Written by: Tom Bernhardt

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful.
Welcome it in every face, in every sky, in every flower.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I sat down to write this post, I warmed up my mind by looking through some photos I have of our beautiful lake in winter. Seeing it covered in ice and snow reminds me of the year-round beauty of Lake Beulah! Even the ice itself reminds me of a painter’s canvas.

While it may seem cold and desolate right now, the lake is a year-round thriving ecosystem. Check out this article for some interesting facts:

Speaking of ice, you might wonder if it makes much difference if, or even when the lake freezes over. The fact is that ice cover is a major factor in the health of the lake. Over the last several years, Protect Lake Beulah has offered articles on the subject in our LAKE VIEWS newsletter.

• ICE - A 50 YEAR SNAPSHOT OF LAKE BEULAH HISTORY (Spring 2020)

• ICE ON THE LAKE What Difference Does It Make? (Fall 2020)

Of course, the ecological health of the lake is only one facet of the lake in winter. Those folks that stick around in winter find ways to enjoy themselves.

• Some go ice fishing. Generally speaking, the larger Northern Pike are caught through the ice. I recall a story in the 1970s that the state record Northern was caught through the Lake Beulah ice. That record didn’t last long, but it’s cool to think there are fish like that in the lake!

• Some can only enjoy Lake Beulah in winter. I once met a family that put up a fancy ice shanty over one of the Upper Beulah humps. They worked 7 days a week all summer, and when it got cold their jobs were put on hold. Ice fishing was one of their great joys.

• Some hearty souls go ice boating . I tried it once and let me tell you, you’d better have a face mask! Talk about wind chill! Do you ice boat on Lake Beulah? I’d love to hear from you! LakeBeulah.LakeViews.editor@gmail.com

• Then there’s ice skating. The lake can provide some of the best skating you’ll ever find but you’ve got to time it just right. Snooze you lose. It can be so interesting. You might even see fish swimming right under you!

• Years ago, I set out with a couple of friends to cross country ski to Army Lake. Shortly after we started our return trip, a snow squall came up. We couldn’t see where we were, much less any of the shoreline. Fortunately, we didn’t have too far to go and the shoreline reappeared. It wasn’t scary, but it was great fun and created some good memories.

Turning the page to a new year is always a hopeful time. All of us at Protect Lake Beulah, your vital watchdog for the lake since 1894, are both hopeful and confident that our efforts will continue to protect the gem we all love. Please join us again in 2026. Your membership and ongoing support is a critical part of our success.

Happy New Year!

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