Great Spring

Created volcanically, Clear Lake boasts some very clear, blue water. Being fed by many streams, though, it isn't quite as clear. Still, if you get out into the middle of the lake on a bright day, you can see the bottom a few dozen feet below you. If you're not used to that, it's actually rather eerie....

Clear Lake is fed by snow run-off that passes through miles of volcanic rock, coming into the lake virtually pure. And being a few degrees above freezing, it doesn't harbour much in the way of algae. A hike around the north end of the lake brings you to this treasure: Great Springs, where the clear water just flows out of the rock, to the delight of the butterflies that land there to drink.