Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Hidden Lake

Hidden LakePhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.0 mi
round trip
459 ft
climb
3,476 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Hidden Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Zigzag Ranger District.

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

Hidden Lake is a short, easy hike in the Zigzag Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about a mile long and rises roughly 370 feet from a starting point near 3,100 feet to a high point of about 3,476 feet. The route is an out-and-back, and the steepest stretch comes early, with a grade of about 23% at around 0.27 miles. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Government Camp weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. Hidden Lake Trail #779 starts just 0.1 mile away, and Laurel Hill Chute is 0.2 mile off. Kiwanis Camp Crag, a climbing area, is about 0.6 mile away, and the Zigzag River offers paddling about 1.7 miles from the trail.

Around this trail

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

    Burnt Lake campsite #3

    Campground

    Campground · 2.6 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Underwater Viewing Chamber

    Attraction

    In town

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 Hidden 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, 3 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 500 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Hidden Lake Trail #779Photo: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hidden Lake Trail #779

Next door

8.38-mile out-and-back hike to Hidden Lake in Oregon with 2,744 ft elevation gain.

Laurel Hill ChutePhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Laurel Hill Chute

Next door

0.47-mile loop trail in Oregon with 178 ft elevation gain.

HIDDEN LAKEPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

HIDDEN LAKE

Next door

7.26-mile out-and-back trail to Hidden Lake in Oregon with 2,430 ft elevation gain.

Mirror Lake Trail #664Photo: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mirror Lake Trail #664

~2 min drive

5.02-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,535 ft elevation gain and loss.

Paradise Park Trail #778Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paradise Park Trail #778

~5 min drive

6.33-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 814 ft gain.

Little Zigzag FallsPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Little Zigzag Falls

Next door

1.1-mile out-and-back trail to Little Zigzag Falls in Oregon's Zigzag Canyon

MIRROR LAKEPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

MIRROR LAKE

~2 min drive

3.4-mile out-and-back to Mirror Lake in Oregon with 2,114 ft elevation gain.

Pioneer Bridle Trail #795Photo: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pioneer Bridle Trail #795

~3 min drive

8.0-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,915 ft elevation gain and loss.

Paradise ParkPhoto: mjfmjfmjf, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Paradise Park

~2 min drive

2.00-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 273 ft elevation gain.

MIRROR LAKE SNOWSHOEPhoto: Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory., Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

MIRROR LAKE SNOWSHOE

~2 min drive

3.54-mile out-and-back snowshoe trail in Oregon with 1,298 ft elevation gain.