On a gusty late August morning I got an early start for a paddle on Heffley Lake.   There is a good launch area at the east end of the lake, but it can be a busy spot at prime times so I got an early start.    The area by the launch is protected from the wind by small islands in a narrow part of the lake.

A paddle around the whole lake is about 12.5 km, a longer paddle, and so on this windy day, a more moderate loop down to the narrows and back was a better choice.

There are a series of sheltered bays on the southeast end of the lake that were calmer and very quiet.

The slopes of Mt. Embleton rise up above the north side of the lake.

At the narrows I turned back and had a much easier paddle downwind to the islands on the east end of the lake.

I avoid Heffley Lake at prime times because of the congestion at the launch area, power boats on the lake, and the activity from all of the homes along the north shore of the lake.   In the offseason or early in the morning I was one of two boats on the lake.

More Information – Heffley Lake (page tba)