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Mt. Hood Territory Travel Articles
- Hidden Gem
- Just an Old Barn
- Road Trip
By M.J. Cody, The Oregonian Column, Wingin’ It
Timothy Lake shimmers in the crisp mountain air. Fishermen dot the shores and a lone motorboat putters across the center. We see a couple of hikers with walking sticks and serious backpacks who must be heading for the nearby Pacific Crest Trail, which traverses along the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges from Canada to Mexico. We have arrived at Timothy from the back route, up highway 224 along the Clackamas River from Estacada on a stunning spring day. Since we are neither fishermen nor hikers today, but simple wanderers looking at the sights, we continue past Timothy to highway 26 for lunch at Timberline Lodge. We are a little late in the afternoon for traditional lunchtime, but are lucky to find window seats in the upstairs Ram’s Head bar with a breathtaking view of Mt. Hood looming at arm’s length. We hate to leave our comfy aerie – the chili and burgers, the locally brewed ale and the warm ambiance of that magnificent lodge, but we’ve got more exploring to do.
We backtrack east on highway 26 toward Timothy Lake again, this time stopping near its northern shores for a casual hike into sub-alpine meadows full of wildflowers and birdsong to a tiny lake. Er, pond. Little Crater Lake is only about 40’ feet in diameter and does not resemble a crater any more than any little round pond does, but, like the real Crater Lake, this pool has the same rich hues that make it famous. Exquisite cobalt blue at the center is surrounded by crystal clear jewel-like turquoise at the rim. My friend Jim thinks it’s a scruffy pond, mostly because of the surrounding untamed grasses, scrub brush and reeds, but I love it. Formed by a deep fissure and artesian springs, at certain angles, you can peer deep into the earth through the clear blue waters. Imagine coming upon this marvelous place for the first time. The colors alone would stop you in your tracks and make you wonder if you hadn’t stumbled upon an enchanted pool. Once Jim takes a real look, he agrees. Amidst the unruly wild, a hidden gem.
To get to Timothy Lake from Estacada, continue on Hwy. 224 up the Clackamas River. Just past Ripplebrook Ranger station the USFS turn-off road to Timothy Lake is well-marked and eventually joins Hwy. 26. For more information about things to do and see in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, please call visitor information at 800-424-3002.
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