August 27th, 2020 | Posted by:Â Grace Kim
When you think of capturing the best reflection photos of Mount Hood, you’re going to want to swing by Trillium Lake. Trillium Lake is located about 1.5 hours southeast of Downtown Portland, and is the perfect spot for photography and fishing.
Camp out or swing by early in the morning to watch bats fly across the lake before they head to sleep. Or, watch groups of people trying to catch rainbow trout during season. There are a ton of things to do at Trillium Lake, or just enough to make it a quick visit.
I made a trip over to Trillium Lake in August and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. No, I did not go fishing, but I did go to capture a beautiful sunrise. There were other photographers setting up their tripods to capture the light hitting the peaks of Mount Hood, as the ducks were conveniently swimming across the lake to be captured in my shots.
History Lesson
Stretching out 7.5 miles long, Trillium Lake was formed by a dam of Mud Creek, also interestingly known as a flooded area. It was created by the state Department of Fish, originating as a tributary of the Salmon River. As a part of the Oregon Trail, Trillium flowers surround this popular area with their four-fold symmetrical petals.
Elevation gain: 3,600 ft
Now, this lake is administered by the ZigZag Ranger District of the Mount Hood National Forest, as the campground includes wheelchair-access and boat ramps along the dock. Circling 2-miles long and 7-feet deep, Trillium Lake is a great getaway spot to venture off for a number of outdoor activities.
>> Read More: Things To Do in Cannon Beach, Oregon
Campground Logistics + Planning
Throughout Trillium Lake, there are 64 campgrounds for both tent and RV Camping. Some of the camp sites are first come first serve, as you will have to pay for others. Personally, I didn’t camp at Trillium Lake, but I was advised to go early enough to get a spot since spots fill up quickly.
First-come, first-serve campsites: 1, 9, 10, 12, 13, 29, 31, 38, 45, 46, and 47
Walk-in campsites: 58-64
All other campsites: reservable
Thankfully, no matter which campsite you choose to camp at, each campsite provides a handful of amenities that will allow you to leave a luggage of camping material back at home.
Available
- Drinking water
- Toilets
- Camphost on site
- Picnic table
- Fire ring & fire pits
- Boat Ramp
- Tent pads
- Canoe rentals (at Government Camp)
- Cell service
- Firewood for sale
Not Available
- Showers
- Motor traffic on kayaks
Peak Season: Mid May – Late September
Average Overnight Fees: $22 – $86 (depending on individual or group sites)
Parking Fees: NW Forest Pass, or $5/day
(if you didn’t have cash during your visit, validate your parking with the ZigZag Ranger District Office: (503) 622-3191)
If you have your trip booked to Trillium Lake months or weeks prior, I highly recommend reserving a spot in advance. Camping out in Trillium Lake is extremely popular that if you walk in day of, there’s a high chance of getting there before it’s too late.
Find more campsite information about Trillium Lake here.
>> Read More: Exploring Toketee Falls: Oregon’s Most Majestic Waterfall
Activities To-Do
Now that you’re situated and ready to camp for the night, get ready to partake in a handful of activities available onsite. One of the most popular activities is fishing as Oregon is popularly known for their Rainbow trout, Skamania trout, and Lake trout scattered throughout Trillium Lake.
But if you’re not entirely into fishing, no worries. Listed are other activities to partake in when visiting Trillium Lake:
- Fishing (already mentioned)
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
- Bird Watching
- Kayaking
- Stargazing
- Boating (motorized & non-motorized)
- Canoeing
- Walking Trails
- Day Use Area
- Hiking (2-3 miles)
- Interpretive Programs
- Camping
- Historic & Cultural Sites
- Photography
These outdoor activities will have your day or weekend booked when visiting. When visiting, I only took part in photography, and was able to capture beautiful reflections of Mount Hood while watching people catch their trout for the day.
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Photographing Sunrise at Trillium Lake
From the number of spots you can set your tripod along the lake, there is not one single particular location to capture the lights rays. However, once your car is parked, you’re probably going to set up your tripod along the concrete closest to the street level. This is probably the first spot you’ll come around as you’ll most likely find other photographers already taking their shots.
This is a beautiful spot that exposes Mount Hood and the lake but if you want to explore other parts of the lake, walk on the right side of the trail and you’ll find a couple of others spots with cleaner composition. By cleaner composition, I’m referring to less branches and leaves from the trees. Oh, and you probably won’t be able to escape the ducks, but they’re great companions on your shoot.
There are about 3 additional spots along the trail to set up your tripod that capture the beautiful views of Mount Hood. You’ll notice these spots as they have rocks you can stand or sit on. And once you’ve taken a couple of photos at each spot, you’ll end up at the dock where there will be a handful of people fishing, patiently waiting for that bite to reel in.
Bottom Line
When adventure is your middle name, visiting Trillium Lake is a no brainer. Especially if you enjoy camping, swinging by the lake between the Summer and Fall are the perfect times to visit.
Remember to either make a reservation weeks in advance or come early enough to grab yourself a spot to camp out. With the number of amenities available on the campsite, bring your kayak and glide through the serene waters. Or, scout along the trail to find the best spots to photograph sunrise.
Even if you only have a few hours, viewing Mount Hood’s reflection over Trillium Lake will be worth it the visit. Just be mindful of others when waking up in the morning, and simply take the time to enjoy the outdoors during your visit.
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