My friends and I decided to go camping. Boardman Lake was the first place that popped into my head. I have wanted to go for a while now since I've heard that it is a fairly short, easy hike. While it could still be described as both short and easy compared to other hikes to alpine lakes (Lake 22, Heather Lake, etc.) it is still quite a tiring trek when you are carrying stuff for camping. There is a downed log toward the middle of the trail that requires a bit of a crawl/low duck. There are also plenty of roots and rocks that make the .8 miles stretch on. It was worth it for camping, but I think day use (with a nice, light-weight pack) would be preferable.
Before I forget, I need to mention the road to the trailhead. It's really rough. Granted, I was in just a regular car (94 Toyota Camry), but there were some spots I probably shouldn't have gone over. That being said, I made it there and back, so it is possible in low sitting vehicles... but not recommended.
Anyway, the views upon arriving at the lake are awesome. It's certainly not my favorite lake off Mountain Loop, but for the amount of time/effort it takes to get there, it's totally worth it. There was a couple of people there when we first arrived, but they left pretty quickly, so our little group had the lake entirely to ourselves. We didn't explore all the trails, but we did go off to the left (when you first arrive, facing the lake). The logs you have to cross are a tiny bit annoying, but the trail is nice after that. I love to swim, so I made sure to take the time to enjoy the cool, refreshing water (which is warmer than most other swimming spots off Mountain loop). There are decent places to set up tents and sleep comfortably too. All in all, it made for a great trip.
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