McLean Lake Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · Views · Wildlife

The fully serviced chalet is open during ski season and trail passes are required. There is no fee for off season trail use, but donations are appreciated. Permission must be obtained for off season use of the back country shelters. The canoes are no longer usable.

The trail is quite open and exposed as a result of the large forest fire in the 1980s. There are some areas of trees that escaped the fire and some nice areas of regeneration but it takes time to restore a forest. In the meantime, the views are unimpeded!

The trail begins at the intersection of Birches Run and Gosling View, according to the placement of new signs. From there, it curves through a spruce forest and then an exposed area where it intersects with Upper Deck, then Lynx. Beyond Lynx, the trail goes through relatively level land that was previously burnt but has since grown back lushly with birch, aspen, spruce and fir providing a good windbreak in this area known as "Woodlands."

Soon after that, the trail enters a wide bog where a large Labradorite bearing erratic is a very prominent feature. Just beyond the boulder, the trail forks. Bohemian Trail to the left stays high and provides exceptional views. The dry surface was excavated so that it can be groomed safely quite early in the season. McLean Lake Trail bears right and the wetter surface was not suitable for excavation, so that trail requires more depth of snow before it is groomed. It is a more gradual, easier route to Big Rock. It does not have the same high up vistas as Bohemian Trail but the scenery is still special. If you do choose to take Bohemian Trail out to McLean Lake, it increases the total distance of the route by 0.1 miles and adds more uphill.

Go around or over Big Rock, down a slope, then up, around, and stay right. A twisty trail leads to the lake. Cross a large bog, skirt the shore, and cross over the lake on ice that has been marked for the groomer and quickly arrive at McLean Cabin.

McLean Lake Trail is a pleasant summer trail, but waterproof footwear is recommended as there are boggy areas. Crossing the lake is a challenge as the canoes are likely not safe to use. There is shallow water in the first canal that could be waded across but the old trail on the far shore is not at all obvious. Follow the shore to find the flagging tape used to indicate the winter route.

The best way to become thoroughly familiar with a trail is to become active in the fall maintenance work parties.

In the first very damp area past the fork to Bohemian Trail, find northern honeysuckle and blue violets early in the summer. There are bakeapples in the bogs, waterlilies in the lake, pitcher plants in the boggy shore area and other plants not found on lower Birch Brook Trail. Otters, beaver, ducks, and loons may be seen around the lake in the summer. Moose and bear sightings are not uncommon.