Trekking with Nicola (and the dogs)

 Located close to the town of Whitefish, this hike was very busy on the Sunday that we walked it with the dogs. We passed a few families on the trail and were passed by a number of mountain bikers. It's an easy loop that leads to a lookout. Easily, one of the best groomed trails we've been on. No roots to trip over or rocks to avoid. The forest is much like that around Fairmont Hot Springs but with more ponderosa pines. Much of the undergrowth had been removed as they were in the process of fire smarting the area.  Me with the dogs at one of the lookouts View from the top of the trail. 

As per the description, the Smith Lake Hike extends beyond the Swift Creek Loop. The Swift Creek Loop features what appears to be old growth forest with large Douglas firs extending hundreds of feet above our heads. Capsules have been attached to many of the these trees to combat the bark beetle that is attacking the fir trees. As we hiked beyond the Swift Creek Loop, we came across forest that had been recently harvested and, besides providing a vista as we approached the Smith Lake, had very little to redeem it. The path follows the side of the lake with almost no access to the lake itself. Besides the lake, we were also disappointed by the presence of a group of photographers who'd driven to the lake. Not a trail we're likely to take again. An easy trail  Smith Lake  Lookout point from Swift Creek Loop