Burnt Lake
Overview
This is a difficult out and back trail to Burnt Lake in Mount Hood National Forest. The first few miles are fairly easy through beautiful old growth forest, but the last few miles while climbing up to Burnt Lake are a little tough. Once you're there, it's a beautiful small lake that warms up nicely in the summer. Perfect for a refreshing dip.
There are campsites around the lake, so it makes a great backpacking hike if you're looking for something for a 1-2 night trip. Camping is only allowed in designated spots though and they fill up quickly on summer weekends. Weekdays and September (no mosquitos!) are less crowded.
If you still have energy in your legs, consider a side trip up to East Zig Zag Mountain. It’s 3.3 miles each way and an additional 870 ft of elevation gain. At the summit you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of Mt Hood and the Cascade mountains. To get there, follow the switch backing Burnt Lake Trail 772 up to the junction with East Zig Zag Mountain trail 775. Turn right and follow it to the summit.
Getting Started
The last few miles of road to get to the trailhead here aren't too bad, but there are definitely some big potholes you'll want to watch out for. There's limited parking at the trailhead as well, probably only 10-15 spots and that might even be pushing it. There's not really any amenities here either, so prepare ahead of time for that.
Sights to See
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