I went kayaking this weekend to a spot I'd never been, Coldwater Lake in Gifford Pinchot National Forest up by Mount Saint Helens, and it was amazingly beautiful. To have the mountain as a backdrop all day, was a thrill. The lake was cold, but some kids were playing in the water near the shore, of course kids can take more than we can. It takes nearly two hours to get there from Portland, but the drive up is breathtaking. There were a lot of people fishing there too for Rainbow Trout, but most who caught them had to throw them back because they were too small. You can't take gas engine boats on the lake, just paddle and electric. I highly recommend it for a day trip for kayaking, fishing, hiking or for a picnic. Get there early, parking is limited.
Click HERE for more about Coldwater Lake