Busy weekends with visiting out-of-town family members call for something classic. Of course, with the beautiful weather all weekend, I shouldn't have been surprised by the crowds. Even arriving at the trailhead at 9:30 was too late; it was nearly full when we arrived, and we often found ourselves stuck behind large groups once on the trail.
We took the trail up to Bridal Veil Falls on our trek up to the lake. The last time I did this hike was mid- to late-May 2009, and it was covered in snow and the waterfalls gushing. The lack of snow this year certainly is reflected in the falls. I was amazed at how little water there is this year. And now that it is actually turning to spring, the temperatures feel almost akin to summertime. When we arrived at the lake, there were already a few groups at the lunch rock - some even had their shirts off, sunbathing next to the snow free lake.
Serene Lake is always a beautiful hike! Be prepared for lots of stairs, and bring an extra bag to pick up garbage along the trail - I grabbed a few water bottles on my way down, and watched someones lunch tumble into the lake on lunch rock.
