Summary: Very popular hike. Starts gentle, ends difficult. Lake is beautiful and populated. A medium sized parking lot is available with overflow parking down the side of the road.
Got in late around 9:30am. Parking lot was full and cars were lined down both sides of the road. There was still space further down the road but you have to walk a bit extra. No problem for you cause you’re prepared to walk anyway!
Everyone is required to fill out a free permit at the trail entrance for the Forest Service. The first few miles of the trail wind through beautiful old growth hemlock forest and are flat. Lichen are thriving here! There is one section that is overgrown but not so much that long pants are required. You will see a large waterfall and shortly after you ascend steeply. During the ascent you can observe beautiful wild flowers basking in the sunlight.
The trail is basically a creek bed in some parts of the ascent. There are also several spurs that lead no where so be aware where you’re heading. Nothing difficult in terms of route finding though.
I arrived at the lake around 11:30 and there were many backpackers set up and people fishing. I ventured around the lake a bit to find a socially distant place to eat lunch. There was at least one group who was obnoxious and yelling loudly which was not appreciated. Allow others to enjoy nature people!
The descent was a little easier in terms of route finding since I already knew where to go. I didn’t venture to Lila lake or Rampart lakes but would like to in the future. This area is beautiful and the heavy use speaks to that.
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