# Trillium Lake

> Trillium Lake was created in 1960 when the state of Oregon dammed Mud Creek. The lake lies at 3,601 feet (1,098 m), about 7.5 miles (12 km) from the summit…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/trillium-lake/

A calm lake south of Mount Hood where the snowy summit is mirrored on still mornings. A flat path circles the shore; go early for the reflection, and check that the access road is open outside summer.

Trillium Lake was created in 1960 when the state of Oregon dammed Mud Creek. The lake lies at 3,601 feet (1,098 m), about 7.5 miles (12 km) from the summit of Mount Hood. When the water is calm, the mountain is reflected in the lake, a motif popular with photographers.

A loop trail of about 2 miles (3 km), partly accessible, circles the lake. A Zigzag Ranger District campground sits on the shore, and the lake allows paddling, swimming and fishing. In winter the area is popular with cross-country skiers and snowshoers; from December to May you reach the lake from the Trillium Sno-Park on U.S. Highway 26, a round trip of about 4.4 miles (7 km). The day-use area is scheduled to operate from May to early December in 2026 (as of October 2026); check fees and rules beforehand. For the calmest reflection, early morning is best.

- **Nearest town:** Government Camp, OR
- **Category:** Nature & parks
- **GPS:** 45.2825, -121.7340

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## Sources

- [Trillium Lake Day Use – U.S. Forest Service](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/mthood/recreation/trillium-lake-day-use)
- [Trillium Lake – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trillium_Lake)

## Nearby

- [Timberline Lodge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/timberline/) – 4 mi
- [Multnomah Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/multnomah/) – 27 mi
- [Beacon Rock State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-beacon-rock/) – 28 mi
- [Vista House](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-vista-house/) – 30 mi

## FAQs

### Where is Trillium Lake?

Trillium Lake is in Government Camp, OR, at GPS 45.2825, -121.7340. It is about 5 mi from Mount Hood Meadows.

### Can you camp near Trillium Lake?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Still Creek Elevated Campsite, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 96 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Trillium Lake?

Places worth a stop nearby: Timberline Lodge (4 mi), Multnomah Falls (27 mi), Beacon Rock State Park (28 mi) and Vista House (30 mi).

### When is the best time to visit Trillium Lake?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)