Frog Lake Buttes Loop Hike

Overview

Close to Highway 26, Frog Lake is a very popular family camping and day-use destination. It is still a very worthwhile scenic stopover, and this hike begins and ends here so you can frame your day with the reflection of Mount Hood in the lake. Four trails are involved in this loop: the Frog Lake Trail #530, the Frog Lake Buttes Trail #484, the Twin Lakes Trail #495, and the Pacific Crest Trail #2000. In addition to pretty Frog Lake itself, other highlights are a view of Mount Hood from the southern summit of Frog Lake Buttes and the sparkling waters of Lower Twin Lake, good for a lazy dip on a hot summer's day. The first two trails mentioned are far less traveled than the other two, so at least part of your day will be spent away from summer crowds. There are a couple of other trailhead options for this hike if you don't want to park at Frog Lake: use the Frog Lake Sno-Park right off Highway 26 and pick up the Frog Lake Trail #520 on its east side; also, if you don't have a Northwest Forest Pass, you can avoid the day-use fee by parking at the Frog Lake Buttes Trailhead. Lodgepole pine, cedar, hemlock, silver fir and Douglas-fir ring Frog Lake, whose shore is rimmed by willow and huckleberry. There’s a magnificent view of Mount Hood from the south end of the lake. Take the use trail on the east side of the lake. At the end of Frog Lake, there’s a campfire circle; from here, head left to the campground loop. Go right on the road and pick up the trailhead for the Frog Lake Trail #530 opposite the restrooms after Campsite #24. Head up and cross FR 2610 (For those not having a Northwest Forest Pass, there's a parking pullout 20 yards to the left of this crossing). This is Douglas-fir, silver fir, hemlock woodland with mountain hemlock appearing a little higher up. Enter a clearcut with a great view of Mount Jefferson to the south. Chinquapin, bear-grass and huckleberries dominate here. Keep rising, and then traverse as the trail runs below a road, the FR 290 spur, which leads to the top of Frog Lake Buttes. The

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-FrogLakeButtesMap

400px-FrogLakeButtesMap

250px-FrogLakeButtes4

250px-FrogLakeButtes4

250px-TwinLakesWapinitia1

250px-TwinLakesWapinitia1

250px-FrogLakeButtes3

250px-FrogLakeButtes3

250px-FrogLakeButtes2

250px-FrogLakeButtes2

400px-FrogLakeButtes1

400px-FrogLakeButtes1

Tags