Looking at the weather forecast for the next week and I made a command decision to blow off yard work and head out into the woods today. Since I didn't have a lot of time, I choose Broomstick Lake in the Ferris Lake Wild Forest. The short hike with a huge payoff was everything I remembered. We've been here several times in the winter to enjoy the ice falls on the western edge of the lake, but this is my first soft water visit in over ten years. Arriving early at the Rt. 10 parking area, I quickly signed into the woods and headed up the trail.
1a TH - Copy.jpg
The yellow disked trail follows an old road up the hill and is quite nice to walk. I was surprised how dry the route was considering the big rain storm we had two days ago.
1f trail - Copy.jpg
About ten minutes of walking brought me past an old quarry, possibly from the Rt. 10 construction days. Beyond the quarry, the trail narrows as it climbs the hill.
1j trail - Copy.jpg
I noticed quite a few trillium blooming alongside the trail.
1g trillium - Copy.jpg
3b trillium - Copy.jpg
The highlight of the walk were the waterfalls on the Broomstick Lake outlet. The trail parallels the outlet stream for most of the hike and the stream drops the 350' from the lake in spectacular form. While exploring the falls, I met Sara who was treating the stream for blackflies. While the flies were, out, they weren't that bad and weren't bighting yet. Thanks Sara!
1k6 falls - Copy.jpg
3c falls - Copy.jpg
A few minutes past the last waterfall and the trail dumped me out on the awesome flat picnic rock at the outlet. The last time I was here with my daughter (10 years ago) we had our lunch here. I hopped across the outlet to the designated campsite. While it was impacted, there was no trash and the view was spectacular.
2e DCS - Copy.jpg
The 13 ac. pond is very scenic and singing warblers enhanced the experience to another level.
2f DCS - Copy.jpg
I've consider myself very lucky this year to have gotten out half a dozen times during the pre-bug spring season. An early snow melt and reasonably dry trails in the low lands made this a great three weeks of hiking. There are half a dozen other places I would have loved to visit, but they just weren't in the cards. They get bumped to the top of the fall hiking list. I'm looking at you, Pharoah Lake Wilderness.
1a TH - Copy.jpg
The yellow disked trail follows an old road up the hill and is quite nice to walk. I was surprised how dry the route was considering the big rain storm we had two days ago.
1f trail - Copy.jpg
About ten minutes of walking brought me past an old quarry, possibly from the Rt. 10 construction days. Beyond the quarry, the trail narrows as it climbs the hill.
1j trail - Copy.jpg
I noticed quite a few trillium blooming alongside the trail.
1g trillium - Copy.jpg
3b trillium - Copy.jpg
The highlight of the walk were the waterfalls on the Broomstick Lake outlet. The trail parallels the outlet stream for most of the hike and the stream drops the 350' from the lake in spectacular form. While exploring the falls, I met Sara who was treating the stream for blackflies. While the flies were, out, they weren't that bad and weren't bighting yet. Thanks Sara!
1k6 falls - Copy.jpg
3c falls - Copy.jpg
A few minutes past the last waterfall and the trail dumped me out on the awesome flat picnic rock at the outlet. The last time I was here with my daughter (10 years ago) we had our lunch here. I hopped across the outlet to the designated campsite. While it was impacted, there was no trash and the view was spectacular.
2e DCS - Copy.jpg
The 13 ac. pond is very scenic and singing warblers enhanced the experience to another level.
2f DCS - Copy.jpg
I've consider myself very lucky this year to have gotten out half a dozen times during the pre-bug spring season. An early snow melt and reasonably dry trails in the low lands made this a great three weeks of hiking. There are half a dozen other places I would have loved to visit, but they just weren't in the cards. They get bumped to the top of the fall hiking list. I'm looking at you, Pharoah Lake Wilderness.
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