This Exhilarating Hike Takes You To The Most Crystal Blue Lake In Oregon
By Catherine Armstrong|Published July 09, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
You could probably spend a lifetime exploring Oregon’s hiking trails, and still never see them all. The Beaver State has trails to suit everyone – from easy peasy nature trails like this one, to trails that will take you right past an ancient lava flow. Some hikes are easier than others, but sometimes it’s worth it to expend a little bit of energy to reach a truly spectacular destination. This crystal blue lake is worth the climb to get to it! Check out the Burnt Lake Trail:
The Mt. Hood National Forest is full of scenic beauty, and one of the best ways to explore it is on a hiking trail. The 7.5-mile Burnt Lake Trail has some steep climbs, but the beautiful azure lake makes the effort worthwhile.
Take Lolo Pass Road for four miles, then turn onto Forest Service Road 1825. Cross the bridge, then stay right at the fork in the road for another .7 miles. Turn right on Forest Road 1825-109, and you'll see the trailhead in one mile.
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This beautiful trail starts out nice and easy, taking you on a journey through a lush, green forest.
Watch for remnants of a forest fire that burned this area back in 1900 - there are still some old cedars standing here that were witness to that devastation more than 100 years ago.
On a calm, clear day Mount Hood is reflected in this stunning, crystal clear lake. You'll want to stop and enjoy a picnic, or perhaps even stay overnight in one of the campsites around the lake.
From here, the climb gets more serious. You'll experience a total of 2,080 feet in elevation. The trail makes its way up the ridgeline, and you'll turn onto the ZigZag Mountain Trail to descend into the meadow below.
