Portland, OR: Rock & Serene Lakes

While Mt. Hood is still encased in ice, wildflowers replace the snow surrounding the lower-elevation, forest-rimmed Rock and Serene lakes on this 12-miler in Oregon’s Clackamas Wilderness.

Hike to Rock & Serene Lakes

Start at the Shellrock Lake trailhead and hike .5 mile north amid flowering rhododendron and beargrass (May to June for both) to the outlet of Shellrock Lake. Cross on small logs and curve around the lake’s southeastern shore to the junction with the Frazier Spur Trail.

Head north for 1.1 miles to a T-junction and head right (north) to the Serene Lake trailhead at the Frazier Turnaround. Turn left (west), descending through old-growth hemlock forest for .8 mile to the Rock Lakes junction. Fork left (southwest) here for a .7-mile out-and-back to Middle Rock Lake, sparkling in a forested basin below 5,397-foot Frazier Mountain. Return to the junction. After .1 mile, a side trail drops northeast to Lower Rock Lake with a single campsite if you’re ready to stop.

Back on the Serene Lake Trail, continue two miles. As you approach Serene Lake’s overgrown outlet, follow the spur to the lake’s north shore and an isolated campsite with front-porch views. Next day, find the Cache Meadow Trail beside a rotting, moss-covered picnic table on the western shore. Climb 700 feet in a mile before leveling out at a T-junction. Stay on the Cache Meadow Trail and climb a ridge to 4,983 feet and a northward view of four Cascade giants: Hood, Adams, Rainier, and St. Helens.

Descend to Cache Meadow. Just before the trail enters another meadow that edges Cripple Creek, turn left at an unsigned trail junction (look for a “517” plaque 20 yards up trail). Pass through another meadow and begin a climb to the junction with Indian Ridge Road. Go right (northeast) on this old logging road to the Frazier Spur Trail; Mt. Hood looms straight ahead and Mt. Jefferson rises to the southeast. Backtrack to Shellrock Lake, then back to your starting point.

Trail Prep

GEAR UP REI, Clackamas Town Center; (503) 659-1156; rei.com

MAP Mt. Hood ($12, natgeomaps.com)

INFO USFS Zigzag Ranger District; (503) 668-1700; fs.fed.us/r6

-Mapped by Eli Boschetto, Bosco Mountain Photo

Trail Facts

• Distance: 19.3

Waypoints

ROC001

Location: 45.127125, -121.970527

Hike north from Shellrock Lake trailhead.

ROC002

Location: 45.133251, -121.972656

There are two options at the Shellrock Lake outlet: 1) Continue straight (N) to secluded campsites; 2) Turn right over outlet (E) to find more lakeside camping and the Frasier Spur junction.

ROC003

Location: 45.13359, -121.971714

Potential Campsite

ROC004

Location: 45.134692, -121.969625

Large campsite with easy lake access

ROC005

Location: 45.13652, -121.970467

Large campsite and junction with Frazier Spur trail: continue north, finding tree blazes marking the route.

ROC006

Location: 45.135934, -121.972436

Lakeside campsite

ROC007

Location: 45.136683, -121.973155

Cross rockfall slope and skirt lakeside brush. Next, bushwhack 20 yards to secluded campsite.

ROC008

Location: 45.137409, -121.972747

Secluded, lakeside campsite

ROC009

Location: 45.147073, -121.971162

Turn right (north) at T-junction and head to the Serene Lake trailhead at the Frasier Turnaround.

ROC010

Location: 45.148246, -121.969775

Enter Frazier Turnaround campground; proceed straight ahead, looking for signed Serene Lake trailhead on left.

ROC011

Location: 45.148579, -121.969485

Serene & Rock Lakes trailhead; turn left to follow the trail west and hike through an old-growth hemlock forest.

ROC012

Location: 45.149631, -121.974163

Tackle small creek crossing.

ROC013

Location: 45.149479, -121.981791

There are two options at the Rock Lakes junction: Fork left (S) for Middle and Upper Rock Lakes; fork right for Lower Rock and Serene Lakes.

ROC014

Location: 45.146702, -121.981262

Middle Rock Lake outlet with large campsite. Continue left (southeast) around shore for additional campsites; turn right (southwest) over outlet for faint trail to Upper Rock Lake.

ROC015

Location: 45.145499, -121.980858

Nice campsite with fire ring.

ROC016

Location: 45.144958, -121.981067

Secluded campsite

ROC017

Location: 45.150796, -121.981952

Bear left at the Lower Rock Lake junction to continue along the route. Bear right to reach Lower Rock Lake.

ROC018

Location: 45.151677, -121.980783

A single campsite is located on Lower Rock Lake.

ROC019

Location: 45.150902, -121.982585

A large pond covers the trail at this point; divert around brush on right.

ROC020

Location: 45.149294, -121.984074

Creek crossing.

ROC021

Location: 45.149207, -121.986136

Pass a marsh with a large pond on the right side of trail.

ROC022

Location: 45.153974, -121.993272

Here, pass a large rockfall slope.

ROC023

Location: 45.149858, -122.004638

Continue straight at the Serene Lake junction. Optional: Turn left (S) for north shore access and campsites.

ROC024

Location: 45.149309, -122.003976

Lakeside camping option.

ROC025

Location: 45.149059, -122.005839

Campsite.

ROC026

Location: 45.148187, -122.005554

Large campsite with old bench. Look for signed Cache Meadows Trail to continue loop. From here, the trail swings right, heading north. Optional: Continue straight to reach a secluded campsite.

ROC027

Location: 45.146468, -122.004949

Secluded campsite at end of trail.

ROC028

Location: 45.144743, -122.014718

After climbing 700 feet in a mile, turn left (southeast) at T-junction to reach Cache Meadows.

ROC029

Location: 45.141235, -122.003813

Viewpoint at 4,983 feet: You’ll spot Mts. Hood, Adams, Rainier, and St. Helens.

ROC030

Location: 45.134337, -121.994298

Cripple Creek crossing.

ROC031

Location: 45.133678, -121.994655

Cache Meadows

ROC032

Location: 45.131904, -121.994961

At this unsigned junction, turn left (southeast) before crossing creek into meadows. Hint: to find the junction, look for a “517” plaque 20 yards up trail.

ROC033

Location: 45.130656, -121.993837

Meadow campsite

ROC034

Location: 45.138966, -121.981646

Reach the junction with Indian Ridge Road; turn right (northeast) for one mile to reconnect with Frasier Spur, and return to Shellrock trailhead.

ROC035

Location: 45.144396, -121.973416

Look for Mt. Jefferson to the southeast. Next, continue straight to Waypoint 9 and turn right to reach the trailhead.

Serene Lake

Location: 45.149192, -122.003839

The deep, blue waters of Serene Lake invite weary hikers and backpackers to a cool dip.

Shellrock Trailhead

Location: 45.127138, -121.970279

Start the trail for the Rock and Serene Lakes loop at the lower Shellrock Lake trailhead.

Old-Growth

Location: 45.13062, -121.973734

The Shellrock Lake trail climbs gently through some of Oregon’s prettiest old-growth.

Shellrock Lake

Location: 45.13554, -121.972232

Numerous campsites can be found along the shores of Shellrock Lake.

Middle Rock

Location: 45.146226, -121.980515

Middle Rock Lake is just a short detour off the Rock Lakes loop trail. Find several camp sites around the southeast shore.

Lower Rock

Location: 45.151643, -121.980622

A lone camp site occupies the end of the spur to Lower Rock Lake.

Cascades View

Location: 45.141171, -122.003689

From a high viewpoint, spot Serene Lake below, and Mts. Hood, Adams, Rainier, and St. Helens lining up on the horizon.

Cache Meadow

Location: 45.132997, -121.994269

Summer flowers fill Cache Meadow in Cripple Creek Valley.

Mt. Jefferson

Location: 45.144712, -121.973026

Descending Indian Ridge, spot Mt. Jefferson to the southeast.