Accessible from two different trailheads on the Pacific Crest Trail, south of Mt. Hood in Oregon, the Twin Lakes Trail hike features stops at two beautiful turquoise alpine lakes surrounded by dense evergreen forests. Choose your adventure on this segment of the PCT with a loop-hike, out-and-back, or weekend backpacking.
I opted for an 9-mile trail run on a lollipop loop starting from the north to the lower twin lake trail and circling around the lakes back to the PCT and Barlow Wagon trail.
Directions:
North end- Take Hwy 35 to Barlow Pass Sno-Park on Road 3531 (2 miles east of the Hwy 26 jct). Get on the PCT here and hike south for 1.5 miles to the north trail segment to upper Twin Lake.
South end- Take Hwy 26 seven miles S of Government Camp to Frog Lake Sno-Park at Wapinitia Pass. Get on the PCT here and hike north for 1.5 miles to the south trail segment to lower Twin Lake.
A NW Forest Service Pass is required.
Evergreen Hiker 