We hiked a route around Lac du Bois which included some overgrown trails, some existing double tracks, and some off-trail traverses of ridges on the west side of the lake.    We returned to do the same route gain, but in reverse, with an adjusted route.   From the northeast end of Lac du Bois, we followed the double track south past the lake then past a large grasslands pond. 

Not far past the end of the pond, two tracks meet, and we turned west onto the Wheeler Mountain Road, a rough double track.    We hiked up the track for 1.3 km, then at the bottom of a ridge, we turned and hiked north up the ridge, crossing a fence, and continuing along a series of ridges, with viewpoints along the way. 

A few wind-shaped trees (a favorite shot) clung to the edges of the steep slopes. 

From an open ridge we had views over most of Lac du Bois.    The peninsula that juts into the lake is a glacial esker.  

From another viewpoint we had open views north to Hanging Valley and the lava bluffs on Opax Mountain.  There is an old track that descends from the ridge down to the northwest end of Lac du Bois.    It is a little hard to find and a little grown-over, but hikers can look for an open space in a draw (at N50° 47.757′ W 120° 27.581′ ) to pick up the track. 

We crossed the dry outlet stream at the west end of the lake and then followed the well-established double track along the north side of the lake back to our parking area, a 6.3 km loop route. 

The viewpoints on top of the ridge make the hike worth the effort, but some navigating is required since there are no established trails all along the west side of the lake.