin Lakes loop hike
I’ve hiked this area in the winter on snowshoes, but this was my first time here without snow. The Frog Lake trailhead is a convenient starting point, and the hike is popular year-round — summer for day hikers and backpackers, and winter for snowshoers and cross-country skiers.
From the trailhead, we took a short side trail to begin the hike going northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail.
The first section of trail is filled with rhododendrons, which typically bloom in June and July.
Throughout the hike, the trail is mostly on a wide, well-maintained path that makes for easy hiking.
At about 1.4 miles from the trailhead, we reached the Twin Lakes Trail and turned right to head to Lower Twin Lake.
Vine maples and huckleberry shrubs were glowing in shades of yellow, orange, and red, creating a vibrant forest understory.
At Lower Twin Lake, we took a well-defined trail all the way around the lake, passing quite a few backcountry campsites along the way.
From Lower Twin Lake we continued for a mile on the Twin Lakes Trail to Upper Twin Lake.
At Upper Twin Lake, the top of Mount Hood is visible above the forest.
After a long snack break at the Upper Lake, we continued to the where the Twin Lakes Trail ends at a junction with the PCT. Small patches of snow lingered here and there, but the trail was clear.
This sign marks the high point of the trail as it wraps around Bird Butte, but it’s not the actual summit, which has no established trail.
The final stretch returned us to the trailhead, closing a beautiful loop that mixes forest, lakes, and classic Mount Hood scenery.
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