On a weekday in January I snowshoed the Stake Lake Trails.    It was a busy day with school groups and many cross country skiers enjoying the sunny, cool day.    I opted to snowshoe an out-of-the-way loop route.    First I went around the lakeshore on the Lake Snowshoe Trail to the far end of the lake.

Some blue skies and intermittent clouds made the ice-and-snow-covered lake bright as I followed a well-stomped-in trail bearing south.

I followed the Stadium Trail then the Cow(an) Creek Trail along the riparian areas of the stream-swamp and through the lodgepole pines.

I crossed the ski trail and started up the Spruce Canyon Trail, winding up the deep gully.

Above the canyon on both sides are many larger douglas fir trees.

At times, the canyon is only 4 feet wide between the steep slopes.     The trail winds between fallen trees (cut by chainsaws) and large spruce trees from one end of the canyon to the far northern end, not far from Stake Lake.

Near the end of the Spruce Canyon Trail is a junction.    The right turn goes up to Rattler Lookout.    I chose to continue straight ahead to the lake for this day.

I finished the 7 km snowshoe by going around the lake back to the start. This was a good 2.25 hour snowshoe, and is recommended.