We covered between 8-10 miles or so with negligible elevation gain. A few feet here, a few more there.. It probably adds up to a few hundred at most. We parked at Clear Lake, split off the loop trail to Sahalie and Koosah along the Waterfalls Trail and doubled back from Koosah and back around the rest of Clear Lake. With the high water of spring we could kayak into the Great Spring (though I'm not sure you're actually supposed to do that..
). It's really the only time of year that it's possible to do that. Anyway, off we go starting at Sahalie Falls where the mist was blowing up making it easier than ever to get right down to the McKenzie while there.A bit of a double rainbow to begin..
Sahalie Falls with rainbow and closer up..
Mist spray rainbow over the McKenzie River
Sahalie Falls from the bank of the McKenzie River
More of the rainbow from the mist of the McKenzie near Sahalie Falls
Sahalie Falls and the full rainbow
The raging McKenzie River along the Waterfalls Trail
Mary Ann at the Koosah Falls viewpoint
A bit of a rainbow at Koosah Falls
In between the falls the river is still running hard and fast enough to make its own rainbow..
Reflection of the trees in Clear Lake
The bright spring sun shining thru the trees along the loop trail around Clear Lake
The green waters of Clear Lake
The Clear Lake Resort from the loop trail
Great Spring, one of the sources of Clear Lake
Even the spring butterflys were out. This one was kind enough to land and pose for a bit..
The rippled surface of Clear Lake
A lone bufflehead on Clear Lake..
Tall trees and blue sky from the Clear Lake Loop Trail
Another look at the Clear Lake Trail
Clear Lake Resort and a hazy Three Sisters from the Clear Lake Loop Trail
One of the last little stretches of snow/ice/consolidated frozen stuff..
Then it was time to toughen things up a bit..
Reflections in Clear Lake
Mt Washington from out on Clear Lake
Paddling in front of North and Middle Sister, nice view huh?
Mary Ann passing past the rapids and making it back into the Great Spring..
Finishing up with the silhouette of the kayak in the deep blue waters of Clear Lake
Just an amazingly nice day and a surprising lack of spring break crowds. Album here http://picasaweb.google.com/pdxgene/ClearLake14
We left Tigard about 830 got all the hiking, kayaking and breaks in and were back by 7p.. Gotta get a full day out of it when it's like this..
