Veda Lake Trail #673

The hardest part about the journey to Veda Lake is the road getting there. The Sherar Burn Road aka Kinzel Lake Road and Forest Road 2613 is labeled as a primitive road. It was probably 20 years ago, we cracked our oil pan taking our mini-van of kids up there. So take a higher clearance vehicle, take it slow, and pick your way around the larger rocks in the road. Once at the trailhead, which also serves the Dry Fir Trail #674A, cross the road and pick up the Veda Lake Trail. The trail begins climbing to the Veda Butte for the first 3/4 mile. At that point, the trail then starts dropping into a series of switchbacks to the lake. Where the trail passes through rocky openings, there are good photo opportunities of Mt. Hood with Veda Lake in the foreground. There are a few campsites in the vicinity of the campground. The lake itself stays surprisingly cold through summer and supports a population of crawdads (crawfish). Once you've enjoyed your time at the lake, return the way that you came to return to the trailhead and your vehicle.