As winter snows melt, some backroads open up for early season biking.   Goose Lake Road is a favorite.   From Knutsford, turn onto the Long Lake Road and at 1.5 km, turn right (west) onto the Goose Lake Road.  The pavement ends a short ways along.   We usually park at the top of the first little rise.   We get on our bikes and ride west along the backroad, enjoying the open grasslands.

There are a few farms/ranches along the way, all set back from the road.   The gully next to the road for a few kilometers is actually Peterson Creek flowing from Jocko Lake down to the South Thompson River.   Cottonwoods and aspens line the creek gully.   In the spring meadowlarks and western mountain bluebirds can be seen in the grass-covered fields and slopes along the way.   We cross Peterson Creek at 4km and start a reasonable climb up to Goose Lake.   The lake is at the 7km mark.   Beyond the lake, the road has some steep climbs which are left for later in the season once our bike legs are ready.   We like to stop at Goose Lake for a break before returning back on our 14 km bike ride.

All of this wonderful area will be devastated by the Ajax Mine which has property on both sides of the road.   Such a loss…