First and foremost, take the "Horse Pass", the log jam is impossible and the river is perfect for crossing right now (below knees), just bring along some Tevas, but I think I could have done the crossing barefoot.
The signage on this site is (currently) wrong, it is NOT closed for fire, it's been open since Aug 30, 2018.
Took me 3 hours up and 2 hours back, with just a few breaks for photos on the way up.
Road conditions are suitable for just about any car to get to the trailhead, there is about 2 miles worth of dirt road, but in good condition.
Total elevation gain is about 2700' with a total clocked distance of 4.4 miles one way; 9 miles round trip.
If you are using GaiGPS for guidance, be sure to switch to USGS maps and download USGS map beforehand.  The standard map does NOT have the trail outlined.

Mosquitoes and biting flies were pretty awful. Crossed the river using the ford and the log bridge -- both were passable. Trail is overgrown in places. On the other hand, did not encounter any other hikers on the trail and it was very peaceful.

As mentioned in the hike description if you can't cross the river go do another hike and come back another time. That happened to us today. We tried crossing at the horse ford but the water was so cold we lost the feeling in our feet before the final crossing and returned back to the opposite shore we also tried the foot crossing over the huge log jam but had some minor falls due to slippery logs and decided to try this hike another day vs hurt ourselves. With recent rain and snow I think the river was a bit higher and colder than if we try next time in September vs the end of October. Would suggest attempting this hike the end of the summer next year 2018.

Easy smooth driving to TH lot at 7 am. Had rained the night before so ALL the trailside brush gave us a wet- legged hike for the duration of the trail. You will begin by either removing your boots and crossing the river at the horse ford or picking and choosing a route over the footbridge/log jam. Both have their merits! The trail is spectacular with old growth, bedazzling fall color, cartoonish old mans beard and silence. A few blow downs and muddy areas but all in all a great 5 mile trek to the lakes. 

The lowland rain came down as snow/ice at the top and created a chilly and stellar contrast with the golden larches, emerald water vegetation and turning leaves. Both "little and big" Schaefer are gorgeous! Do plan on taking some time here including a walk around "big" to rocks along the lakeside. 

Go now before you're snowed out! But do wear waterproof pants and or gaiters for the climb or you'll be boot sloshing on your descent. Another fantastic trail in Glacier Peak Wilderness!!

Let me start off with this was one hell of a hike for a first overnight hike with dogs but was really fun!

 I found this lake by looking in the WDFW fishing regs for places to fish for trout. It was listed as no limit on brooks and that was selling point. I didn't read the length or elevation gain before leaving just the weather forecast.

 Started the hike at 12:30pm with 2 dogs 50% of the time on leases, 3 people and packs with full gear for 2 nights and 3 days plus a little extra and ultra light fishing gear (4 lb line and lures) took us 4 hours to get up. We did not pack water so we took breaks at each water location to pump water (MSR guardian) let the dogs drink. The first 3/4 of the hike up is really not that bad with full gear but the last part is where almost all the gain is and was a little rough. When we made to a really small pond and I thought this was little Schaefer but when we made it to little Schaefer I thought it was Schaefer lake and felt let down a bit. After hiking around to find a place to set up camp we found Schaefer lake and I was blown away. Great camps sites around the lake and in the wooded areas.

 After we picked a camp site and set up I broke out the fishing pole to go slay some fish. I first used a joe's spinning fly and had no luck 15-25 feet from shore. Most places I have fished for brooks they hang around the shoreline. So then I used a 3/4 oz silver kastmaster and got to about 30-60 feet. I first used the normal speed reel in and got my first hit. As I played with the retrieval I noticed they would hit hard when I used slow and I mean almost snagging the bottom slow. First brook that I hooked was a little over 14" dark red almost hook nose male. With no camp fires I let this guy go to get bigger. Next one was a 9" female and at this point I told my wife lets get ready for bed and we will hit this tomorrow. Mind you this was in about 10 casts and 5-10 mins.

1st night was a little cold with a steady directional breeze, I was in a hammock with a bug net 20F sleeping bag and an ultra light down blanket and my wife and her friend stayed in a tent with the dogs. They said they were too hot with the natural dog heaters. The stars at night was insane I didn't know there was that many, and really dark.

 Morning was chilly as expected and couldn't wait to start fishing. Wild blue berries are everywhere and we picked about a 1/4 of a gallon ziplock bag and saved for later. lake water was not to bad to pump from, I prefer running water but that area that feeds the lake was a little muddy. We caught 13 brooks and let another 8 go (little too small) how I cleaned these was to gut them, take off the head just at the find and peel the skin off. This will take off all the fins but the top and the tail. Remove the top fin and tail and you have a beautiful piece of fish ready for cooking. I packed bacon grease ( too hot for butter and no ice) 1/8 inch of grease in little pot and sprinkled with seasoning salt and pepper. I fired these tell the outside was golden brown and the spine bone separated from the meat. These little guys tasted good and everyone wanted more. Before night we ran out of dog food and our dogs wanted more food. Normal camping trips they don't eat at all but this time all the energy they used hiking and running they needed food. So I got this fishing pole and caught 4 more really nice sized brooks, gutted them and cut in 3rds and made a dog soup. boiled them tell the bones got soft. With any salmonid fish you have to be careful about salmon poising and they need to be cooked very well for dogs. Our dogs a KBD and an REL will eat almost anything given. they made quick work of dinner and went to bed happy.

Last morning was pack day did a little more fishing and caught 4 more used the rest of the bacon grease and added that to breakfast.

 The hike down was much easier and faster 2 hours but seems a little harder on the body. Use caution parts of the trail are very soft and I almost slid off a few times and with full gear and that far of a drop I am sure it wouldn't have felt good. 

The river crossing with dogs hiking up went okay, they were a little angry with me (don't like swimming) but coming back we let them off the lease and out female decided to use the logs to get part of the way across and stepped off into branched she thought was a log and got stuck treading water. My bag flew off and I went for a really cold refreshing swim. the water was a little over 5 feet deep at the part she fell into. Now for our male, this guy made me carry him across and I think it was the high bank he had to jump off of first.

Bugs were not too bad and were way less then the normal areas around Washington. As far as animals we saw chipmunks, squirrels and really large rabbits. No bears, raccoons or any other problem animals.

as far as people, there was on group that came in late Friday across the lake and a guy taking pictures farther up the lake.

Great place to stay, and I would suggest staying the night or 2!