Forest Service Road was long, but generally in great shape, especially for the use it gets; if you're taking it slow in consideration for your car-- please pull over and let others pass. I killed a few mosquitos down by the parking lot and and near the beginning of the trail, but it wasn't too buggy. When parking for overflow please MAKE SURE THERE IS SPACE FOR CARS TO GET OUT. Saw a few larger cars hemmed in by someone's unfortunate choice to park somewhere there really wasn't space. Folks, you're about to embark on a tough hike, walking a few extra feet isn't hard-- park farther back where there's more space.
The hike itself is exactly as described. Very popular, but you don't hike in a line of people up the whole mountain like at Rattlesnake Ridge. The difficulty of this hike tends to stagger people. It's tough, but doable. I say this being someone that's young and someone that doesn't work out on a regular basis, but I hike every other weekend. I saw many people struggle, a few turn around, and far too many ask if they were close to the lake when they definitely were not. I understand the pull to go somewhere pretty, but there are plenty of pretty places; keep in mind the ability of your group when you go. The climb is steep and made me cranky, but the lake is beautiful.
Echoing what others have said, the lake and trail were a hell of a lot less beautiful from the constant tissue and napkins following the trail. If you use pee or poo in the woods PACK OUT YOUR TISSUE. Or at least have the decency to do something other than just drop it. That goes for smokers too-- I picked up plenty of cigarette butts (wasn't brave enough to pick up the tissue and put it in my pack).
Special request, if one out of every twenty-five hikers brought a plastic bag for trash, this trail would be exponentially dreamier. Get outside, have fun, and PACK IT OUT.
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