If you do not have a high clearance car you may damage it. There is one spot on the road up where a Honda CR-V had to turn around in front of me. The wrangler had no problem. A skilled driver may be able to get through it with a midsize suv but I would probably just park and tack on the extra ~2 miles.

The hike was very beautiful. You will immediately start climbing in elevation and it happens fast. Going up is very strenuous. Going down is an easy jaunt. We day hiked up to the lake and hiked out in the dark and the ~5 mile hike down was fun and relaxing with head lamps.