FYI the toilets at the trailhead were locked, so plan accordingly! The area around the trailhead was getting really disgusting with all the toilet paper and poop left around it-- please bury poop and pack out TP. Additionally, the large composting toilet at Lena Lake is also closed due to heavy use and the composting not working properly. There is one pit toilet a little beyond the large composting toilet at Lena Lake, but it cannot handle all users of this trail. 

We arrived at the trailhead at 10am on a sunny Saturday, and the parking lot was pretty full then, but there seemed to be plenty of parking on the road leading to the lot. The trail is a nice gradual uphill to the lake and I found I could take it easy or go faster as I wanted to push myself-- making this a really great training hike. The trail was in good condition with no obstacles beyond a tiny dribble of a brook (or is it a creek?). No snow, very few bugs. The campsites were beginning to fill up by the time we reached Lena Lake around noon, but it seems there are more sites as you go along the backside of the lake on The Brothers trail. 

Many people have decided to cut the switchbacks on this trail. Please don't be those people-- stay on the main trail. Some switchbacks had 3-4 cutoffs, which can lead to trail erosion and potential closures. Also of note, there were many people with dogs on the trail (allowed) but about half were off leash (not allowed). We also saw 2 people open carrying on this trail. 

This is a great early season hike for getting back into the swing of things before summer and crowds. Would also make a great early season backpacking trip, but you may want to start hiking early on a nice weekend to ensure a site. Plan accordingly for the toilet situation and you'll have a great time.

Pleasant hike up to Lena Lake, I went to the overlook (and accidentally along part of the upper lake trail which was less well maintained) but not down to the lake. Not too crowded on a weekday early afternoon but saw more people coming up on my way down. No snow on trail but some minor water runoff. Watch logged 7 miles and just under 3 hours with a break at the overlook for lunch!

Great day for a wonderful trail! had the whole place to ourselves for a bit!

Hike up to Lena Lake is in good condition. Had a nice overnight there. Took the trail beyond as far as we could go towards Upper Lena Lake. It's clear until 2600 ft where snow starts and is quite deep. It's very soft on the trail with significant risk of punching through. Snow bridges everywhere. Risk of injury led us to turn back.

What a beautiful day on the trail. It's one of my favorite shoulder season hikes, and it never disappoints. (As an older, I rarely hike without poles, but I don't need them on this hike—unless I go lakeside, which I did not.)

8:15 arrival on a weekday, there were just five cars in the lot. The facilities were locked, stop in Hoodsport! I met just one person on the trail to lunch rock and one person passed me. Many people and dogs coming up late morning, 17 cars in the lot at 12:45.

The trillium and yellow violets are blooming at lower elevation (no patch of bleeding heart at the trailhead yet). Osoberry shrubs are dripping with bloom too. No flowers yet higher up. Water running on the trail for a stretch 3/4 (?) of the way up, and one creek crossing that took me a  minute. Otherwise the trail is in perfect condition.