Hiking Willow Lake

"The next one is over there." I pointed across the boulders having just spotted another white spot spray painted a little ways away. We had been hiking for about an hour, having started at the parking area near the dog park off of Willow Creek. I made my way across the boulder to the next white spot, mom is close on my heels. We both search for the next dot we need to guide us across the boulders around the back of the lake. As I near the dot I'd just spotted I finally spied the next spot. We slowly make our way around the back of the lake and behind the dam. 

The trek around the lake was beautiful with a mixture of flat sandy places and high rocks of the granite dells. We had paused at the dock near the start of the hike and at the little red bridge at the high points of the boulders. We trudged our way up the steps section of the trail and relished the cool air under the large trees. As we made our way across the trail that passed near Willow Creek Rd, we pushed hard to keep going. The sun had risen high by this point of the day and I was really starting to drag. As much as I wanted to break I made myself keep walking. I crossed the bridge and eyed the shade trees off in the distance. It was just a matter of time before we were back in the shade and closing in on the completion of the hike. 

In the home stretch, I just kept pushing forward knowing the end was in sight. As we crossed under the buzzing power lines my feet began to hurt but I was nearly done. This was the first time I'd hiked around Willow Lake and it was an amazing experience. In the years since this hike I've done pieces of the trail and love visiting certain parts of the trail and still tend to avoid other parts of the path. Eventually I would like to do the entire lake hike and will do it again. For now, I carry a fond memory of this trek around Willow Lake.