Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Boulder Lake

Boulder LakePhoto: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.3 mi
round trip
2,929 ft
climb
5,286 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Boulder Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Barlow Ranger District. It doesn't name Boulder Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Barlow Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Boulder Lake is a moderate out-and-back hike in Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest, within the Barlow Ranger District. The trail is about 5.3 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 2,929 feet, and it starts at roughly 5,263 feet, rising to a high point of about 5,286 feet before returning to the trailhead. The steepest stretch comes early, around 0.55 miles in, with a grade of about 25 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Government Camp show July and August highs around 69 to 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. That station sits about 1,300 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the lake run cooler. The trailhead sits right next to Bonney Meadows campground, about 0.1 mile away, and the Hidden Meadows Trail and Bonney Meadows Trail are both within a third of a mile. Badger Lake campground is about 2.9 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Bonney Meadows

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Vertical

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 6 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mount Hood Villages

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Boulder Lake

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 8.2 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Bonney Meadows TrailPhoto: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bonney Meadows Trail

Next door

2.38-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 132 ft gain and 1,746 ft loss

Crane Prairie Trail #464Photo: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crane Prairie Trail #464

~1 min drive

4.4-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,701 ft elevation gain and loss.

Gunsight ButtePhoto: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gunsight Butte

~2 min drive

10-mile out-and-back trail at Gunsight Butte in Oregon

FOREST CREEKPhoto: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

FOREST CREEK

Next door

1.06-mile out-and-back trail with 541 ft gain in Oregon.

POCKET CREEK TIE NORDICPhoto: m01229, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

POCKET CREEK TIE NORDIC

~7 min drive

1.8-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 856 ft elevation gain and loss.

Boulder CreekPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Boulder Creek

~3 min drive

11.60-mile out-and-back trail at Boulder Creek in Oregon with 690 ft gain.

Boulder Lake ShorePhoto: nomadsamiam, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Boulder Lake Shore

~2 min drive

1.00-mile loop trail around Boulder Lake in Oregon.

POCKET CREEK NORDICPhoto: niiicedave, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

POCKET CREEK NORDIC

~7 min drive

8.46-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,249 ft elevation gain

Camp Windy TrailPhoto: Drew Stefani, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Camp Windy Trail

~3 min drive

Camp Windy Trail is a 0.96-mile point-to-point trail in Oregon with 89 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Crane Prairie

~2 min drive

2.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 101 ft gain and 543 ft loss.