Trillium Lake
Trillium Lake
Near Government Camp, OR
Stunning, spectacular, and incredible are words I have seen to describe this small lake situated at the base of Mt. Hood. Trillium Lake is found in Mount Hood National Forest, near the small community of Government Camp in northern Oregon, and is well worth a visit to enjoy and photograph.
On any summer afternoon, this wonderful location will be filled with families, kayakers, hikers, fishermen, and swimmers, all enjoying the fantastic views of Mount Hood from this crystal-clear lake. But once the crowds clear, this majestic place transforms into one of the most beautiful vistas found anywhere in the Northwest. If you are in the area, do yourself a favor and visit this stunning, spectacular, and incredible location.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The location of this shot is an easy 100 yard walk from the parking area.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
3,601 Ft. Elevation
Photography Tips
With its perfectly placed view of Mt. Hood, this magnificent location can be photographed from several points around the lake. However, in my opinion, the best place is along the road/beach area , about 100 yards from the main parking lot.
The main challenges are to find the best light, hope for a perfectly still cold morning (for the mirror reflection and stream/fog rising from the lake), keep the ducks from swimming into your scene, and potentially create a foreground that fits your vision and composition. The beach area (along the road) is about 100 - 200 yards long and provides many rocks/boulders to choose from. You may benefit from scouting the location the day before to get a sense of the composition for your sunrise shot.
If you arrive for sunrise, you can photograph this location before the sun crests the horizon (like the image below from Matt Reynolds). This will provide a more colorful sky (and water reflection). Or you can wait for the sunlight to illuminate Mt Hood and the lake and ridge to the left.
For me, the best light was about 35 minutes after sunrise, when the sun began to illuminate the fog and shoreline to the left. It is just a matter of personal preference.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the parking area for Trillium Lake
From Government Camp - drive east on US-26 E for about 1.6 miles and you will see a sign for Trillium Lake. Turn right and drive on the paved road for 1.8 miles (past the campground and picnic areas) until you come to the parking area. Find a parking spot and walk toward the lake and find your spot. Easy Peezy.
View In Google earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 24 mm
Exposure – 30 sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – August 8th
Time – 6:36 am
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
From the beach area (by the main parking area), the shot is facing North by Northeast. In the summer months, this allows for photographing Trillium Lake at either sunset or sunrise. However, I prefer SUNRISE as the early morning light illuminates the shoreline on the left.
An added benefit for photographing this location at SUNRISE is you might be the only person there.
Best Time of Year
This location can be photographed anytime you can access the lake. The earlier in the year provides more snow on Mt Hood, which adds to the composition.
Lens(es) Needed
There are many ways to photograph Trillium Lake. I used a 24mm lens for the shot above.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
From May 1st to October 30th - there is a $10 day use area fee per vehicle.
Direction of the Shot
The shot is north by northeast at around 15°.
Equipment Needed
All you need is a steady eye and sturdy tripod.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
At sunrise there may be only a few folks and several ducks at this location. At sunset, the area will be filled with people.
Weather
Cell Service
Cell service is SPOTTY at this location.
Area Guides and Workshops
None