Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Lake Branch Cascades

Lake Branch CascadesPhoto: eddiecoyote, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.8 mi
round trip
298 ft
climb
3,137 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Lake Branch Cascades open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Hood River Ranger District.

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

Lake Branch Cascades is an easy out-and-back hike of about 0.8 miles in the Hood River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is short and gentle, with a total climb of about 298 feet from the low point at 3,014 feet to the high at 3,137 feet, and the steepest stretch comes early at about 19% grade. 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. Lake Branch Cascades Trail #618A starts just 0.1 mile away, and Lost Lake Butte and Lost Lake campground are each about 0.3 mile off. Oasis Boulders, a climbing area, is about a mile away.

Around this trail

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

    Lost Lake

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsJmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 18 mi from Mount Hood Villages

    Aviation and automobile museum in Oregon, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

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 Lake Branch Cascades

    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, 14.2 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 800 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

Lake Branch Cascades Trail #618APhoto: Nwcamera1, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lake Branch Cascades Trail #618A

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