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Todd Lake is one of our favorite easy hikes because it has everything – mountain views, forested trails that stay within sight of the lake, wildflowers and, in the winter, snowshoe access from Mt. Bachelor. |
TODD LAKE
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Todd Lake is one of our favorite easy hikes because it has everything – mountain views, forested trails that stay within sight of the lake, wildflowers and, in the winter, snowshoe access from Mt. Bachelor. |
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Broken Top peaks up over the ridge on the north end of the lake. |
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On our first snowshoe trek to the lake, I was surprised to find it frozen solid ... but what would you expect at 6,151 feet in elevation?! On that day, Broken Top glowed from the spotlight of the sun. |
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We returned to Todd Lake later than winter, this time armed with plenty of bread crumbs, dried apricots and nuts ... |
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... and made friends with the locals.
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On a June day with the temperatures in town in the low 70s, we packed a lunch and headed back with the intent of climbing the ridge to the north of Todd Lake (you can see the kidney-shaped lake outlined by melting ice). Across the frozen lake to the southeast is Mt. Bachelor. |
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With Todd Lake so easily accessible from Bend, we've returned several times. This photo, with camera set up on a mini-tripod, was shot in early October.
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Just another day at the office in Central Oregon. |
Elevation: Todd Lake is at 6,151 feet, and the elevation gain is 500 feet if you opt to climb the ridge just north of the lake. Trail distance: 1.25 miles following the trail around the lake; between 4-5 miles round trip by snowshoe from Mt. Bachelor parking lot, depending on which route you go. Rated: Easy in summer; a good work-out on snowshoes in winter. Latitude: 44.03 Longitude: 121.68417 Directions: From downtown Bend take Century Drive, which turns into Cascade Lakes Hwy. Just past Mt. Bachelor, turn right near milepost 23 at the sign to Todd Lake. Travel 0.6 miles to the parking area just below the lake. If you're snow-shoeing in from Mt. Bachelor ski area, park near the Nordic lodge and take the groomed corridor out to Forest Service land (trail options are posted on a large map near the Nordic center). Fees: NW Forest Pass in the summer; no fee to park at Mt. Bachelor parking lot and snowshoe in. |
