On a sunny morning in the second week of April, I drove south on Highway 5A past Stump Lake, then took the turn to the signed Peterhope Lake Road, and turned a short ways up onto the 4.5 km gravel road to the Stump Lake Rec Site on the east side of the lake.   There is a campground, a boat launch area, and lots of parking.    Stump Lake is a popular fishing lake and on this morning there were a dozen boats launched from the Rec Site and quite a few from the lake access points on the west side, but it’s a big lake so there is room for everyone.

Each time I paddle Stump Lake I try to paddle a different part of the lake.    On this day, I went north along the shoreline, then came down the middle of the lake and back along the southeastern shoreline.

Stump Lake is frequently windy, but on this morning there was only a light breeze.    I spotted a bald eagle, several ducks, and a river otter.    The otter broke the surface, snorted the water out of its nose, did a double take when it spotted me, watched for a few seconds, then dove back under the surface.   A short time later, a loon rose from under the water with a fish in its mouth.

I paddled for about 80 minutes on the lake, then loaded and secured the boat.   I decided to go for a hike on an informal trail across the open hills above the lake.   There were lots of sagebrush buttercups and yellow bells, and few other wildflowers too.    Squirrels were active in the firs and pines and meadowlarks were singing.

Grasslands hills rise above the lake on each side.    Most of these areas are fenced rangelands, but I have hiked up some of the hills outside of peak grazing times.

The hike was a new one for me, but it was only about 1.5 km.   I spotted more areas to explore the next time I come to the Stump Lake Recreation Site.

• More Information – Stump Lake Paddle and Hike