Mt. Hood Guide
81 Campgrounds
TO PICK FROM
245 Trails
FOR HIKING
16 Unique
WINERIES
 RECREATION PASSES

Trail

Pacific Crest Trail (Zigzag RD)

The Pacific Crest Trail across the Zigzag Ranger District, from Frog Lake along Timothy Lake and from Barlow Pass by Timberline Lodge toward Lolo Pass.

Representative photo, not this exact spot. Photo: John De Leon via Pexels · Pexels License

On the Zigzag Ranger District, the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 comes in two long sections. One starts on US Highway 26 near Frog Lake and runs to Skyline Road near Clackamas Lake, tracing Timothy Lake’s east shore for 3.5 miles. A quick detour on Trail #500 reaches Little Crater Lake, a clear, 45-foot-deep pool of artesian spring water.

The other section climbs from Barlow Pass to Timberline Lodge, then heads northwest across the Zigzag and Sandy rivers toward Lolo Pass, meeting the Hidden Lake and Ramona Falls trails along the way. Many roads reach the area, so the trail splits easily into day hikes. Hikers can start at the Frog Lake Sno-Park & Trailhead.

Trail map & elevation

Length42.7 mi one way
Climb8,332 ft up, 7,992 ft down
Elevation2,781 to 6,087 ft
DifficultyVery hard
2,7004,4006,1000 mi42.3 mi
Elevation (ft) along the trail
Download GPX Directions to the start
Trail class
Class 3 of 5
Typical grade
8-10%
Surface
Native material
Tread width
12-18 inches
Ranger district
Zigzag

Connects to: Pacific Crest Trail (Clackamas RD), Timothy Lake Trail #528, Timberline Trail #600, Hidden Lake Trail #779, Yellowjacket Trail, Top Spur Trail #785, Ramona Falls Trail #797, Southshore Trail #529, Headwaters Trail #522, Mountaineer Trail #798

Line, length and trail class: U.S. Forest Service trail data. Elevation: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Difficulty is our estimate for hiking it out and back (once around for a loop), from distance and total climb. Lines can be off by a few hundred feet; carry a real map and check the official page for closures.

Getting there

From Sandy, OR

  1. follow US Hwy 26 for 40.2 miles east of Sandy to Skyline Road (Forest Road 42).
  2. Turn right onto Skyline Road (Forest Road 42) and follow it ~8 miles.
  3. A few trailheads that access the Pacific Crest Trail near the Zigzag area:
  4. Pacific Crest South - Lolo Pass Trailhead
  5. Frog Lake Sno-Park/Trailhead
  6. Joe Graham/Pacific Crest Trailhead

From the Forest Service

Rules and restrictions

Wilderness regulations apply in designated wilderness.
No bikes allowed on the Pacific Crest Trail

Passes and permits

Permits for travel along the Pacific Crest Trail are required in some but not all areas along the trail. Visit PCTA- Permits for more information.
Some trailheads require a fee and accept valid recreation passes. Check our Recreation Passes and Permits page for details.

Details from the official Forest Service page, a public-domain U.S. government source.

Trails nearby

Pacific Crest Trail (Clackamas RD) 22.8 mi round trip 3,032 ft Very hard Timothy Lake Trail #528 14.8 mi round trip 1,118 ft Hard Timberline Trail #600 39.2 mi loop 11,267 ft Very hard Hidden Lake Trail #779 8.4 mi round trip 2,694 ft Very hard Yellowjacket Trail 10.8 mi round trip 1,317 ft Top Spur Trail #785 1 mi round trip 348 ft Easy Ramona Falls Trail #797 3.4 mi round trip 589 ft Moderate Southshore Trail #529 6 mi round trip 176 ft Easy Headwaters Trail #522 3.6 mi round trip 237 ft Easy Mountaineer Trail #798 2.6 mi loop 1,104 ft Moderate Little Crater Lake Trail #500 0.6 mi round trip 0 ft Easy Dry Fir Trail #674A 5.8 mi round trip 963 ft Hard

Places on this trail

Frog Lake Sno-Park & Trailhead Pacific Crest South – Lolo Pass Trailhead

Last checked November 4, 2026