By the second week of April. many of the lower lakes become  ice-free and have good vehicle access.     On a calm and mild morning I drove to the west end of Paul Lake on the Harper Mountain Road.     I hand launched into the lake and paddled up the north shore of the lake toward Gibraltar Rock. 

I paddled about 3.1 km up the shoreline to an area near the beach boat launch and then turned around and paddled back on the same shore.    On the south side of the lake, there are homes, docks, and noise, and the north side has trees, bluffs, and ducks.

Gibraltar Rock juts out into the lake, similar to paddling around Battle Bluff.    When the wind is out of the west, the area from the bluff to the beach is usually calmer, lying in the lee of the winds.   

There were winds for the middle part of the 6.2 km paddle, but the winds died coming back to the start.  

This was the first day of paddling on Paul Lake.    I usually paddle about three times, but I also paddle nearby Louis Lake and later on to Pinantan Lake and Hyas Lake.    This was the 11th day of paddling in 2024.    I try to paddle Mondays and Fridays and sometimes other days, but conditions (wind and smoke) dictate which days are paddle days and which days are for hiking.

More Information – Paul Lake