An easy-grade hike that is kind to the knees. I've only done this hike once before about 11 years ago, so my memory of it was a bit foggy. I figured it would be relatively quiet on a cloudy Friday in October, and that was true. Got to the trailhead around 11:15 am, and there were maybe 6 other cars. I never saw the TH toilets until I was leaving and looking around, they are a bit set back from the road (on the north side) but still, funny I didn’t notice them. Around 1.9 miles in you cross a bridge over Lena Creek. It is running underground there currently, but you could hear the stream further down. This is a nice section, I labelled it Boulder Villa. Large moss-covered rocks from a slide that blocked off the creek and created the lake, I think I read.

I hiked to the Lena Lake inlet (3.5 miles). I had intended to cross it to scope out campsites for future use, but I decided to head back to avoid the early darkness this time of year and some possibility of rain.

There are still signs saying Upper Lena Lake is closed, due to smoke, but that’s not really an issue now to my knowledge with all the recent rains.

Overnighter at Lower Lena Lake with my 10 year old son for his first backpacking trip.

Arrived at the trailhead at 9am on Friday with only one other car there.  Road in is fully paved, there are a couple of large but well marked pot holes that are easy to dodge while driving. Vault toilet at the trailhead was surprisingly clean given the government shut down.

Took our time hiking up the wide and well maintained trail, stopping to admire interesting features along the way: mossy rocks, large rocky outcroppings, and a nice view point of the valley at around 2.2 miles in.

We arrived at the lake at 11am greeted by two day hikers - presumably from the only other car we saw at the trailhead.

We chose the first campsite as you walk in to setup at, which had the nearest access to the lake. We had the entire lake to ourselves most of Friday.  A solo backpacker arived some time after 2pm, followed by another small group shortly after.

My son tried his luck at fishing, he persisted for several hours but no bites the entire time we were there.  We expolored the south shore of the lake (the part formed by the large landslide from 1300 years ago). We found the large boulders and downed trees balancing across each other fascinating and eerie.

The weather was as good as you could ask for the 2nd weekend in October.  Almost no rain except for a small drizzle during the night and several sunbreaks during the day which gave us amaizing photo opportunities. My keychain thermometer measured the overnight low at 48F.

While not busy for our stay, there was a lot of evidence of heavy summer use in the campground. Bits of trash and left behind gear.  Yes the toilet is still out of commission and you can spot hastily covered cat holes about.

According to web sources, the fire restrictions were lifted and access to Upper Lena Lake should have been open but I think due to the government shutdown, no campfire signage was still up and the trail to Upper Lena Lake was still blocked off with flagging tape and a sign indicating no access.

Saturday morning started bustling before 9am with mostly day hikers streaming in.  After a lazy morning and breakfast of blueberries and oatmeal, we were packed up and started to head down the trail at about 10am.  Passing group after group of hikers and a few backpackers on our way back down to the trailhead.  We got to the trailhead around 11:30am and it was almost full, perhaps maybe 4-5 parking spots left.

All in all this was a really positive first backpacking experience for my son, he said the only thing that would have made it better is if he had caught a fish :)

Had a wonderful hike to (lower) Lena Lake this afternoon (a Wednesday).  Cool, mostly cloudy, not at all crowded, and no hint of smoke from the Bear Gulch fire.  The pit toilets at the trailhead were open and had TP.  There is no closure signage on the trail to Lower Lena Lake, at least as far as the popular "lunch rock" overlooking the lake, where we turned around. However, the trail to Upper Lena Lake is taped off and signed closed at the junction where it branches left just before Lower Lena Lake. Actually, I'm not sure the Bear Gulch fire closure area ever impacted the trail up to Lower Lena Lake.

I was aiming for a rainy day hike and nice clean air. Nope on both accounts. The smoke has permeated the forest. Even if the air above was clear, while trekking through the trees and up the switchbacks, you could feel it if you have asthma. For the senstive group out there, green on the map may not mean green for you.

The bathrooms were stocked and in good condition. The trail was the typical rocky, rooty, up up up, and awesomely maintained. This hike is comparable to Rattlesnake Ledge with the smooth grade and manicured trail conditions with minimal variation. Oh boy, is it dry. The waterfall at the upper bridge is a trickle. The lake level is lower than I've ever seen it. The fellow hikers were all very nice. Megan, it was great meeting you! 

Trail was fairly easy even carrying all of my backpacking gear the trail is well maintained there was a single downed tree in the way but easy enough to just climb over it. The lake itself was beautiful with ducks and fish jumping I attempted to fish along with a couple other anglers but no luck, plenty of well maintained camp sites just off the trail when you get there with ~6 other tents this Labor Day weekend there was still plenty of room and privacy.

Overall very recommended although there weren’t a lot of views along the trail mainly only really at the lake

Parking was also not a problem we got there around 10am on Sunday to a relatively full lot but didn’t have to look to long to find a spot so arrive a little earlier if you’re going during a more busy time of the year/week than I did