2.3 hr
Overview
This hike takes you up to the Zigzag Ridge and East Zigzag Mountain, a rocky summit with great views all around, especially of Mount Hood, but with other Cascade volcanoes also in view. A major stopover along the way is Burnt Lake, a picturesque mountain lake with a pretty view of Mount Hood. There's also a pretty and little known waterfall just off the trail before you get to Burnt Lake. Most of the trail is through forest with occasional views. The Burnt Lake Trail #772 begins wide and gentle on an old road track in a lush forest that was burned over in the late 19th century. Start to the right of the trail sign, where you pass through a stile. The principal tree cover here is Douglas-fir, western hemlock, silver fir and vine maple. Review the map board and sign in at the wilderness permit box. Burnt Lake Creek runs down to the right and is shaded by red-cedar. Large, scorched stumps, mainly cedars, are all that remain of the magnificent old-growth forest. Lady fern, devil's club, sword fern, starry solomon plume, oxalis, and bunchberry form a lush groundcover. Gradually ascend. A spur to the right leads down to a tributary of Burnt Lake Creek. Cross the creek after this and round another large cedar snag. Then you'll cross several small creeks using plank walks. Another spur to the left leads down into the Lost Creek valley to a campsite and views from the top of multi-tiered Lost Creek Falls. To get a head-on view of the falls requires more of a scramble and bushwhack to the creek bed. The trail switchbacks up from here and makes a traverse, crossing a creek and then becoming a long gradual ascent. Brooklets gush from springs above the trail. The path dips to cross a creek reeking of skunk-cabbage. The trail crosses a plank bridge and enters a Sitka alder clearing. Cross Burnt Lake Creek and head up to Burnt Lake, keeping right. At a spot marked B, No Camping Here, one can go left to the shore and get a classic view of Mount Hood reflected in the still waters. The montane forest encircling the lake is co
Trail Stats
0.0 km
701 m
1515 m
0 m
—
Photos
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
Trail photo
No caption provided.
400px-EastZigzagMap
400px-EastZigzagMap
250px-Mt
250px-Mt
250px-Burntlake
250px-Burntlake
250px-BurntLake14
250px-BurntLake14
250px-LostCreekFalls1
250px-LostCreekFalls1
400px-Mthoodfromezigzag
400px-Mthoodfromezigzag