The Broken Top Trail is often considered the best kept secret in Bend, Oregon for good reason. While the word is starting to get out about this place it’s still totally worth the visit.
My husband and I were hired to create a travel video for Visit Bend and spent our summer hiking almost every trail in Bend. The verdict? Broken Top Trail to No Name Lake takes the cake. It’s like two hikes in one, lush forests (if you start at Todd Lake), alpine meadows, and craggy mountain peaks with year round ice and snow melt.
Read on to learn why Broken Top Trail is our favorite hike in Bend (with tons of photos)!
Click for a handy Table of Contents!
Broken Top Hike Quick Stats
- Distance: 6 miles, out and back
- Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet
- Crowds: Highly trafficked
- Difficulty: Moderate/difficult
- Hiking to No Name Lake via Broken Top Trail requires a high clearance vehicle with 4WD
Permits Required for Hiking Broken Top
Day Use Permits
- You do need to apply for a day use permit through recreation.gov site. You cannot hike this trail without an advanced permit.
Parking Permits
- A $5 fee is required to park your vehicle at the trailhead. Choose between a day pass or the $30 annual Northwest Forest Pass which covers you for the year.
Helpful Tips for Hiking the Broken Top Trail
You + Sunscreen = Best Friends (Forever)
- What am I, your mother? High elevation, folks, use sunscreen and apply frequently.
- I swear by this sunscreen, I discovered it in France and now buy it in bulk. You’ll never catch me without it!
Wear hiking boots with good traction
- Even though the trails are well maintained, exposed roots are common. It’s easy to trip in the woods, so set yourself up for success by wearing proper shoes.
- These are my hiking bootsand I’d sleep in them if I could.
Stick to the main trail
- There are a lot of social trails (trails created by hikers going off the main trail) which often damage sensitive areas. Stick to the clearly marked trail to preserve delicate flora and wildlife.
No Drones
- The trail is located within Wilderness and as such drones are not allowed.
Pack it in, pack it out
- If you bring something with you, take it out. We encourage you to go a step further and pick up trash you see along the way. Let’s keep the wild beautiful.
Crowds
- Bend is popular place for good reason, safe to say you can expect crowds.
- Start your hike as early as possible. The trail gets crowded quickly and the parking lot fills up in no time. I suggest arriving before 8am, earlier if possible
Pups on trails
- Pups are allowed on the Broken Top Trail, but must be kept on leash.
Check to see if the trail is open before heading out
- Trust me, I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget to do this! Nature is wild, things happen. Call the Forest Service for real-time updates before heading out.
Wildflowers
- For wildflowers, hiking late-July through mid-August is your best bet. We hiked the trail on August 3rd and were pleasantly surprised by the blooms.
Practice Leave No Trace
- If you’re unfamiliar with Leave No Trace, it’s a measure to be a good steward of the land. You can read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here.
When is the trail accessible?
- Access to the Broken Top Crater Trailhead is open between July and October. The gate to the 4WD road is locked all other months.
- If the gate is locked, you can still hike to No Name Lake via the Todd Ridge Trail, more info below.
- Snow drifts are common at the higher elevation, regardless of the season, so prepare by bringing proper shoes.
Can I camp at No Name Lake?
- Because of naughty campers and hikers not adhering to Leave No Trace, camping is not allowed within 1/4 mile of No Name Lake.
Getting to the Broken Top Crater Trailhead
Broken Top Mountain lies 30 miles west of Bend and getting to the trailhead requires a high clearance vehicle with 4WD.
From first-hand experience, the forest road leading up to the trailhead is gnarly. We watched several cars turn around because of the road conditions (read: potholes). To get to the trailhead, drive past the Todd Lake parking lot and continue down Forest Road 370. Road 370 is gated until mid-summer due to snow.
Again, if the gate is locked, you can still hike to No Name Lake via the Todd Ridge Trail, more info below.
Continue down Forest Road 370 for 3 pothole-filled miles and then turn onto Forest Road 380 for half a mile. After half a mile on Road 380, you’ll reach the Broken Top Trailhead. Parking at the trailhead is limited and a pit toilet is provided.
If the signs above don’t deter you from taking this road, I don’t know what will. There’s probably no hope for an adventure seeker like you. Also, call us. You’re our type.
Todd Ridge Trail to No Name Lake
If the gate to Broken Top Trailhead is locked for the season, you can still hike to No Name Lake via Todd Ridge Trail.
- Todd Ridge Trail is 15.6 miles out and back with 2,880 feet of elevation gain. Our friends did this last year and said it was still worth it but it took them about a week to recover.
- The trailhead starts at the Todd Lake parking lot (very limited parking, you’ll want to come early).
- Pay to park or display the Northwest Forest Pass. Several cars were cited for non-payment during our visit.
Broken Top Trail Hike
The Broken Top hike is 6 miles out and back with 1,400 feet of elevation gain. As you can see, this trail is much shorter than the Todd Ridge Trail and gets you to the same exact spot. But don’t let the shorter distance fool you – the 1,400 feet of elevation makes this hike a hearty challenge!
Starting the Broken Top Trail
Park your car, display your pass and complete the mandatory wilderness permit before starting your hike. As you start hiking, you’ll be welcomed by enticing views of Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top Mountain guiding the way. Follow the signs that lead towards No Name Lake.
About .8 miles into the hike you’ll reach a fork in the road. The left trail connects to the Green Lakes trail and the right trail is unnamed — go right (isn’t this how all good stories start?).
You’ll soon notice a peaceful creek. After you pass it, you’ll be greeted by a hill straight ahead. Soak in the views before ascending – it’s quite a trek! As you continue uphill, you’ll continue to be rewarded with striking views of Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top Crater. But mind your feet because the terrain on this part of the trail is full of loose rock and packed dirt.
Good to know: The demanding uphill portions of the hike are broken up by random flat parts. Take advantage of those areas. Hiking is a marathon, not a sprint.
The uphill portion seems to go on for a while, but fret not! When you start noticing snow patches on the ground you’re getting close. Remember, you’re about to summit a mountain – this isn’t a cake walk!
Tip: Try to hike the trail when the spring flowers are blooming because they’re a great distraction from the challenging parts – ha.
Getting to No Name Lake requires a final push up a steep, albeit short, hill. This is when things start to get exciting because you’re about to see No Name Lake!
Reaching the lake is almost euphoric because it’s so beautiful. At this point, I’d encourage you to slow down and enjoy the scenery. You earned it! Rest your legs and allow yourself to take it easy. This is a great spot for lunch and/or snacks.
What’s next?
After you’re done soaking in the gorgeous views, you’ve two options:
- Return to your car, or
- Hike 0.7 miles to a jaw-dropping viewpoint of the Cascades
Can you guess what I recommend? 😉
To get to the panoramic viewpoint, follow the natural trail around the edge of the lake up a steep little hill. The view of the Cascade range from this vantage can’t be missed! Seriously!
This is where you’ll see Broken Top Crater, South Sister, Middle Sister, North Sister, Three Finger Jack, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Washington. We even saw Mt. Hood!
No Name Lake seems like the place most people choose to turn around, but we suggest hiking an extra 0.7 miles to the panoramic viewpoint. You’ll see the Cascade range on full display!
On our way back down the trail, we ran into two campers that asked us if all the people on the trail hiked 15 miles to reach No Name Lake. I mentioned we hiked via Broken Top Trail and they looked surprised.
Turns out they weren’t even aware there was a shorter route. The perks of befriending locals, I tell ya!
Final thoughts
Broken Top Trail to No Name Lake is my favorite hike in Bend. If you’re in the Bend area, this is a hike you can’t miss.
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to hiking Broken Top Trail to No Name Lake. It’s a pleasure to share my experience with you!
FAQ Broken Top Hike
The Broken Top Trail is 6 miles out and back from the Broken Top Trailhead. If you hike Broken Top via the Todd Lake Trail the distance increases to 15.6 miles.
Hiking the Broken Top Trail takes about 3 to 4 hours depending on your pace.
The elevation gain for the Broken Top Trail is 1,400 feet.
Yes, you need a Wilderness Pass to hike broken top. They are free and available at the trailhead.
Tip: If you plan to spend an entire weekend in Bend, check out this handy Weekend Guide to Bend. I cover everything you need to know, like where to eat, sleep and play!
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the Broken Top Trail?
This trail is moderately difficult with some steep, loose sections that require solid footing. The total distance and elevation gain add up, so come prepared with good hiking boots and plenty of water. It’s not a casual stroll, but anyone in decent shape can handle it.
When does the Broken Top Trail open?
Snow typically clears from the trail by mid to late July, though some years it can linger into August at the higher elevations. The road to the trailhead can also be gated until the snow melts, so check conditions before you drive out.
Do you need a permit for Broken Top?
Yes, you’ll need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit during the limited-entry season (roughly mid-June through mid-October). These are available through Recreation.gov and can be competitive, so plan ahead. You’ll also need a parking pass for the trailhead.
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Until next time,
Antonina
