We did a short day hike along this trail with no intention on going all the way to the lake. There was wet, slushy snow all along the trail with water puddles, but they were easy to avoid. Waterproof boots recommended. No need for spikes, poles, or snowshoes on this day. We only went 1.25 miles in before turning back after a friend's shoes got wet.
Access Road:
The access road was clear until about 1 mile to the trailhead when snow appeared. It remained passable for a regular car until about 0.2 miles before the trailhead where snow and ice on an incline made it difficult. We backtracked a little and parked alongside the road. We only saw one other parked vehicle.
Trail:
The trail itself was snow-covered but in good condition. The snow was wet and slushy with large water puddles throughout the trail. It was easy to navigate this with waterproof boots, but non-waterproof boots or shoes may have to step lightly to dodge standing water. No need for spikes, poles, or snowshoes.
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