Although we have been hiking into the Deep Lake area for decades, parking access has now changed.   We now start lower down on Ida Road, at the turning circle before the new subdivision.   Once we are above the new development, the traditional trails can still be followed up the hill.   As we approach the hill that overlooks Deep Lake, we can turn onto a single track that goes around the hill then around the lake in a big loop.   The junction is at N50 47.159 W120 20.543.

The trail goes from open south-facing slopes to an east-facing ponderosa pine and douglas fir forest but there are many standing snags along the route.

The trail follows the fenceline, contouring around the east side of the hill and then emerges into a grassy meadow on the north side of Deep Lake.   We contoured around the still-frozen lake to join the main trails.

We finished with a downhill walk down double tracks, completing a 7km loop.   Even though the lake was frozen, the trails were dry in early March.   We even saw the first sagebrush buttercups of the year in the north side meadows.