Mount Hood from Trillium Lake

Trillium Lake isn't natural: a dam across Mud Creek in 1960 flooded a boggy meadow and made this 63-acre lake below Mount Hood. The view from the dam is the classic postcard shot. The loop trail is about 2 miles and nearly flat, with boardwalks through wetlands where wildflowers bloom in summer. People swim, paddle non-motorized boats and fish for trout off the pier.

The day use area is open from May to December, with a per-car fee; check which passes count before you go. In winter, park at the Trillium Sno-Park on Highway 26 (you'll need a Sno-Park permit) and snowshoe or ski about 4.4 miles round trip to the lake.