In the summer, we plan and schedule hikes to the summits of peaks in the Interior, but the weather doesn’t always cooperate on a schedule so we try to have a Plan B, an alternate local hike.   The Stake Lake Trails have many options for a summer hike over the hills.   Less interesting than hikes into the alpine zone, the forested trails still provide a good workout and a quiet day in the woods.   We chose to hike over McConnell Hill and around the Bushwhacker Loop for a 12 km route.

There are many trail combinations that could be chosen, but we chose to go up Rustler and Ambush to the top.

We completed the loop on top of the hill in a clockwise direction, stopping at lookouts to enjoy the views.   Every year there is lots of deadfall and the route is not easy to spot at times, but that is part of the charm of the Bushwhacker Trail.   We looked down on Stake Lake from above at one point, then we hiked back to the lakeshore to finish our hike.

We have a number of Plan B trail choices for days when the weather is “iffy” – Outer Inks Lakes, Embleton Trails, Barnes Lake Trails, Pineview Trails, and others.   The Stake Lake Trails are a god choice in August  when mosquitoes are not a nuisance.   We will be back to snowshoe Bushwhacker in the upcoming winter.