Map showing campground location near Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon

Camper submitted image from Hideaway Lake Campground - Mt. Hood National Forest

Hideaway Lake Campground - Mt. Hood National Forest

Nine campsites sit along a bumpy forest service road that leads to a small mountain lake in Mt. Hood National Forest. The drive requires careful navigation, as several reviewers mention rough conditions with potholes and narrow sections where tree branches brush vehicles. Cell service drops out well before reaching the campground, making offline maps essential.

Half the sites provide direct lake access, while others sit back in heavily shaded areas under old-growth fir trees. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with one vault toilet serving the entire campground. Pat S. notes "you can kayak or canoe on the lake" and mentions fishing opportunities. The lake also supports a hiking trail that connects to another lake to the north.

Mosquitoes present a significant challenge during summer months, with multiple reviewers emphasizing the need for repellent and recommending campfires for relief. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis and fills quickly during peak season, with some campers staying for extended periods. Sites accommodate RVs up to 16 feet, though the rough access road makes smaller vehicles more practical. For additional options in the region, campers can explore campgrounds around Mt. Hood National Forest.

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Location

Public Campground

Hideaway Lake Campground - Mt. Hood National Forest is located in Oregon

Directions

In Estacada, OR at the intersection of State Rts. 211 and 224, take Rt. 224 east and go 24.7 miles to Ripplebrook Guard Station. Turn left immediately after Guard Station onto Forest Rt. 4631 and go 2.9 miles to a "Y" intersection. Bear right onto Forest Rt. 4630 and go 4.1 miles to an intersection and campground sign. Turn left onto Forest Rt. 57 (paved) and go 1 mile to a "Y" intersection. Bear left onto Forest Rt. 58 and go 3 miles to another "Y" intersection and campground sign. Bear left onto Forest Rt. 5830 (gravel) and go 4.1 miles to another "Y" intersection. Bear left, staying on Rt. 5830, and go 1.2 miles to an intersection and campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.

Coordinates

45.1234319 N
121.967281 W

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Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
AT&T
No Coverage

Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
AT&T
No Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Picnic Table
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

1 hr 48 min from Portland, OR
2 hrs 14 min from Salem, OR
2 hrs 32 min from Albany, OR
2 hrs 49 min from Corvallis, OR

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

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1 Star

4.0

out of 5

10 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the spacious, private lakeside sites and clean facilities in this secluded Mt. Hood location. However, summer availability is challenging due to first-come basis and long-term occupancy.

theo

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2022

Remote. Beautiful. Buggy

With fire closures on highway 224 we had to take 26 and then down around Timothy lake. Road was mostly fine. I was glad we were in a big truck though the higher in we got. It’s pretty damn remote.

Camp sites are beautiful. We stayed right on the water. Saw some cute salamanders swimming around.

The mosquitoes were BAD. Even with multiple applications of repellent we were getting absolutely swarmed. Especially around dusk. A fire finally brought us some respite.

Only stayed one night. Would go back again with a flamethrower for the bugs.

Site3?

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

Chanel C.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 23, 2021

Small, quiet, primitive campground

One of my favorite spots to camp, but get there early - the sites fill up fast since The Portlander let this secret out. You will lose cell service, so bring backup guidance with you. It’s a service road, so the road does get rocky and has some potholes. The camp itself is wonderful, there’s a few sites on the water and a few away from the lake. The vault toilets have always been clean when I go. There’s a lovely hike around the lake with a few steep spots. Great for kayaking, floating, and swimming. Wonderful place to get away from it all!

Site3

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

Pat S.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 17, 2020

A high Cascade wonder

This is a very secluded campground in the Mt. Hood National forest. It is located down a bumpy NF road. It has nine sites half of which have direct access to the lake. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. There is one pit toilet that was amazingly clean when we were there. The sites are dirt but are quite lovely. They are all heavily shaded. When we were there the Rhodies were blooming. It was pretty beautiful. There are various trails in the area and you can hike to another lake to the north. You can kayak or canoe on the lake. We saw some huge crawdads but didn't bother trying to catch any. You can fish the lake. You cannot reserve sites in this CG. Bring bug spray in the spring and summer.

Site2

Month of VisitJuly

(7) View All

Kara B.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 24, 2020

Beautiful place to wake up

Only stayed one night ..The drive was intense in a Honda but I made it...followed someone in...otherwise not sure if I could find it with no service. The spot was peaceful , cleanish toilets and there was a fire ban at the time so we had to bring our own fire pit which was tricky and also called for a lot more bugs . Oh yeah bugs- MOSQUITOES and all the other goodies you find high up in the tops of mountain lakes. But a great find none the less would go again and stay longer since it’s such a drive up.

Thurman G.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 18, 2020

What a mistake

I used the get directions button. Followed the map.

First off the reviews said phone service there. How? Cell reception drops before even getting to the Forest Road.

To say the road is a little rough is a HUGE understatement. The closer I got to this lake the worse the road got. It went from a decent graveled two lane road to a one lane road, then a dirt road with potholes, to a very narrow dirt track. There was winter storm damage everywhere. Many trees had fallen across the road but the road had been cleared. Still some of the tree branches would rub the side of my car. I would have turned around but there was simply no place to do that. I moved forward hoping to find some way to turn around. Then the road had a large area that was just mud. On the right the land rapidly rose and on the left the land sloped rapidly down into a ravine. Going as slow as possible through the mud I felt the car start to slide towards the ravine. My years of driving prevented the slide down into the ravine. Push on looking for any turn place to turn around. The road became worse and the fallen trees become more abundant. Branches brushing the car almost constant. One of the fallen trees must have been precariously balanced because I heard the scrape on the side of the car and suddenly there was a tree trunk smashing through my windshield. Had there been a passenger in my car they would have died. I did manage to find enough room to turn around a bit farther down the road. After what was a very painful 20 point turn around I made my way out of the nightmare experience and limped back to civilization.

Tracy L.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 5, 2019

Small campground

Great Lakeside campground. Road can be a bit rough. Mosquitos!! Great hiking.

Gretchen H.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2018

Quiet, separate campsites.

Very nice during the weekday. Small lake, great for an easy paddle and fishing. Easy hike around the lake and lots of space and privacy at the campgrounds. Easy access to the lake from all sites.

Gretchen H.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2018

Quaint, nice big tent sites.

This place is great duringnthe week. Easy access to the lake from all sites. Stars stars Stars! Nice big campsites, felt pretty far away from the neighbors. Great for an easy paddle, also an easy hike around the lake.

Sarah W.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2018

Hidden by trees

Hidden from the main road. Don't even realize it is there until you pull in!! Love it and all the privacy

Month of VisitJune

(5) View All

Patty R.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 3, 2018

Nice little lake...never got to stay! We made 3 trips to this very pretty lake! Small lake, very pretty area, small campground - only 5 sites and a outhouse.

Trip 1 mid June - Couldn't get drive into the lake, to much snow! Parked and hiked in for an enjoyable day hike. Trip 2 mid July - Monday - campground was full, many campers said they planned on staying full 2 weeks. Didn't get to stay. Ended up camping at Harritt Lake. Trip 3 - 2nd week of August. Monday morning and again campground is full! Saw some of same people as we saw before. Talking with them, it seems they were on their 2nd 2week camping trip to the lake!

This campground would probably be a great late season/fall camping spot, however summer is very difficult to find a spot.. Campground is First come, first served.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need reservations for Hideaway Lake Campground?

Hideaway Lake Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. This small campground fills up quickly, especially on weekends and during peak summer months (July-August). For the best chance of securing a spot, arrive early on weekdays. During busy periods, campers sometimes stay for extended periods (up to 2 weeks). Having a backup camping option nearby, such as Harritt Lake, is recommended in case the campground is full upon arrival.

Are there photos of Hideaway Lake Campground to view before visiting?

Photos of Hideaway Lake Campground can be found on The Dyrt website and other camping platforms. These images typically showcase the lakeside campsites, the small peaceful lake, surrounding forest, and the general campground layout. Visual highlights include the picnic tables and fire pits at each site, the wooded setting, and views of the lake. For the most current images, check official Mt. Hood National Forest resources or camping websites before your trip.

What do reviews say about Hideaway Lake Campground?

Hideaway Lake Campground offers a secluded experience with nine sites, about half providing direct lake access. Each site includes a picnic table and fire pit with good privacy between neighbors. The campground features a single pit toilet that's generally well-maintained. The access road is notably rough and bumpy, presenting challenges for low-clearance vehicles, though determined drivers in smaller cars do make it through. There's no cell service at the campground. Visitors appreciate the beautiful star-gazing, easy lake paddling, hiking opportunities around the lake, and wildlife sightings. Expect mosquitoes during summer months. The campground can be inaccessible due to snow until mid-June.

Where is Hideaway Lake Campground located in Oregon?

Hideaway Lake Campground is nestled in Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. It's accessible via forest service roads that branch off Highway 26. The campground is quite remote and hidden from the main road, making it feel secluded. GPS guidance may be unreliable as cell service drops before reaching the forest road, so bring backup navigation. The campground sits alongside Hideaway Lake, offering a peaceful woodland setting in the Mt. Hood wilderness area.

Can you fish at Hideaway Lake in Oregon?

Yes, fishing is available at Hideaway Lake. The small lake is great for an easy fishing experience, making it ideal for casual anglers. While specific fish species aren't mentioned, the calm waters provide good fishing opportunities. Several campsites have direct access to the lake, making it convenient for shore fishing. The lake is also suitable for paddle fishing since it's small and manageable. For current fishing regulations and license requirements, check with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife before your trip.

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Description

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Location

Directions

Coordinates

Connectivity

Connectivity

Access

Site Types

Features

For Campers

Contact

Drive Time

Do I need reservations for Hideaway Lake Campground?

Are there photos of Hideaway Lake Campground to view before visiting?

What do reviews say about Hideaway Lake Campground?

Where is Hideaway Lake Campground located in Oregon?

Can you fish at Hideaway Lake in Oregon?