Little Crater Lake to Timothy Lake Campground is a 3.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Government Camp, Oregon that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
FIRE CLOSURE: From Sep 25, 2020 - May 15, 2021 there are closures in this park or area due to wildfire. For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mthood/alerts-notices/?aid=62187
Busy near Little Crater Lake gets better near PCT. Easy trail with no elevation gain.
So amazing. But crowded at first but opens up if you go out to the PCT.
Nice little gentle hike from one trailhead parking to another. You could do this hike starting from either location. We started from Little Crater Lake this time, but would probably reverse the order next time. The real treat on this hike is clarity of Little Crater Lake. It is so crystal clear and blue that the trees at the bottom really just "pop" for the camera. The trail intersects with a couple of other trails - including the Pacific Crest Trail and the Timothy Lake bike trail (13 miles). The trail was moderately crowded, but almost everyone had masks or buffs. The ride in and out was full of potholes. Doable in pretty much any car, but some of the holes are pretty deep so take your time.
This trail is more of a walk than a "hike", so the 5 star rating is based on using it for daily exercise while camping in the area. The trail is flat and hugs the shoreline for a majority of the walk. Lots of shade and amazing views of Mt Hood from many parts of the trail. From the trailhead, take it clockwise and you will probably have better views. Note: there is a (small) portion of the trail where a wooden walkway that is in bad shape. There are broken and/or missing boards - along with some overgrowth - but it is very doable. Fee = $10 day use (unless you have a Forest Services Pass)
Good trail. There is no phone signal. I suggest to download the map before you go.
Little crater lake looking amazing when the sun is up, otherwise it’s too shady to see the awesome deep blue.
This is a beautiful trail, very easy. I would only call it moderate due to length. We ended up hiking from Little Crater Lake to Timothy Lake and kept going, turning back once we got maybe 1/2 way around the Timothy Lake Loop. In all, once we got back to Little Crater Lake, we’d hiked ~14 miles. We encountered campers and a fair amount of people walking and running on the trail. It was fairly cold (in early September), so bring layers.
Very flat trip. Crosses the Pacific Crest Trail in the middle. End up at Timothy Lake Picnic area and there is a gravel boat launch there. But access on that side takes you hours as you have to loop the entire West side of the lake, so access from Little Crater Lake give an nice walk and faster access.