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| | Serene and Rock Lakes Loop, OR | | | |
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Serene and Rock Lakes Loop, OR
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| Backpack | 12.00 Miles |
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| | Backpack | 12.00 Miles | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| no partners | | My sister, niece and I headed to the Roaring River wilderness in Mt Hood National Forest for our yearly backpacking trip. We had a nice lollipop route picked out that would take us up and down the ridges by several small lakes, through old-growth forest.
With only a passenger car, we opted not to try our luck and started at an easily accessible trailhead - Hideaway Lake. The FS roads started out paved were shockingly well-signed. Some washboarding and potholes, but nothing we couldn't slowly navigate around. For forest, the drive was great as the road climbed up onto a ridge where we had wonderful views.
Ate lunch, loaded up, and started north on Shellrock Lake Trail (#700). We were too late for most flowers, but there were so many rhododendron plants in the understory it must look amazing in the spring. At first, the trail headed through an old clear cut, but it was more like a well-vegetated meadow with views after so many years. Most of our time was spent hiking in thick old growth forests, so this bit of open space was actually welcome. The trail mainly descended until we reached Shellrock Lake, which was a pleasant little spot minus the trash some campers had left. 
Up, up, up to Frazier Turnaround, where we jogged over to the Serene Lake Trail (#512) and headed west.
Up and down, up and down, passing short detours to Upper, Middle, and Lower Rock Lakes. We were trying to make up time, though, and didn't go to any of those lakes. Eventually, we reached the scenic Serene Lake and found a sweet little camp spot right near the edge of the water. Enjoyed some ripe huckleberries, hung our food, and called it an early night to get away from the mosquitoes.
Next morning we awoke to such think fog, we could barely see the lake. We dawdled around, trying to let it burn off so we could enjoy some views on the hike out. No such luck, so we stuffed the wet tent fly in the outside pocket of my pack and headed up, up, up to the next ridge. The forest felt eerie with all the fog, cool and very unusual for me. However, we got none of the anticipated views of Mt Hood, Mt Adams, etc., so that was a disappointment. We used Grouse Point Trail (#517) to complete our loop and connect back to Shellrock Lake Trail. Wonderful temperatures, great trip, not too many mosquito bites.
All trails were in good condition. FS website says a trail crew last visited in July 2012, and you can tell. Of course, there are some fresh down trees to navigate over/under/around, but nothing extensive.
I notice none of the trails we used are written up on-site. Will have to add to the to-do list. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Still some beargrass, lupine, etc. flowering in the meadows. Glacier lilies just beginning. |
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| "Let it ride / Let it roll / Let it go" |
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