Time was, Map Guy could blast away from work mid-day to go hiking or biking or what have you, and stay out there until the moon rose if something fun was going on.

But since The Bulletin switched to morning publication, Map Guy has had to grab outdoors time when he can, jockeying recreation around his (altered) work schedule. Just like the rest of us.

Lucky for him – and us – Central Oregon is full of opportunities that don’t require a monumental investment in time. In the time it takes to play 18 holes or sneak off to the Deschutes for a few casts, you can venture into untrammeled wilderness, crunch pine needles beneath your boots and get back before the boss calls out the dogs.

All you really need is a half day.

The hike from Round Lake to Square Lake in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness is just about right for a half-day excursion. At about five miles for the round trip, it’s even good for a few minutes quiet reflection and gazing into the limpid waters of Square Lake before hightailing it back.

Of course, having a day or two or even a week to really get to know these lakes would be ideal, but, as they say, time and tide and time cards wait for no man.

We parked at the public campground at Round Lake and set off to explore the little lake with the big mountain view.

Looming above the lake is Three Finger Jack, its abbreviated appendages giving way to fields of snow below. The sylvan path around the north side of the lake takes hikers through pines and firs and blooming wildflowers. The dominant hue is green; Round Lake is close enough to the Pacific Crest to take advantage of ample precipitation. The Round Lake Christian Camp, about halfway around the lake, is a good place to turn around. We didn’t and were soon negotiating several years’ worth of downed trees – blowdown in Forest Service parlance. We managed to keep to the dim trail and make it all the way around the lake, but it was a challenge.

After admiring Round Lake, we hopped back in the truck and scooted around its south and west shores to the Square Lake Trailhead.

The first half-mile or so is steep, but the rest of the walk is pleasant. The bear grass and lupine are in bloom throughout the forest.

We tarried for a few minutes on the shores of Square Lake before heading back to trailhead, town and job.

Barely even late.

From Sisters, drive west on Highway 20 toward the Santiam Pass about 15 miles to Forest Road 12 (a little more than two miles past the Camp Sherman turnoff). Turn right on Road 12 then veer left on Road 1210 and follow it about four miles to Round Lake. Park at the campground to access Round Lake or turn right just past the campground and continue on to the Square Lake Trailhead.