We arrived at the trailhead at 11.30am and saw cars parked on the right side of the road 0.5 miles before the parking lot. We drove all the way and luckily got a spot near trailhead as some cars were leaving after the hike. Finding a parking spot is challenging Parking and it is recommended to arrive before 7am. There is a $5 fees for parking or a valid recreation pass is required.
Carrying a bug spray is a must, we couldn’t have done it without the bug spray. Hiking poles are critical and wear comfortable hiking boots. Carry plenty of water and some fruits/energy bars. Trust me you will need it.
It says 8.7 miles but it’s definitely more than that. We reached the lake after 5 miles of hike, the first 2 miles are easy and and then it starts getting challenging. Last 3 miles felt like a never ending climb.
The last 2 miles are very steep mostly rocks and roots. We had to stop frequently to catch our breath. It started raining when we reached the top, beautiful view! You get a stunning view of the mountains.
They don’t have any directions or clear marking to climb down to the lake. By the time we reached the lake the rain stopped. We took a quick dip into the lake, it was cold but not freezing. The water was crystal clear and turquoise blue even with overcast and cloudy sky!
Heading back took us 3 hours. There were people climbing up even at 6pm when we were climbing down! This is one of the most popular hikes in the area so it’s always busy.