Chicago Influence
We were having a really good time exploring the trails around Lake George, and we had a few more planned for our final day. Even though we were wheeling for three days, we would barely scratch the surface on all of the available trails in the area. So many trails, so little time. We started our morning looking for one trail and accidentally found a completely different one.
We were looking for Trail Creek Road, County Road 94, but we took a wrong turn. That put us in the Lake George Community Park, a wide, dirt spot with covered risers, a restored cabin, and a marker commemorating the people who died in the Eleven Mile Canyon area. We stopped to look at maps and then saw a forest service road on the far side of the dirt area. It had a carsonite sign marking the way, so we took it.
We could see the highway for a while as we started, but then the trail turned away from the pavement. It took us into the trees, where we took the first short spur, turning around at the logging area and coming back to the intersection. Then we went up the hill to explore the rest of the trail.
We saw a sign marking the mining claim for the Chicago Influence mine, but we didn't see anything until we took that spur. The trail was very faint but we found it easily enough. Then the trail ended at a sifter and a turnaround. We got out for snacks and to stretch our legs, then went back to that second intersection.
The rest of the trail featured a hill, and we were hoping to get within sight of the river. It wasn't meant to be, though, as the trail ended long before we'd get that view. It was still a nice drive.
The trail didn't offer too much, but it was still a nice way to start the morning as we had it to ourselves except for one family camping near the start. Off to find more trails!
