Serene Lake Trail

As mentioned above, spending the day on the Serene Lake Trail will require a high clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead and plenty of bug spray to fight off unwelcomed hiking companions. These minor inconveniences aside, it is a fantastic hike that showcases the beauty of Mount Hood NF!

Setting out from the trailhead, you will make your way to the west through the tree cover, descending slightly through the Rock Lakes Basin in order to cross over the South Fork Roaring River. On the opposite side, the trail will bend slightly to the northwest as you work around the slope of a hill.

Here, the trail will turn to the southwest on the approach to Serene Lake, where you will find campsites and picnic areas if you plan on spending a few hours (or days) in the area. If not, continue along the trail as it climbs uphill through the tree cover to the southwest, eventually meeting up with the endpoint of the trail at a junction with the Grouse Point Trail. From here, simply turn back along the trail and retrace your steps to return to the trailhead where you began.