In mid-April the ice had cleared from most of the area’s lakes, except for the higher elevation sheltered locations.    I drove up to Edith Lake for the first time in 2025, then paddled the lake.    there were light winds at the start, but stronger winds came from the north for the second half of the time on the lake.   I paddled steadily for the 3.5 km route.

There were blackbirds, killdeer, ducks (mostly Barrow’s goldeneyes), geese, swallows, and a loon by the lake.   A few campers were already established at the Rec Site and there were some fishing boats on the lake.    I watched one fisherman catch a fish.

I always paddle the shallower back bays.    There are rarely any boats in these hidden channels, for about half of the distance around the whole lake.

Edith Lake is one of my favorites and I paddle there more often than other lakes since it is close to town, there are good launch and parking choices, and I can get a good one hour workout, kayaking the lake.  I will be kayaking other lakes, though, before I come back for the second paddle of Edith this year.