Hague Lake, Cortes Island

Our guide book states that Hague Lake is just a 30 minute walk from the public wharf at Cortes Bay and that it offers idyllic, warm water swimming.  Period.  No other information.  No road names, no take a right here or a left there, no suggestions on what to pack.  No nothing.  So off we went with our daypacks containing a chamois towel, water, and a small lunch, winding our way up, down and around on a road carved through a heavily scented forest of red cedar and Douglas fir. After the 30-minute estimated travel time had passed, we occasionally asked directions, as the road stretched on and on, and were assured that we were headed to the lake beach, the first that we heard our destination described as a beach.  A few minutes later, we came upon a lively community hall with a Friday market in progress and stopped in at this local bonanza offering fresh baked goods; smoked, troll-caught salmon; and locally made jams, jellies, jewelry and crafts.  Thinking that we were just taking a walk and going swimming, we hadn’t packed any money, but we enjoyed checking out the local bounty.    

We got back out on the road and continued on to the stop sign as instructed, turned right, and right again at the dirt parking lot and entered the forest path that led to the most surprising and extraordinary white sandy beach.  The beautiful sand extended 100 feet from the shoreline and created the most inviting shallow water swimming hole.  Swimmers, kayakers and frizbees abounded. 

It took us no more than one minute to deposit our daypacks in the shade on the driftwood-lined shore before we were splashing and swimming in the clear, warm water. 

Sometimes, having just a vague idea of what you’re looking for turns into a most unexpected pleasure.