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Mirror Lake & Tom Dick Mountain Trail - 1 member in 4 triplogs has rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
4 triplogs
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Jul 29 2025
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 Guides 1
 Routes 5
 Photos 63
 Triplogs 89

53 male
 Joined Jan 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Mirror Lake & Tom Dick Mountain TrailNorth Central, OR
North Central, OR
Hiking avatar Jul 29 2025
capcycloneTriplogs 89
Hiking6.50 Miles 1,532 AEG
Hiking6.50 Miles
1,532 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Visited Portland for a few days and explored the Mt. Hood area - including the hike to Mirror Lake. For much of the trail we were left to the sounds of nature - squirrels, birds, silence and the occasional forest stream. As we approached the lake, fellow hikers were spotted far more often and the return hike in the late afternoon was a lot of hiker traffic to navigate with.
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Jun 01 2019
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 Routes 1
 Photos 29,310
 Triplogs 1,453

45 female
 Joined Jan 18 2011
 In the Wild
Mirror Lake & Tom Dick Mountain TrailNorth Central, OR
North Central, OR
Hiking avatar Jun 01 2019
LucyanTriplogs 1,453
Hiking7.70 Miles 1,532 AEG
Hiking7.70 Miles   3 Hrs      2.57 mph
1,532 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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May 28 2018
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 Routes 1
 Photos 29,310
 Triplogs 1,453

45 female
 Joined Jan 18 2011
 In the Wild
Mirror Lake & Tom Dick Mountain TrailNorth Central, OR
North Central, OR
Hiking avatar May 28 2018
LucyanTriplogs 1,453
Hiking6.50 Miles 1,960 AEG
Hiking6.50 Miles
1,960 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
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Jun 07 2015
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 Guides 34
 Routes 249
 Photos 2,197
 Triplogs 592

39 male
 Joined Aug 16 2006
 Portland, OR
Mirror Lake & Tom Dick Mountain TrailNorth Central, OR
North Central, OR
Hiking avatar Jun 07 2015
keepmovingTriplogs 592
Hiking6.53 Miles 1,532 AEG
Hiking6.53 Miles
1,532 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Mirror Lake has been on my list for quite some time now. However, being one of the most accessible hikes on Mt. Hood, the trail sees quite a lot of use.

I finally decided to hit this up on Sunday evening. I figured I would hike up about an hour before sunset, stay at the peak until after dark to take some star shots, then head down by headlamp. As I was packing up my gear I received a notification on my phone that the northern lights might make an appearance. I was a bit skeptical that they would be visible- now that it's summer it doesn't get truly dark until about 11pm and the moon was supposed to rise at 1am, so the window for any lights was small- but still worth a chance.

The hike to the summit was tougher than I expected (I always underestimate how much my camera gear actually weights), but the view was fantastic. I set up my gear and sat in silence for a while as I watched the sun set and the light fade on the mountain. A couple of trail runners arrived at the summit shortly after sunset and hung out for a bit before disappearing again.

Once it finally got dark enough for star shots, I noticed the faint pink glow of the aurora over Mt. Hood. I wasn't entirely happy with my current composition as the lights from government camp detracted from the aurora. So I hastily packed up my gear and headed back down to the shores of the lake to get some shots.
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average hiking speed 2.57 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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