Starting Point: Drakesbad Lodge
Distances: 1 mile to the lake, 2 miles round trip
Topography: Easy 200-foot climb
Time: 2 hours for the round trip
Features: Flowers, forest, hydrothermal activity
[Illustration: Trail map]
A number of steam vents are located under Boiling Springs Lake, keeping
the temperature of the lake around 125 degrees. The mudpots on the
southeast shore are among the best in the park. Their coloring is
magnificent.
The trail crosses a meadow and then goes through forest to the lake and
around it. Trees include incense-cedar, ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir,
white fir, sugar pine, and others. A variety of wildflowers are found,
and it is a good area to observe birds.
At the beginning of the trail hikers can pick up a leaflet describing 44
points of interest. These refer to trees, shrubs, flowers, geology, and
other nature subjects. This is a relatively easy walk and one can
profitably spend half a day using the leaflet.