Trail Ambassador Intro Hike – Mirror Lake

Hike Leaders: Loren P.

Hike Distance: 4.4 miles total

Elevation Gain: ~640 ft

Hike Intensity: Moderate

Site Overview:

Mirror Lake is a popular hiking, camping, and winter recreation destination in the Mount Hood National Forest just outside of Government Camp. The trail boasts spectacular views of Mount Hood over the glacial lake, with the option to extend the trail another few miles into the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness to the viewpoint at Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain.

Hiking information:

We will be hiking the Mirror Lake Trail from the trailhead at the parking lot, around the lake, and back. This is a 4.4 mile route with about 640 feet in elevation gain through beautiful forest until you emerge at the loop around the lake. This hike is generally considered to be moderate intensity. Dogs are allowed but must be on leash. Click here for more information on the trail, including a map.

What to expect:

We will be meeting at the trailhead in the morning to do introductions, chat Trail Ambassadors, and set up the table station before heading out on the hike to learn about the area we are serving. This site is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and we ask that you follow all posted signage and regulations.

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.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Lunch + snacks
• Any medications or emergency supplies you may need
• Sunscreen + insect repellent
• A pack to bring all of this with you on trail
• Need gear? TKO has clothes, boots, camping gear, and more available for loan. Reach out to volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org to let us know how we can help!

What to wear:

• Comfortable shoes for hiking
• Rain gear, insulating layers, sun protection, etc. as appropriate for the weather

Instructions:

Detailed event information, including exact meeting location and driving directions, will be shared to registered participants in the days prior to the event.

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

ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: TKO seeks to make our events inclusive of people of all backgrounds and abilities. If you would like to discuss potential accommodations to allow for your participation in this event, please click here to complete a short Google survey. TKO staff will then contact you to discuss options. Please note: available accommodations will vary by event and typically need to be requested a minimum of two weeks in advance. If you have any questions, please contact TKO Stewardship Manager Lindsay McIntosh-Tolle at lindsay.mcintosh@trailkeepersoforegon.org.

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 or welcome in the outdoors due to issues like racism, bias, and hate. We commit to being part of the solution to this problem and to enact change. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target any individual or group 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, socioeconomic status.

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

While TKO no longer requires masking/vaccination for its events, we do support those who feel masking is necessary for their own safety. We ask participants to respect the health of folks who wear masks by distancing or wearing a mask while in close proximity.