“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
~ John Muir
Mountain Lakes
With a full tank of gas and an afternoon to call our own… we hit the road with the intent to see as many mountain lakes in one day as we could. It was a beautiful spring day, the kind of day that just begs you to be outside taking in the best of what Mother Nature has to offer. And offer she did as we made our way up the switchbacks of Dead Indian Memorial Road (I know, what a name, uh?) climbing the mountains and taking in the views of the Rogue Valley below.
Overlooking the Rogue Valley
It looked as if Mother Nature spread blankets of purple wildflowers throughout the hills and valleys, they were everywhere!
Wildflowers!
The Lakes & The Mountains
The sky was blue and the sun was warm, but at the same time there was a nippy wind blowing across the prairies and the water of the lakes we came across. We love to just wander, throw the sweatshirts, the camera and a snack in the back seat of the car and take off. You find the best things when you’re not looking for them. First, we found Howard Prairie Lake.
The boat dock at Howard Prairie Lake
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Next we found Hyatt Lake, just a short drive from Howard Prairie.
Hyatt Lake
We found our way to back to Dead Indian Memorial Road and we drove through some of the most beautiful country. Sometimes photos don’t seem to capture the beauty, but I’m always trying.
Beautiful green prairie with Mount McLaughlin in the distance
Lake of the Woods
We drove on and climbed higher into the mountains until we found, Lake of the Woods. I’m pretty sure it is my new favorite lake and my new favorite place to escape to. Sometimes, when we have just a few hours to break away from our inn, we “escape” for a couple of hours of respite and quiet. Lake of the Woods, is just that… a beautifully peaceful respite and man oh man do they serve a great cheeseburger!
I have a love of old-school mountain lodges and this one did not disappoint
I could have sat there for hours – heaven
Seriously good burger and garlic fries
Lake of the Woods
By the time we finished our burgers and roamed around the lodge area it was getting late in the afternoon and time for us to hit the road back to reality. We zipped home on a main highway, not as much fun, but as Abi says it’s better to wander there and zip back. And that’s just what we did.
Mountain Lakes is next in our series featuring Southern Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
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Worth it for the garlic fries alone, but those views are stunning! They must be quite large lakes to be able to sail on them?
Howard Prairie Lake is large, something like 2,000 acres! It was windy the day we were there so easy to see why it’s great for sailing! Maybe you can sail your way from Australia?! Of course the mountains might get in your way! Ha! Ha!
looks so relaxing…plus garlic fries mmmm
Lindsay – it was “very” relaxing, there is just something about the air in the mountains and OMG, the burger and fries were amazing! I’m already trying to figure out when we can go back!
Check you out! You’re doing it.
Tiny-little “escapes” One Road at a Time.
Love the pictures.
One escape at a time… One road at a time!
You look seriously chilled out on the deck! Great pictures, particularly the one of the green prairie with the snow-capped mountain in the background. Dead Indian Memorial Road – what a brilliant name too!
Yes, Amy, I was seriously chilled out on that deck and I’m looking forward to the next time we get back there! Thanks so much for reading!