Arrived Friday morning around 9:30am. Lot was half full. Walking trail was wide (6ft) and smooth the first 2 miles. Then gets rocky and a bit narrower (4ft).
Took a detour to granite lakes, which had several stream crossings, some 3ft wide, and one about 12ft that has you hopping from stone to stone. You can avoid it, but you better have good balance or trecking poles. Or wear waterproof high boots and walk through.
Once you pass the fork from granite lakes the trail gets steep. Maybe 1,000ft per mile. It will make you sweat if you keep a brisk pace.
When you crest the mountain around the lake you have a steeper decent down to the lake about .5 miles. It wasn't muddy, but if it was, it would be very slippery. Poles advised to save your knees.
Lake had a lot of mosquitoes and small black biting bugs. Cover up with clothes or bugspray when you arrive. Or just stay in the cold water and near wind to avoid them. Bring a bug net if you camp. Most campsites are on the West and Northwest side of the lake.
Bear scat was a long the trail near snow if heading to Mt. Defiance. Spent the night with no animal encounters except a chipmunk and birds. Others took their inflatable kayaks on the water.
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