Mirror Lake – Trail Ambassador Training Hike

Hike Leaders: Greg Lief, Natalie F., Loren P.

Hike Distance: 4.2 miles total

Elevation Gain: 670 ft

Hike Difficulty: Easy

Hike Overview:

The Mirror Lake Loop Trail is a popular summer destination, attracting large crowds on the weekends due to its accessibility from Highway 26 and picturesque views of Mount Hood and Mirror Lake. The trail crosses meadows, bridged streams, and is known for wildflowers in the spring!

We are lucky enough to have along a special guest and wildflower expert, Greg Lief! He will be sharing his wildflower knowledge as we hike, helping to add more context to our understanding of the trail and surrounding area. His website, OregonWildflowers.org, has been a wonderful community resource on wildflowers for the past 15 years!

Hiking information:

This trail is an extremely popular destination in the Mount Hood National Forest and will be offered as a site for Trail Ambassadors from late May to Labor Day. This hike will give us a chance to assess the trailhead as well as gather first hand experience of the hike and surrounding lands to pass along to trail users.

What to expect:

This is generally considered a moderately difficult hike. The land is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. We ask that you respect all posted signage and stay on the trail. Please dress for the weather and bring plenty of food and water.

You will be asked to electronically sign the e-waiver for this event and perform a self-assessment health screening within the 24 hours proceeding the event. The hike leader for this event will verify that you have done both of these requirements at the trailhead before the party begins. Your pre-event emails will contain further details and links for both of these requirements.

You should expect to participate in this hike for its entirety. For safety reasons, please do not arrive late or expect to be able to leave early.

COVID-19 Information:

**You will be asked to electronically sign the e-waiver for this event, provide proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test result, and perform a self-assessment health screening within the 24 hours preceding the event.** The crew leader for this event will verify that you have completed these requirements at the trailhead safety talk before the trail party begins. The registration confirmation and pre-event emails will contain further details and links.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Lunch + snacks
• A pack to carry your water, snacks, lunch and other items in.

What to wear:

• Comfortable shoes – Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp rocks and give good traction on steep trails such as a hiking boot or trail runners. No open toed shoes!
• Layered clothing that can be removed or put on to meet rapidly changing weather conditions.
• Rain gear as appropriate for the weather

Directions:

Click here for Google Map directions to the Mirror Lake Trail #664 Trailhead.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government at various times throughout history. We are privileged to be here today & express gratitude to the descendants of these tribes for being the original stewards of this land.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe & welcome in the outdoors due to racism, bias & hate. We commit to being part of the solution to change that. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target individuals or groups will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical & emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable/unsafe – interrupt directly, tell a crew leader &/or complete the post-event survey.