On a hot summer morning I drove up to Monte Lake.    The launch on the north side of the lake is the best choice.    Right at the north end of the lake turn onto Mill Road and the launch is an obvious spot.    It was a busy spot on that morning, but there is lots of room for parking and for launching.

A paddle down the west shore of the lake takes about 45 minutes.   The east side has the highway so I usually go down and back on the west side.    A train went by while I paddled down the lake.

With burned forest on both sides of the lake, the area seems barren, but is was a calm day, and the lake had loons, ducks, eagles, an osprey, dragonflies, swallows, and a few fishermen.

This is a good lake to wear earphones to block out the highway noise.    Ninety minutes of music while paddling Monte Lake…