Zigzag Overlook from Hidden Lake Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Hidden Lake Trailhead
- Ending Point: Zigzag Overlook
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Distance: 11.8 miles round-trip
- Elevation gain: 2800 feet
- High Point: 5850 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Summer and early fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: When you get to the Timberline Trail
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Description
This is a steep but much quieter trail option to the Zigzag Overlook and alpine regions on the southwest side of Mount Hood. It is much steeper than the more popular—and decidedly more busy—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. Almost the entire route is within the Mt. Hood Wilderness.
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. In late spring/early summer this area comes alive with rhododendron and beargrass blooms. For some, this is the only time of year to enjoy this hike. Come to a viewpoint, from which the noise from nearby Highway 26 is rather loud. Then hike along a level ridge crest before taking two short, sharp switchbacks up the side of a canyon. Now the path undulates along on a fairly level plane in silver fir, western hemlock, Douglas-fir and cedar woods. At the two-mile mark, pass a spur leading to campsites, and then drop to cross the outflow creek from Hidden Lake. A 50-yard spur right leads towards Hidden Lake. Cross the outflow creek to get to the swampy shore and a campsite. 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 are at full force. 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.
Continuing up the main trail, you head up a slope and cross another creek. Then you'll make five switchbacks up to a ridge crest, where you rise and drop gently among the rhododendrons. 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. Next, you'll encounter small meadows blooming with lupine before you reach the Pacific Crest-Hidden Lake Trail Junction.
Turn left here, and begin winding down on the Pacific Crest Trail, which in this section doubles as the Timberline Trail. Mountain hemlock and silver fir form the subalpine canopy. Leaving the forest, the trail begins a traverse long a steep subalpine meadow and passes a gushing spring. Head into and out of a gully, and cross another meadow where asters bloom in late summer. Copses of subalpine fir and mountain hemlock dot the landscape, but you'll also encounter many more hikers. The sandy track takes you to the Zigzag Overlook, from which you'll get sweeping views of the mountain's southwest slopes. 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 overlook is your turnaround point. Return the way you came. For a strenuous loop option, see the Paradise Park-Hidden Lake Loop Hike.
More on Zigzag Glacier from www.mounthoodhistory.com:
- The Zigzag Glacier originates in the crater between Crater Rock and Hawkins Cliff below Illumination Rock. This was the first Glacier on Mt. Hood to be trod upon by the white man when Joel Palmer climbed the slope in 1845. The Zigzag Glacier today has receded vastly. It drains into the Zigzag River, Lost Creek, and Rushing Water Creek.
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