The trail circling around Trillium Lake, an iconic destination on the Mt. Hood National Forest, has several new sections of boardwalk thanks to the work of the NFF and our many partners. Construction wrapped up in the fall of 2023 on seven new segments of boardwalk that traverse through meadows and marshy areas on this popular hike. Visitors can marvel at the views of Mt. Hood from many platforms along the boardwalk, which was also constructed wider than previous boardwalks for improved accessibility.
Boardwalk under construction. Photo by Jeff Malik
The previous boardwalk was constructed in the early 1990s and was in need of replacement after years of heavy use. The same contractor who built the original boardwalk successfully bid on this project and was thrilled to return to Trillium Lake to construct the new and improved version, which should last even longer than the first. Volunteers and youth conservations corps also assisted with trail work and demolition of the old boardwalk.
The new boardwalk is more than 40 inches wide and was constructed with many viewing platforms and passing areas, to accommodate wheelchairs and other types of mobility devices. However, two additional segments of the boardwalk were not replaced at this time, so visitors using wheelchairs or those with limited mobility should plan accordingly and might have to enjoy the trail as an out-and-back journey. The Forest Service is committed to replacing those segments of boardwalk in the future and making additional improvements to the rest of the trail, in order to provide a more fully accessible loop around Trillium Lake.
Completed boardwalk. Photos by Jeff Malik
This project was made possible by funding from the U.S. Forest Service, a Recreational Trails Program grant from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, with additional funding from Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, Timberline Lodge, and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort.
Cover photo by Andrea Gal
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