Near the end of February, we hiked from Tranquille, around Cooney Bay, over the bluffs and out to the last point before Battle Bluff and back.   the weather was clear and mild and there was no wind.   It felt like the end of winter.

The first part of Cooney Bay had some mud, but after that, the section to the river was sand and gravel with no snow to cross.   We crossed the river on a snow bridge, but it will be more challenging in the upcoming weeks.

After the river crossing, we walked across the boulder and gravel beach around the bay and over the bluff.

The best viewpoint is from the top of the bluff looking west.

With no wind, the snowy hills reflected in the lake to create an optical illusion.

We walked along the gravel beaches to the last point.

From the beaches the lake was calm and mirror-like, perfect for photography.

contWe had lunch on the beach on the west of the last point before Battle Bluff.   The train track goes under the bluff for almost a kilometer.

We returned the way we had come, looking into the winter sun over the hills.

The return hike was about 5.3 km, some of it slow hiking on a loose surface over 2 hours.   I will be back in a month to paddle the lake….