Todd Lake Loop Trail: An Easy Hike Near Bend, Oregon

Todd Lake Loop Trail on Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is an easy hike near Bend, Oregon. This short trail offers views of Broken Top and Mount Bachelor as you make your way around the lake. Depending on the time of year, you may see wildflowers in spring bloom or witness a stunning winter landscape.

If you’re looking for a quick introduction to the Cascade Lakes area on a day trip from Bend, this is the best lake to visit because it offers beautiful views and a short and easy trail that is family-friendly.

Todd Lake is one of the prettiest lakes found along Cascade Lakes Highway. It is also one of the most popular lakes to visit since it is so close to Bend, Oregon. Yep, this lake is very popular with local residents, but so are most of the lakes found in this area like Sparks Lake, Devil’s Lake, and Elk Lake. However, this lake is the closest to Bend!

In summer, Todd Lake is a popular place for hiking, picnicking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. In winter, it is a terrific site for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Although keep in mind that if you do want to access Todd Lake in winter, you’ll need to head to Mount Bachelor Nordic Center or Dutchman Sno-park which are both near Mount Bachelor approximately 1.8 miles east of the lake.

The lake is located on the east side of the Cascade Mountain Range in a small glacial valley at the base of Broken Top Mountain. The glacier that created the valley melted away about 13,000 years ago leaving a glacial cirque. As a result, Todd Lake is relatively deep for its size. Most of the lake’s water comes from snow melt and the water eventually drains out through Todd Creek and disappears in a lava field about two miles southwest.

Todd Lake was originally named “Lost Lake” because it was so difficult to find but the citizens of Bend asked to have the name changed to avoid confusion with other lakes in Oregon with the same name. The name Todd Lake became official in 1922 in honor of John Y. Todd, an early pioneer in Central Oregon who built the first bridge across the Deschutes River in 1860. He later became a successful cattle rancher and founded the Farewell Bend Ranch which gave the city of Bend its name.

If you’d like to hike a more challenging trail, I recommend hiking the South Sister Trail which is a hike to the summit of Oregon’s third tallest mountain. See trail details here.

When you arrive at the Todd Lake Day Use Area, you’ll need to walk a short distance to see Todd Lake. At the west shore of the lake are day use facilities such as picnic tables, fire pits, and a vault toilet. There is also a small campground but it only has three tent sites.

Todd Lake is part of the Deschutes National Forest and managed by the U.S. Forest Service. From May through September, you will need to pay a fee to visit Todd Lake and the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. A Northwest Forest Pass or National Park Pass is also acceptable. See below for fee details:

• Northwest Forest Pass ($30)
• Day ePass ($5)
• National Forest Day Pass ($5)
• Interagency Annual Pass ($80)

If you’d like to hike the Todd Lake Loop Trail you will not need a wilderness permit, however a permit is needed if you want to access other hiking trails in the area which lead into the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Todd Lake Hiking Trail

Enjoy fresh mountain air and impressive mountain peaks as you circle pristine Todd Lake. The subalpine lake sits at an elevation of 6,150 feet (1,870m) above sea level so you may want to wear a few warm layers if you’re planning an early spring or fall hike.

The hike around Todd Lake is very popular, especially in summer so don’t be surprised to see a packed parking lot if you show up on a weekend or during school holidays between July and September.

Before you begin your hike, you may first want to stop and take in the stunning views of Todd Lake from the large meadow at the start of the trail. Broken Top’s peak will be visible in the background. This is a great spot to take a few photos.

Continue your hike along the 1.6 mile loop trail that circumnavigates Todd Lake in whichever direction you prefer. We hiked in an anti-clockwise direction. Either way, the hiking trail travels through a dense conifer forest full of Mountain hemlock, lodgepole pine, and various fir trees.

You will eventually come to a large meadow at the north end of the lake. During late spring and early summer, this meadow is usually filled with blooming wildflowers. Also at this time of year, there may still be snow cover, or snow cover that is quickly melting which makes this part of the trail very wet and muddy.

During our hike in late June, there was still a considerable amount of snow on the trail and in the meadows. We were not prepared and therefore had to spend a good hour or so hiking in soggy socks and shoes! It didn’t dampen our experience though because the weather was perfect.

From the north side of Todd Lake are great views of Mount Bachelor. This is another really good spot to stop and take photos before continuing the hike. Travel back through the forest on the other side of the lake and finish up at the trailhead. As you travel through the forest, keep your eyes peeled for various bird species. We saw several different birds and even had a few attempt to land on our hands!

Wildflowers At Todd Lake

The meadows surrounding Todd Lake are well-known for their colorful wildflower displays. So much so that the Forest Service designated Todd Lake as a Pacific Northwest Region Wildflower Viewing Area.

Wildflowers begin to bloom at Todd Lake around the end of June and continue through mid-August, however peak bloom happens in mid-July. The display begins when Jeffrey’s shooting star and white marsh marigold bloom in the wet meadows and riparian areas surrounding Todd Lake.

Newberry’s knotweed follows on the well-drained slopes above the lake before elephanthead and other alpine plants begin to bloom in the meadows and along the lake shore.

Common wildflowers you are likely to see in the meadows include Gorman’s buttercup, alpine asters, American alpine speedwell, Indian paintbrush, small-flowered paintbrush, high mountain cinquefoil, Gray’s ligusticum, swamp laurel, yellow monkeyflower, Lewis monkey flower, arrowleaf groundsel, and false asphodel.

Wildlife At Todd Lake

Todd Lake and the forest surrounding the lake is home to a variety of wildlife including black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, coyotes, black bears, bobcats, cougars, badgers, beavers, porcupines, raccoons, skunks, martens, minks, weasels, frogs, and salamanders.

The lake is also home to over 160 species of birds including seven owl species, waterfowl, songbirds, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and birds of prey. During our visit, we did see several species of birds and even had a few birds try to land on our hands and shoulders! They were obviously very comfortable with humans. I’m not too sure which species they were though.

As for fish, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks Todd Lake with brook trout. These are the only game fish found in the lake.

Tips For Hiking Todd Lake

• If visiting Todd Lake in summer, keep in mind that this area is very popular especially on weekends so plan accordingly i.e. arrive early or be prepared to wait for a parking spot.

• If visiting in spring or early summer, be prepared for a significant amount of snow on the trail. I recommend wearing waterproof boots if possible unless you want wet sneakers which is what happened to us.

• Cascade Lakes Byway is at a higher elevation than Bend and therefore usually always a few degrees cooler too. Pack some light layers for your hike just incase, particularly if you plan to hike in the late afternoon.

• There is no potable water, you’ll need to bring your own. I recommend this hydro flask water bottle. You could also bring a water filtering bottle as there are streams located along the trail. Be sure to keep water purifying tablets in your backpack incase of an emergency.

• Dogs must be leased at all times according to posted rules.

• Be aware that the frogs and tadpoles in Todd Lake are a protected species therefore they may not be removed from the lake. This is one of the reasons that dogs must be leashed while in the area.

How To Get To Todd Lake

From Bend, travel 24 miles west on Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway until you reach Forest Road 4600-370. Then drive for 0.5 miles on the forest road to Todd Lake Trailhead.

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