We do like McConnell Lake, but we avoid it because it is being loved to death.   Hikers, runners, dog walkers, paddlers, fishermen, and picnickers frequent the lake and the parking lot is often full, the trails are busy and the lake is crowded.   Because of its “busyness” we usually go early in the morning before the rush.      We launched early in the morning and paddled around the lakeshore once, then hiked the trail around the lake.

This was a calm morning with no wind so the lake was like a mirror.

In spite of an early start there was a paddleboarder and a fisherman on the lake, just right for a steady paddle without detours.

By the time I finished the paddle then the hike, the parking lot was full and more people were arriving,  a good time to leave….