Dollar Lake is a small pond in the Mt Hood Wilderness on the mountain’s north side, a few minutes off the Timberline Trail, with bare tent spots and rings of stones scattered through the subalpine firs around it. From some of them, as our note says, you can see Mt Hood right from the tent.
In August 2011 lightning started the Dollar Lake Fire below Elk Cove; it burned about 6,300 acres of the wilderness, including the forest on Vista Ridge, the trail many take up. The Timberline Trail was largely spared, and in our August 2018 photos the firs around the lake stand green. The pond is small and gets low in late summer.
Quick facts
- What it is
- Backcountry spots in the Mt Hood Wilderness, not a campground: no road, no facilities
- Permit
- Free self-issued wilderness permit, May 1 to October 31
- Getting there
- On foot; the lake is about 700 feet off the Timberline Trail, and many come up the Vista Ridge Trail from the end of Forest Road 1650
- Water
- The pond, which gets low in late summer; treat it
- The 2011 fire
- The Dollar Lake Fire burned about 6,300 acres of the wilderness; the Timberline Trail was largely spared
- Spots
- 12 on our map
Which spot to take
- Mt Hood from the tent: The mountain view, Under the snag Our note: some spots can see Mt Hood right from the tent.
- At the water: By the pond, Ring of stones, Open bench Within about 40 feet of the pond.
- Further from the others: Up the slope, On the rocks About 110 feet to the next spot.
Every spot
| Spot | To the pond | Next spot | In our photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| By the pond | 10 ft | 50 ft | the pond right below, the ridge behind it |
| Ring of stones | 30 ft | 50 ft | a big ring of stones on bare ground |
| Open bench | 40 ft | 100 ft | a broad bare bench, stones along its edge |
| In the firs | 60 ft | 50 ft | shaded ground under tall firs |
| Among the logs | 110 ft | 30 ft | logs and stones edging a shaded pad |
| Under the snag | 110 ft | 30 ft | a pad by a silver snag, Mt Hood through the trees |
| The mountain view | 120 ft | 30 ft | Mt Hood filling the sky above the pad |
| Stone-edged pad | 130 ft | 30 ft | a pale pad ringed with stones, young firs |
| Behind the firs | 140 ft | 50 ft | a small pad tucked behind young firs |
| On the slope | 180 ft | 50 ft | open slope, young firs, the valley beyond |
| Up the slope | 300 ft | 110 ft | a bare pad among young firs |
| On the rocks | 380 ft | 110 ft | a rocky pad on the hillside |
Distances are straight lines from each pin, to the water and to the nearest neighbor, so read them as “about”. Photos from August 2018.
Questions
- Can you drive to Dollar Lake?
- No. It is in the Mt Hood Wilderness, a few minutes’ walk off the Timberline Trail.
- Do you need a permit?
- A free, self-issued wilderness permit from May 1 to October 31, where one is provided at the trailhead.
- Is there water?
- The pond, but it is small and gets low in late summer. Treat or filter it.
- Did the 2011 fire burn here?
- The Dollar Lake Fire burned about 6,300 acres around it, including the Vista Ridge forest, but the Timberline Trail was largely spared; in our 2018 photos the firs at the lake are green.
Nearby
- McNeil Campground the nearest campground by road, on the Sandy below the west side
Checked October 2026 with Forest Service: Mt Hood Wilderness permits (Ramona Falls page), Wy’east Blog: 10 years after the Dollar Lake Fire, The Columbian, September 2011 and Oregon Hikers: Vista Ridge – Dollar Lake – Barrett Spur. Been there since? Tell us what has changed: support@tentspots.com.
Amenities
WATER
VIEW
12 Camping Spots
