cotton candy sky

lantern district the oldest of the districts, the lantern district stands where the original logging village was originally established right outside the meridian forest the old, historical buildings and prime location makes it a perfect tourist hub filled with charm, sweets shops, and overpriced merchandise. due to its touristy nature, you will not find any residential homes within this district. rather it is filled to the brim with hotels, businesses, and other attractions. this district may be small, but it plays a crucial role in the city's economy, and remains bustling for most of the busy tourist season.

foundary district the heart of ashbury lives in the foundry district. unlike the lantern district, the foundry district is made up of mostly new buildings and bustling streets. you will find everything you need here, just as you would in the downtown district of any major city. the courthouse, city hall, library, police station, and more are all located here. many businesses that are not centered around the national park, are found in this district as it is the heart of the city. you’ll also find a plethora of shops and restaurants taking up storefronts. there is housing in the foundry district, but rather than family homes, you will find apartment complexes popping up in whatever empty space they can take. there’s also places to rent above businesses that might need the extra cash. if you are looking on enjoying ashbury to its fullest, then the foundry district is where you want to be

shipping district the north fork river takes a quick path through the city, right through the heart of the shipping district. once the residential area for dock workers along the north fork river’s shipping routes, this district acts as a separation line between the tourist heavy lantern district and the rest of the city. here you will find mostly nicer residential homes, with a mix between new and old. the schools in this district are by far the best amongst the district, and attract a lot of families to the area. along the portion of the river that graces the district, you will find the riverwalk, which is host to a handful of high-end boutiques, nice restaurants, and bars. most find the shipping district to be exactly what they need to enjoy a quiet, happy life.

arbor district in the early 1900s, a wealthy scholar by the name of ernest wickham found his way to ashbury, determined to bring enlightenment. with him came the founding of the wickham university. an esteemed university known for both academics and athletics. it offers a wide array of majors from forestry to political science, and anything in between. as the university continued to flourish, the arbor district began to grow around it. what was once a simple neighborhood with humble beginnings, slowly began to morph around the university with new apartment complexes popping up in between run down, older buildings. the area is a mix of old and new, with the new pushing its way farther and farther in. plenty of people in the district find issue with the gentrification of the district, feeling as if they are pushed from their homes, but others are content with the change as they view it as innovative. either way, there is a bit of everything for everyone here.

glen district towards the outer border of ashbury, you will find the glen district. it’s a rather quaint place that doesn’t really get that much foot traffic. within the district you will find a large hospital campus, available for all your medical needs. however, you will also find a piece of ashbury that has remained rather untouched by the greedy, money hungry hands of land developers. the buildings are old, and the air is still and quiet. the schools in this area are not as good as those in the shipping district, but they get the job done, even if sometimes the air conditioning goes out in the summer. rent, for the most part, is cheaper in this area given the age of the buildings, so people tend to commute outside of the district for any needs that can’t be met here. overall, it’s a quieter place (as quiet as it can get in a city), and good for the average day to day.

ecliptic lake national park

the forest

upon entry to the park, the first stop along the main road is the visitor center. inside, you'll find the ranger station with information on all of the happenings around the park, bear spray rentals, a small exhibition about the park's history, and a gift shop. there's also a small canteen, where you can buy premade sandwiches, drinks, and ice cream.

once you make your way into the meridian forest, named for the park's alignment on a historical survey line, you'll find the park's namesake ecliptic lake, a striking glacial lake known for its nearly perfect circular shape and mirror-like surface. beneath the lake lies a network of karst caves, which means that swimming isn’t permitted in ecliptic lake due to its fragile ecosystem. however visitors can still explore the lake by canoe, kayak, or guided boat tour launching from the park’s small marina. private boats are not allowed.

not far from ecliptic lake, the offshoot vireo lake, connected by the north fork river, offers more activities, such as swimming. vireo falls is on the edge, falling into this smaller lake. this is a popular picnic and photo spot that’s especially busy in summer

further in the forest, the observatory trail winds climbs to an old stone observatory, built by early settlers who once studied the lake’s strange reflective properties. the north grove campground is the place to stay if you want to camp in the forest - it's quiet, shaded, and surrounded by tall pines.

the mountain

the first mountain to draw the eye in the park will be echo peak, as it is the tallest mountain and defining landmark in the ecliptic range. during the colder months, the slopes of echo peak transform into a haven for backcountry skiers and adventurers. nestled at its base is the snow lodge, a timber-built lodge that feels like stepping back in time, complete with massive stone fireplaces, creaking floors, and dark wood even throughout the cozy guest rooms. inside the snow lodge, you'll find the summit heath restaurant and lounge, a gift shop, another small ranger outpost, as well as a grab and go canteen. though it offers some slopes for beginners, the area is better known for its backcountry trails.

in the summer, the nearby bear ridge area becomes the park’s hiking capital, with a network of trails winding through alpine meadows and rocky overlooks from late spring through early fall. at the base of the range sits ridgeway campground, a popular base camp for hikers and climbers looking to be the first on echo peak's summit.

key facts

ecliptic lake national park receives a lot of snow from november until april and access to most areas of the park is restricted during these months. the only open accommodation is the snow lodge, and to gain access, you must book a reservation through the national park service. there are winter experiences that you can do in the park in the winter, such as snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, and snow mobiling, but this is not a ski resort by any means.

the park is home to several species of animals, such as black bears, moose, bobcats, martens, coyotes, otters, white tailed deer, and foxes. you can fish in the north fork river, but everything is catch and release.