In an amphitheater of granite cliffs below Mount Ireland, blue-green Baldy Lake is deep enough both for swimmers and for large brook trout. Spire-topped firs circle the lake, while the shore itself sports a grassy fringe of wildflowers. Campsites abound at this scenic wilderness lake, but they’re rarely full, and here’s why: To reach the lake you have to choose between a short trail with very poor road access, or a very long trail with good road access.

For the easy drive but the . . .

This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes: Eastern Oregon