Barclay Lake

Friday morning started out slightly overcast but there were some rays of sunlight making it through the cloud cover.  It was a bit chilly but it looked like it might turn into the perfect hiking morning.  It has been well over a year since either of us has communed with Mother Nature on a hike.  We decided to take what the Washington Trails folks call an easy hike to Barclay Lake located just east of us on Highway 2 in the small hamlet of Baring. 

You take a left off the highway at the sign that indicates Forest Service Road 6024 and head up a dirt road for some distance.  I didn’t look at the speedometer either way but I would guess it is a good three miles maybe more before it dead ends in the small parking lot.  The roadbed is decent but the width of the road is narrow and in places hard to navigate by another vehicle.  Expect to get scratches on your vehicle from low hang branches and blackberry bushes.

The hike it 2.2 miles and the trail winds up and down through dense forest.  Mother Nature is everywhere and with a couple of stops along the way we managed to make it to lake in pretty good time for a pair of older folks who haven’t hiked in some time.  Honey was along and wasn’t being to cooperative on the way to the lake but coming back she was much better.  The trail is easy with some ups and downs and neither Mia nor I started to feel tired or worn until we were about half way back to the trailhead.  We pushed on and returned to the parking lot feeling a little worn out.

It was definitely worth the trip and I would highly recommend it.  For those with more experience I am told the trail continues to another lake further up the foothills with a slightly more difficult trail.  We were satisfied with making it to Barclay Lake.

Hope all is well and thanks for dropping by.