The weather was perfect. Just the right balance of warm sun and chilled evenings. It wasn't so conducive to paddle boarding or swimming - but the day use activity at the campground was too packed for that to be much fun anyway.
I spent the days either out in a camp chair, reading a good book, or in my tent - reading a good book. The mild warmth was perfect for napping. The tent didn't turn into an oven as often happens when the heat climbs above the mid-80s.
We packed the food away when we weren't up and about the campsite because the birds and chipmunks were a bit of a menacing bunch, but I've dealt with worse behavior from a pack of ravaging raccoons at another campground in the past, so this was fine. The pistachios did not survive the initial assault of beaks, though.
Rue, our sweet and spicy pitbull, is a city girl. She didn't mind the opportunity to walk and sniff along the trails, but her preferred activity when at the campsite was to nap inside the tent. She would walk right up to the thin door and paw and yap until someone let her inside. Having the pile of bedding to herself while everyone else was entertained around the fire? Her heaven.
If only she knew that her comfort was the entire purpose of this annual trip - to spare her the nights of terror from the fireworks that would inevitably be going off all throughout the city and our neighborhood - despite the laws and measures in place to prevent them.
I love Lost Lake. The convenience store at the lodge is handy - ice cream sandwiches around a campfire? Love it. Beautiful walking trails. My only complaints this time is that many of the campsites are incredibly far from the lake itself, and when the parking and picnic sites are overrun with day use folks it makes really enjoying the water an incredible challenge.
This campground is wonderful for folks that bring bikes! That makes it so much easier to get down to the water quickly and easily, and skirt around the lake trail path to find a cozy access point away from the boisterous crowd.
Anyway, I doubt the holiday helped at all, so I don't think we'll be returning to Lost Lake the same time next year. But it's definitely still on my list of favorites.
Packing List
Contains affiliate links. See Legal Disclaimer for more details.
- Tent - Coleman Sundome 4-person
Affordable, easy to set up, and plenty of room! - Camp Chair - REI Camp Low Chair
My absolute favorite. A bit of a challenge to pack compared to the collapsible kind, but so comfortable - especially for someone like me who prefers to fold my legs up in various pretzel-like ways. - Cozy "Rug" - Faux Fur Waterproof Blanket
This might be the most unique thing on this list, but hear me out. A little on the bulkier side - to pack it on the trip, I sat on it in the car. I did not regret it. I laid it out on the floor of the tent to help provide a cozier base. It works to trap dirt, combated the discomfort of the cold, rough ground under the tarp, and the waterproof aspect is helpful too. I just had a sleeping bag with a tiny air mat to cushion me from the ground - and as a wiggly sleeper, I was glad to have this blanket under me every time I rolled. - Paper eReader - Onyx Boox Go
I'm an eBook lover. It's space-saving, it's convenient, and a phone or tablet is simply a lot easier to hold than a book. My personal library lives on Google Play, so in searching for a paper-like eReader, I needed one that was compatible. Not many are. The Boox tablets and eReaders have an android operating system, and aren't beholden to a specific digital library brand. You can download the Kindle app, Nook app, the Libby app - just about the only thing you may have a challenge with is Apple Books. Go figure. I usually read on my phone, but a paper eReader is easier on your eyes, provides less glare when you're out in the sun, and can help save battery life on your phone.
