On a bright and sunny Saturday in early May, we decided to brave the unseasonably chilly temperatures and take a short hike. We picked this place out of curiosity as well as a hope that the cold temperatures would lessen the number of fellow hikers. We parked in the lot for the Visitor Center, which remains closed due to Covid-19. There are porta-potties available, as well as places to park and charge an electric car.
The last time I had been here was when Rainbow was a baby, and we hadn’t hiked. We took a tram ride and explored the Visitor Center. On this day, thanks to coronavirus, hiking was our only option, and we decided on the trail that circled Cash Lake. There was a weathered board with a trail map on it. I showed Stormy and Rainbow the loop we had in mind. Each time we go out hiking, I make sure they see the maps so that they can learn how to read them. They already know that specific colored blazes are used to mark trails and I want them to be able to locate where they are on a trail map.
We followed the paved Loop Trail briefly before joining the Goose Pond Trail.
Just past Goose Pond we came to a juncture and turned right onto the Cash Lake Trail. It is a great trail for beginner hikers and children. It isn’t too long, 1.4 miles, and it is mostly flat. My kiddos loved running over the boardwalks set above streams and some mud-wallows. We did encounter a tree down over one boardwalk, but it wasn’t hard to scramble over.
Plus the views of Cash Lake are gorgeous and children can easily locate and toss plenty of rocks into its blue depths.
Roughly halfway around the lake we came to a fishing pier that offered more stunning views. Be forewarned, there is a parking lot at the pier and plenty of people! Cash Lake is a popular fishing spot.
The highlights for our girls were the two floating boardwalks. They loved jumping up and down on them to see if they’d move! These boardwalks are narrow so we waited our turn to cross because social distancing is impossible!
After we crossed the first floating boardwalk, Pebble and I spotted a birdhouse with a bird sticking its head in and out. She is fascinated with birds right now and loves to say, “Hi birdie!” and “Tweet, tweet!”
Just past the birdhouse, we came to a second, and final, floating boardwalk. After crossing we climbed a short boardwalk to the road near the Visitor Center. After briefly admiring Lake Redington, we headed to our car absolutely chilled to the bone! It was a fun hike and definitely one we’d do again!
