Holding on to the edge
If you can make it to the trailhead (see my entry to St. Paul Peak), you can almost certainly make it to spectacular little Cliff Lake. The lake is a 20 minute nearly level walk along the side of a mountain at treeline and inside the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. Cliff Lake appears to hug improbably to the south side of St. Paul Peak -- how does the whole thing not empty out into the valley below? A few choice tent spots encircle its shores, especially on the south side, and once the wind dies down the emptiness of the place takes hold in a magical and unexpected way. Tempting though it may seem, leave your swim trunks at home -- this lake is ice covered until mid June most years and is starting to look pretty darn chilly again by mid August.
