Lake Sylvia State Park — Friday, Jan. 4, 2013

Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area

This was a great hike around a peaceful lake. Lake Sylvia is a State Park in the city of Montesano. It was easy to find with good signs pointing the way. Once we got there we weren't quite sure where the trail started. We walked towards the campground area and found it pretty easily. We parked near the campground entrance and group picnic area. But after looking around I realized there was a day use parking lot near the boat launch and swimming area. There was almost no one else there. A few rvs and two people walking about. It felt like we had the whole lake to ourselves. That's probably because it was pretty cold and people generally use the lake in the summer. But it was beautiful and serene in the winter. The trail follows the lake all the way around for 1.5 miles. I thought it was an easy hike. But the trail map called half of it moderate. There were ducks on the lake. Part of the lake was low and marshy. There were small streams that ran into the lake that were crystal clear. I could see the gold and red clay and sand on the bottom. The trail was well maintained with only a couple areas that had some standing water.