Heffley Lake remains one of our best lakes for paddling.   It has not yet been overdeveloped, although the northern shoreline gradually has more homes, docks, and private developments.   Most of the southern shore is undeveloped, although the upper slopes of Mt. Lolo have been logged for many years.

A nice lake can be spoiled with too many homes, docks, and big powerboats.   North Barriere Lake is a good example of a lake that has been invaded with the noise of big homes, big boats, and too much activity.   Heffley can be a busy place in camping season and when all the cabins are occupied on a weekend in summer, but it is a normally a quiet place on a weekday in spring.

We launch at the eastern end off a dirt road used for the campsite, boat launch, and beach.

Some smaller islands and lakeshore homes cluster around the eastern end bays.   The lake then opens up west of the islands.

The southern shore is forested for the entire way.   Some cottonwoods, birch, red ossier dogwood and willows are found near the shoreline, but cedar, pine, and douglas fir continue up the slopes.

Fallen trees are hazards for powerboats, but are just interesting spots for paddlers.   The reflections are magical on a calm day.

We can paddle 12-13 km down the lake and back and on a quiet day.   The lake ends at a small dam on the west side in a marshy area between Heffley Lake and Little Heffley Lake.

Looking over the north side of the lake is Mt. Embleton, a favorite hike in any season.

Along with Paul Lake and Lac le Jeune, Heffley Lake is one of our best paddling lakes.   Pick a spring day for a quiet paddle down the lake and back.   Larger power boats should find larger lakes that can accommodate their invasive, brain-rattling noise and shore-to-shore waves.   We retreat to smaller, more remote lakes when they take over our area’s  quiet, medium-sized lakes.