Branching off the Pacific Crest Trail and rejoining it later, Twin Lakes Trail #495 visits Lower and Upper Twin Lakes in the Mount Hood Wilderness. The wide, fairly smooth stretch to the lower lake sees heavy use by hikers and horses, and the lake is good for a swim or a walk on the flat path around its shore.
Beyond it the trail turns narrower and rockier to Upper Twin Lake, a quieter spot with a cliff-top viewpoint toward Mt. Hood and down the historic Barlow Creek Valley. Beargrass and huckleberries line the way. Reach the north end from Barlow Pass or the south end from Frog Lake at Wapinitia Pass, each 1.5 miles away on the PCT.
Trail map & elevation
- Trail class
- Class 2 of 5
- Typical grade
- 0-5%
- Surface
- Native material
- Ranger district
- Hood River
Connects to: Palmeteer Trail #482
More about the Mount Hood Wilderness and its trails →
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
- North end- Take Hwy 35 to Barlow Pass Sno-Park on Road 3531 (2 miles east of the Hwy 26 jct).
- Take the PCT south 1.5 miles to the north trailhead.
- South end- Take Hwy 26 7 miles S of Government Camp to Frog Lake Sno Park at Wapinitia Pass.
- Take the PCT north for 1.5 miles to the south trailhead.
From the Forest Service
Rules and restrictions
Wilderness regulations apply.
Passes and permits
State of Oregon Sno-Park permit required November 1 through April 30 at Frog Lake Sno-Park/Trailhead and Barlow Pass Sno Park/Trailhead.
A valid Recreation Pass is required at Frog Lake Sno-Park/Trailhead and Barlow Pass Sno-Park/Trailhead from May 1 through October 31.
Trails nearby
Palmeteer Trail #482
4 mi
970 ft
Moderate
Devils Half Acre Trail #482A
1.8 mi
562 ft
Easy
Blue Box Trail #483
7.4 mi
1,821 ft
Hard
Frog Lake Trail #530
2 mi
836 ft
Moderate
Barlow Butte Trail #670
10 mi
4,075 ft
Very hard
Pioneer Woman’s Grave Trail #485
2 mi
451 ft
Easy
Catalpa Lake Trail #535
1.8 mi
226 ft
Easy
Bonney Meadows Trail #471
10.8 mi
3,190 ft
Very hard
Trillium Lake Loop Trail #761
1.8 mi
11 ft
Easy