The water level at Rattlesnake Lake is very low now so it's a great time to explore the mostly dry lake basin. The town of Moncton was located at the south end of what was a much smaller rattlesnake lake. It was a railroad town built in 1907. When the damn for the Chester Morris Reservoir was built in 1915 the engineers didn't understand the hydrology of the loose glacial soils that fill this basin. As a result, when the reservoir filled, the water seeped into the ground and caused the level of Rattlesnake lake to rise up and inundate the town with water. The town had to be evacuated and all that's left are some foundation remnants and some very large tree stumps from logging activity.
The town remnants can be found on the south and southwest parts of the lake basin.
After exploring the lake we hike up to Rattlesnake Ledge. Today was pleasantly uncrowded and all the people we met were very friendly.
RT 6.5 miles, 1100 ft
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