Gravel road approaching trailhead was muddy and rutty but totally doable in my teeny tiny car. Signage mentioned loggers working, saw their vehicles, but no workers seemed active on Sunday. Lots of space in the parking lot when I arrived around 8am.
The trail is wide and leisurely until it takes an incline after a large rocky clearing - here's where I started sweating finally! A few minor washouts and fallen trees to step over. Eventually the trail becomes very rocky, but not treacherous (no loose stones gave way under my feet).
After you pass the turnoff for Little Bandera, you'll start to see a lot of snow! Fortunately many hikers before me had made the trail obvious with their shoeprints. Poking around with my trek poles kept me from postholeing. Would recommend boots if you don't want wet feet.
The lake itself is thawed around the edges but still frozen in the middle. It was foggy and serene, really a sight to behold. I was grateful for the rudimentary toilet hidden in the trees. I found a great large rock to eat my lunch on, and became rather chilly as I cooled down - pack an extra layer! Taking my sweet time, I made it from the trailhead to the lake in just shy of three hours.
I also decided to add on the trek up to Little Bandera, and let me tell you it was TOUGH but a great experience. There was a decent amount of snow partway up, but I managed it with my boots and trek poles. Don't expect any views until the weather gets clearer though - I felt like I was climbing inside a cloud.
For those who are hiking to see plants like me - many spring familiars were still blooming, and the Lupines were just beginning to send up their flower stalks.
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