Balsam Lake Mountain

1. From the parking lot (see “Directions to the trailhead” below), head over to check out the kiosk. Might as well learn something while we’re here.

See that trail just to the right of the kiosk?  It’s a trap!  Don’t get on it!  (It probably goes somewhere nice, just not to the fire tower.)

Looking back at the kiosk, you’ll notice signage that points to the left for the fire tower, along with a mileage estimate of 2.75 miles one-way.  Let’s start chipping away at those miles!

2. Facing the kiosk, turn left and walk to the end of the parking lot, all the way to the road.

Along the way, you might even notice a blue blaze on that stump.  You’ll see lots more of those blazes today.

3. When you reach the end of the parking lot, you’ll see the Blue Trail entering the woods on the far side of the road. Carefully cross the road here to hop on that trail.

At the start of the trail, the sign estimates that you are now 3.0 miles from the fire tower.

Hey, wait a minute, the sign at the kiosk said 2.75 miles!  How are we farther away now?  It would take a smarter person than me to explain how both of those signs are correct.  (My GPS clocked this hike at just over 6 miles, so I’m inclined to side with this second sign, though I applaud the first sign for its optimism.)

You’ll be on the Blue Trail for the next 2.5 miles, gently ascending approximately 782 feet until the next trail junction.  (You can skip to that junction at Step 6 below if you want to minimize the amount of my yapping you’ll read today.)

4. The Blue Trail is wide and smooth in this section, making the altitude and mileage gain as painless as possible.

In just over five minutes, you’ll arrive at the trail register.  Take a moment here to log your visit.

5. Enjoy the ferny peacefulness of the next stretch of trail.

About 25 minutes after the trail register, you may notice an interesting rock formation on your left that looks exactly like a Pixar version of a U-haul truck.

See it?  It has eyeballs inside its windshield like it’s on its way to hang out with Mater and Lightning McQueen!  The moss isn’t growing where the wheels should be.  Please tell me I’m not the only one who sees this.  It’s a perfect U-Haul!  It has a Mom’s Attic, for crying out loud!

In any event, the trail continues winding uphill past U-Haul Rock.  Let’s get a move on!

In about twenty minutes, you may notice an unmarked trail heading off to your left.  Don’t get bucked off onto that trail!  We’re looking for a continue-on-the-Blue-Trail type situation right now.

6. About five minutes after that unmarked junction, you’ll come to a well-marked junction with the Red Trail.

Standing at this fork, take a look at the sign behind you.

Hey, only .75 miles to the fire tower!  Thanks for the good news, sign!  (There’s not another sign around the corner that says we’re 1 mile from the tower, is there?)

Take a right turn at this junction to hop on the Red Trail, which we’ll follow all the way to the tower.

7. Almost immediately, you’ll come to a big metal hoobajoob (technical term) that helps to ensure that people are using their feet, and not giant cacophonous peace-destroying machines, to visit the tower. Just walk around it, following those red blazes.

Thanks for keeping out the cheaters, big metal hoobajoob!

8. Over the next .75 miles, you’ll ascend about 450 feet on the Red Trail.

About ten minutes after the big metal hoobajoob, you may notice the 3500’ elevation marker.

About ten minutes after that, you’ll enter a(nother) magical trail section that feels like an alpine tunnel.

What a gorgeous place.  And what’s that light at the end of the tunnel?

It’s a ranger an observer cabin!  (Thanks to Tom Rankin for teaching me that these things are not ranger cabins, but observer cabins.  I shall correctly observe the difference in the future!)

As you approach the (observer!) cabin, look above the trees to see if you notice anything peeking back at you.

The tower!  Let’s check this thing out, shall we?  Head past the cabin toward the tower, taking note of the posted emergency contact numbers (hope you don’t need those today!) and volunteer schedule for opening the cabin of the tower.  (And a special thank-you to the awesome volunteers who do so much to help the rest of us have amazing experiences up there!)

Just beyond the cabin, you’ll notice some signage that agrees with a subset of the previous signage that it is, indeed, 3.0 miles (not 2.75) back to the parking area.

9. Emerge into the clearing with a picnic table and the big fat fire tower.

You made it!

“You just leashed me to the picnic table so you can climb the tower by yourself, didn’t you?” your dog will ask you.

“Oh, you brought string cheese?  We’re cool.  Have fun up there!”

10. Let’s climb that tower!

If you’re visiting at a time other than a peak-season weekend (when awesome volunteers open the cabin), you’ll find a scenic padlock blocking your way into the cabin.

Have no fear!  The view is quite gorgeous from the last platform below the cabin.  You’re already so far above the trees, I can’t imagine the view would be much different from a few feet higher.

There’s not a ton of space up there, though.  It’s only two planks wide, just enough room for you, your backpack, and perhaps a very close friend or two.

Even from below the cabin, man, that view.

If some clouds blow over the mountain while you’re up there, at least you still have pretty trees to look at.

If you’re up there on a sunny day (or during a sunny moment), the view stretches on and on.

Clouds incoming!

“Hello down there!  I’m waiting for the clouds to move again!  Don’t worry, I have more string cheese in my backpack!  You’re a good girl.  Yes you are.”

11. When you’re done marinating your eyeballs in whatever view the mountain provided today, climb back down to the clearing.

You’ll be retracing your steps all the way back to the trailhead, starting with hopping back on the Red Trail.  (Don’t forget to give a treat and a pat to any hiking companions who waited patiently for you.)

12. Follow those red blazes back through the balsam fir tunnel.

From the tower clearing, it took us 16 minutes to get back to the big metal hoobajoob.

13. Just past the hoobajoob, head straight at the junction to hop back on the Blue Trail toward Dry Brook Ridge Parking, just a 2.25-mile hop-and-a-skip from here.

14. From that junction, it took us 18 minutes back down to U-Haul Rock.

And another 13 minutes to the trail register.

And another 7 minutes back to the parking lot.  Careful crossing the street!  (I know, I know, but I have to say it anyway.)

That’s it!  You did it!  Now there’s nothing left to do but enjoy that nice, long drive home, which should give you plenty of time to reminisce about what an awesome day this has been.  Enjoy it!  (And don’t forget to give one more piece of string cheese to any deserving hiking companions.)