Trip Report: Hideaway Lake, Oregon
--When, Where, Conditions--
When: 6/21-6/25
Location: Hideaway Lake, OR Conditions Daytime temps 65-75, night temps 45-60. It was sunny with a slight breeze everyday. Duration: 4 days
The Report: Getting to Hideaway Lake from Portland was pretty easy. There was no cell service, so having the directions pre-planned was helpful. It took under two hours, ending with a 5 mile dirt/gravel road. My low to the ground, Mazda 3 could handle the drive just fine. It was dark when we arrived, so we picked one of the 9 sites somewhat blindly.
Come morning, we were surprised with an amazing view! The campsites are generally spacious and somewhat secluded from the other sites. Some sites are right on the lake. The small, clear lake was less than a mile in circumference with a nice trail surrounding it. It was absolutely gorgeous! Despite being June, the weather was very pleasant every day. It got pretty hot when directly in the sun or while hiking. There are also trails connecting to Shellrock lake, which is only about half a mile away.
Shellrock was similarly beautiful with a trail looping around the lake. The hike is pretty easy, however there is a section where you have to climb over a large pile of rocks and push through some thicker brush. We didn't find many other trails around the area. There was, however, beautiful green forests with wildflowers, birds, and chipmunks to observe. The lake is good for fishing and swimming. The water is clear, warm, and in many parts pretty shallow. Though we only caught two small trout, we stayed entertained by watching all the crawfish and newts! I recommend bringing a small canoe, kayak or sup with you.
The mosquitos and bugs were definitely out and about. I recommend bringing bug spray. The campground does not provide running water, so be sure to pack lots of extra. There is a pit toilet available that they keep pretty clean. It was secluded and quiet for the first 3 nights and then the families started rocking in. Overall, I highly recommend Hideaway! Less than 2 hours from Portland, it truly felt like a world away.
