The Orchard Lake Trails are situated in the forested hills between McLure and Knouff – Badger Lake area.   they are backcountry horse rider trails, mostly old double tracks that wind through the hills, dales, and around small lake.    They are pleasnt hiking trails too, but some navigation is required.   Along the way we stopped at lakes and enjoyed the flora and fauna of the area.

Blue clematis (Clematis occidentalis sp.), field chickweed (Cerastium arvense), upland larkspur (Delphinium nutallianum), chocolate lilies (Fritillaria lanceolata), arnica (Arnica contifolia), meadow death camas (Zigadenus elegans), desert parsley (Lomatium triternatum), small-flowered penstemon (Penstemon procerus), early blue violet (Viola adunca) , and woodland star (Lithophragma parviflorum) dotted the trailsides and meadows.

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an aquatic buttercup

early blue violet

woodland star

upland larkspur

meadow chickweed

chocolate lily

clematis

At the marshy lakes there were blackbirds and wrens active.   A hatch of damselflies darted across the trail.  We also spotted a toad, a snake, ducks, and various insects.

Orchard Lake blackbird

damselfly on arnica

western terrestrial garter snake

pollinator on desert parsley

This is an area we hike in every year and this year did not disappoint.   More information is provided here:

• On the Orchard Lake Trails
• Orchard Lake Trails