Brannen Lake

Here’s an inviting little sandy beach that’s perfect for a refreshing swim. The water is clear, and deep enough to swim just a few feet from shore. During the day you can lie on a towel on the soft sand to dry in the sun. Sid used to take me there in the evening, which was fine for a swim, but I didn’t like going home cold and clammy, wrapped in a towel in the car. There’s unfortunately no change room–just one blue plastic outhouse at the top of the parking lot.

I wanted to go there with Bear the other day. It had been a couple of years since Sid last took me there. At that time we lived on the other side of town, so we came by a different route, and because Sid always drove, I didn’t pay close attention to the way.

So, this time, we ended up driving all the way around the lake, past The Black Bear Pub, farming areas, a Christmas tree farm, a campsite, and the prison, before ending up back on the highway at the wrong end of the lake.

Second try, I got lost on dead end roads part way up Mt. Benson, where the forest secludes beautiful large homes on acreages, interspersed with junky, scary-looking trailer homes. Determined to find Brannen Lake Beach, third try I turned into a small road next to The Black Bear. It lead me into a lovely development, which I wound through over speed humps. Bingo! At the other end of that was the Beach. I could have gotten there much easier if I had gone over the highway rather than across it. It’s actually quite close to where I live now. Just have to go down Mostar to Dunster, which has an overpass that leads directly to this beach.

It’s not much of a beach for a dog, though. Especially one who doesn’t like swimming. There’s not much of a trail for dog-walking. I’ll have to go some afternoon when Bear has already had his walk and I can leave him home.

There’s even a boat ramp, if you want to do some water skiing or fish from your boat. But for me, it’s an inviting little sandy beach that’s perfect for a refreshing swim.