Summary:
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This hike is not real popular because of the difficulty in reaching the trailhead and because
of the length and elevation gain. However, in late spring, this is an ideal hike for those
who like to put on ten miles or more with signifiant elevation gain. And the rewards are in
the views available on a clear day and the floral displays available in season.
As you drive to the trailhead along Forest Road 207, you will come to an obvious viewpoint that is well
worth the pull over and peek. Then back on the road, which can be really rough at times, you will come
to a fine trailhead parking area.
Because this hike is presented as a loop hike, obviously you can do it clockwise or counterclockwise. I
always choose the direction that I do a hike based on where the sun will be when I am at the places on
the hike where I want to take some great landscape shots. So, for this hike, I chose counterclockwise.
Trail #772 begins by following an old roadbed that used to provide access to the lookout facilities located
on the surrounding peaks. The road becomes more and more grown over every mile of the hike, and after about
two and a half miles it is no longer recognizable. At the 2.6 mile mark you will come to a junction with a
cutoff trail to Cast Lake. Actually, this cutoff trail #767 is a very steep climb up to Trail #775, which
you will be walking on as you head west on this loop hike.
After passing this junction, continue east on TR #772 where you cross over a small stream then begin a rather
vigorous climb up the side of East Zig Zag Mountain. In less than a mile and a half you will gain over 800
feet in elevation, and then only be on the ridgeline. The good news is that from this ridgeline you can look
past Burnt Lake below you to a full view of Mt. Hood. This is where you turn west on your loop, and it is
where you will now climb to the summit of East Zig Zag Mountain.
From the summit of East Zig Zag Mountain are exceptional views of the Cascade Mountains, from Mt. St. Helens,
Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams to the north to Mt. Jefferson to the south. The summit is very rocky but a great place
to take a break and just enjoy why you came here in the first place.
As you continue west, you drop off the summit and down to Trail #773, which is the access trail for Cast Lake.
You bear left and continue on Trail #775 as you pass Trail #796 to Cast Lake and the cutoff trail #767 that you
passed earlier when you where in the valley hiking eastbound. From this point the trail begins to climb up the
northeastern flank of Zig Zag Mountain. As it reaches the ridgeline, again you are treated to exceptional views
of Cast Lake below you and Mt. Hood to your east.
The trail continues another half mile or so until it comes to the junction of Trail #774, which is the Horseshoe
Ridge trail. Again, you just continue west on Trail #775. In another two miles you will come to your final
junction. Here Trail #789 will take you back down to the trailhead where you began this wonderful journey.
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