QuikTrip: Hidden Treasure Near Mount Bachelor
Mount Bachelor looms large in the distance almost everywhere you go in Bend, so Dale and I agreed we should check it out, even though it is primarily used for winter skiing. When we arrived we found a hive of mountain bikers buzzing around the parking lot and trails. There was also an amazing-looking zip line that we would have ridden, except that it costs a small fortune!
Bachelor, which is a dormant volcano, got its name because it stands apart from the nearby Three Sisters Mountains (which are also volcanic peaks). That’s funny! I think I’d avoid three lava-spewing females too! Ha!
After our short walkabout, we left the mountain. However, we weren’t ready for the adventure to end, so we ended up turning down a gravel road that had a sign declaring we’d find Todd Lake at the end. Why not? Our car was already covered in a layer of red dirt.
Todd Lake
Once again, the Lord blessed us with a parking spot in a very crowded, small parking area. We donned our hiking shoes, grabbed our backpack and headed in the direction of the lake. Before we even left the parking lot, we followed our ears to a small gurgling river and got a few photos of that. And though it was beautiful, much more was coming.
Todd Lake is situated in a small glacial valley between Bachelor and Broken Top Mountains. The glacier that created the valley melted away about 13,000 years ago, leaving a glacial cirque that is now Todd Lake, which is 6,150 feet above sea level.
We followed the loop trail around the lake, took a quick dip in the chilly water, then headed home. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves!
Slideshow: Mobile devices swipe to view.
The meadow at one end of the lake had all sorts of wild flowers. These were the only red ones we saw though. Several small winding streams came down from the hills where snow is melting. We just couldn’t get over how beautiful this walk was. To the right of this path is a steep hill that sends water down toward the lake making the ground mushy. A view of Mt. Bachelor across Todd Lake. Our walk around the lake was very serene. There was no man-made noise except for occasional conversations. Mt. Bachelor is known for its skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. Todd Lake is located 24 miles southwest of Bend, is situated in a small glacial valley at the base of Broken Top, south of Mt. Bachelor. The trail around Todd Lake is just under two miles and has woodlandns and meadows. We took time to let our suits dry out after sitting in the cold lake water. The lake was so cold and clear. A small river ran out of Todd Lake. Dale videos some of it.
Here is some audio of the river running out of Todd Lake.
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