The overlook provides an awe-inspiring view of the magnificent Zigzag Canyon and a classic, picture postcard view of the Mount Hood summit, with the Zigzag Glacier and Illumination Rock in plain view. The sandy track takes you to the Zigzag Overlook, from which you'll get sweeping views of the mountain's southwest slopes. Copses of subalpine fir and mountain hemlock dot the landscape, but you'll also encounter many more hikers. Head into and out of a gully, and cross another meadow where asters bloom in late summer. Leaving the forest, the trail begins a traverse long a steep subalpine meadow and passes a gushing spring. Mountain hemlock and silver fir form the subalpine canopy. Turn left here, and begin winding down on the Pacific Crest Trail, which in this section doubles as the Timberline Trail. Next, you'll encounter small meadows blooming with lupine before you reach the Pacific Crest-Hidden Lake Trail Junction. The trail can be somewhat brushy in these upper reaches as you pass through woods of mature mountain hemlock, silver fir, and huckleberry carpeted with bear-grass. Then you'll make five switchbacks up to a ridge crest, where you rise and drop gently among the rhododendrons. Stop here for a break on a sunny summer day to admire the dragonflies dancing along the downed trees and watch for newts in the shallow, clear water.Ĭontinuing up the main trail, you head up a slope and cross another creek.
#Hidden lake hike full
Willow and skunk-cabbage crowd the fringe of this small but tranquil body of water, which is further enhanced in June when the rhododendrons are blooming at full force. Cross the outflow creek to get to the swampy shore and a campsite. A 50-yard spur right leads towards Hidden Lake. At the two-mile mark, pass a spur leading to campsites, and then drop to cross the outflow creek from Hidden Lake. Now the path undulates along on a fairly level plane in silver fir, western hemlock, Douglas-fir, and cedar woods. Then hike along a level ridge crest before taking two short, sharp switchbacks up the side of a canyon. Come to a viewpoint, from which the noise from nearby Highway 26 is rather loud. For some, this is the only time of year to enjoy this hike. In late spring/early summer this area comes alive with rhododendron and bear-grass blooms. The trail starts out as quite a workout, passing a picnic table and information kiosk to take four switchbacks up through a fairly young forest. It's only four miles round-trip to Hidden Lake itself, but this small feature is mosquito-infested for much of the summer, and it's really the alpine areas you want to get to.
Almost the entire route is within the Mt. It is much steeper than the more popular-and decidedly busier-approach from Timberline Lodge, but for much of the way, you'll be in quiet montane forest, blooming with rhododendrons in early summer, and not see another soul. This is a steep but much quieter trail option to the Zigzag Overlook and alpine regions on the southwest side of Mount Hood.
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