Lost Lake was once prized for the clarity of the ice that formed there in the winter.  Now it is protected as a State Natural Area and comprises an interesting mix of natural communities.  From the parking area, the bulk of the site slopes gently downward toward the lake.  In some places, large quartzite outcrops and boulders are scattered around.  In others, small cliffs provided a shaded environment.  Towards the lake, things become a bit more, shall we say, damp.  Back in the days before I had my rubber boots, this necessitated some delicate balancing acts over fallen trees, stumps, and branches. Often, the camera was in one hand while the other held onto a tree while the feet perched precariously near the roots.  The shoreline is not well-defined as you can see in the photos below which makes getting a photo of the eponymous lake a tad difficult.  One of my favorite scenes to photograph is a site like this in the spring when the marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris) unfurl their brilliant yellow blossoms amidst the otherwise gray and leafless landscape.  Just beautiful, in my opinion.  That said, I wouldn’t mind visiting again in the late spring/early summer to explore the cliff communities a bit more.

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Balancing Act

Lost Lake

Making My Way Toward the Lake

Slugs on Fungus

Quartzite Outcrop

Stream through Marsh Marigolds

Fern

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

More of my photos from Lost Lake can be viewed here.

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