One of the hikes to be done each summer is a route that goes over McConnell Hill.    There are a number of ski trails, snowshoe trails, and even cross-country bike trails that can be combined to go up and over McConnell Hill.   Each year the route is changed.    This year the route started at Stake Lake, then followed cross country trails up to the basalt bluffs area, and onto a single track snowshoe trail up to the top of the hill/mesa.

The day was hot and there was no wind on Stake Lake as I hiked by.

The snowshoe trail is a bit rough and at one point near the top, it passes under a wooden archway.

At a junction on the Bushwhacker Trail, I hiked out to a lookout with views of Stake Lake and Chuwhels Mountain.

The counter-clockwise route on top of McConnell Hill passes by several viewpoints looking south to Lac le Jeune.

The Bushwhacker Trail connects to the Sidewinder Trail, a longer downhill route on the northeast side of McConnell Hill

This hike was 3.5 hours on a hot day mid-summer.   While I was coming down the hill, I explored another side trail that I hope to include in next summer’s loop route on McConnell Hill.