Lanham Lake Snowshoe

The trail up to Lanham Lake is a straightforward climb through trees, but you'll be rewarded with a delightful little lake and a burst of sunshine on a clear day.

The first part of the trail climbs through the forest alongside the creek. Though sun doesn't always make it all the way to the forest floor, the climb will keep you warm on the way up. You'll see two different colored signs with arrows (green and blue) but both direct you the same way. Just keep the creek to your left hand side. 

In times of light snow, this route can become icy, so be sure your snowshoes are nice and sharp and bring trekking poles to aid in your ascent.

You'll exit out of the woods onto a groomed skiing trail and under power lines. At this point, it can be difficult to pick up the trail. A sign directs you to the right but instead you'll head straight south to the other side of the groomed skiing trail and into the forest again. You'll hike about another mile to the lake with a few spots of elevation change - especially once you're near the lake - that provide a good challenge.

Once at the lake, take in sunshine and enjoy the broad expanse of the flat lake. While it might be tempting to attempt to cross it, please don't. It can be difficult to discern if the ice is thick enough to support a person's weight.

Return the way you came, noting that darkness falls fast in the mountains in winter, so it's best to head home well before sunset.