The all-day Lake Solitude Trail was one of the best hikes of my life. It was epic, beginning to end. It started with a short boat ride across Lake Jenny. There was no wait, likely due to most kids being back in school. The boat docked shortly after 9:30, and we re-boarded around 5. Most of the time in between was hiking! We had a later start than recommended so that we could properly indulge in the B&B’s breakfast.
It seemed that a lot of people hiked only a short distance (it’s half an hour up to the first lookout, Inspiration Point), so most of the day was delightfully quiet. We saw fresh moose dung frequently but only saw one moose, far off on a hillside. The best views started around two hours into the hike. There were mountain views in every directions, small clear rivers, flowers everywhere, and pika and other small mammals sunning on rocks. For the even more adventurous there are places designated to backcountry camp. I honestly think that if you enjoy hiking it’s worth a trip just to do this hike. It was that good.
It’s an out-and-back hike, with a small clear lake at the midpoint. We ate our lunch and rested for a bit before starting the long return journey. At some point along the way we found a little stuffed animal that we planned to drop off at lost and found. However, serendipity led us to the child who lost it a couple of hours earlier.
My feet did end up a little raw in spots, but we’ve learned from past mistakes and had second skin blister patches ready to go. I think we all would’ve liked for the hike to be a couple of hours shorter, but I can’t imagine missing the views in the middle. It’s the kind of experience where the pain goes away but the scenery sticks in your mind.
For dinner we were served entirely too much food at Signal Mountain Trapper Grill. It wasn’t great, but it was uncomplicated, the drinks were cold, and the view was nice.
37 821 steps!
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