Great for hiking during the late Fall and early Spring. Once the temps climb the lake itself is great for wading/snorkeling and swimming. There are plant life and fish present, if you're uncomfortable with a natural lake setting with fairly still waters, this may not be your best bet. I was not keen on the idea of wading through the plants (very few) but once I took the leap it was great. Some areas of the lake near the shore are ice cold, others are warm like a bath. Once you're in, move around to find your preferred temp. On a side note, because the water is flat and still, the sun reflects harshly. Sunblock is your friend. We applied SPF 50 before and every hour or so while we were there (about 3 hours) and still had mild sunburned shoulders and faces. This is a great spot for smaller children, the water within 10 feet of shore (the concrete entry point) was only waist to shoulder deep on me and I'm only 5 and very little change. We had a great time both in the water and out. This is a new go to spot for us, we will probably visit this location more than we visit Pensacola Beach and PCB is about 30 miles closer to our house. As a local, this is a new favorite spot. The water was stunning, it's not over crowded, there are clean public restrooms and a great view, enjoy!