April 19, 2023 - Stats: 15.6 km / 655m gain / 525m high point / 4:10 hours MT
What I don't like about this hike is that it's mostly on a deactivated logging road, with the exception of the trail around Hoover Lake. But it was snow-free and does offer a nice view at the lookout, if the weather is nice.
Since it wasn't supposed to get sunny til 1:00pm, I figured we could stretch our morning by hiking around the lake. Unfortunately, the sun didn't come out till 2:00ish, one hour after we got to the viewpoint. By then we were on our way back down because the temperatures were just a bit too chilly.
We walked for 3 km on the FSR, alongside this pretty creek, before turning onto the trail to Hoover Lake.
Remains of an ancient corduroy road.
At the lake we stayed left and proceeded on this boardwalk that soon led to a peninsula.
We had a break on this little peninsula that juts out into the lake.
We headed back the same way along the lake. There was a white cross beside the path.
At the point where we'd gotten to the lake, we turned right and continued clockwise along the lake.
One of two rest spots.
Once we got to the road we we'd come up on, we turned left. Stave Lake was to our west.
Group shot: Back row left to right: Cathy U, Keah S (newbie), Geoff L, Johnny G, Frank B, Lorenz B, Danny G, Rob G, Isabell S (visiting from Germany), Dave B, Mo & John Laf
Front row: Charlotte H, me, Lonja B (newbie), Laura F, Iraj F
View from the lookout -- north.
On the way back the sun finally came out. The warmth caused the cold ground to steam.
To get to the viewpoint west of the lake, turn left on the HL 700 FSR, past the lake.
Looks like you all stayed dry, Nice to see John L. and Mo out for the day, sorry I missed this.