- We were in search of a hike to a mountain lake with minimal elevation gain and opted for trying this (popular?) hike in the middle of the week.
- The road to the trailhead isn't in great condition, but it's navigable in a low-clearance sedan if you take it slow. The parking lot at the top is small, but we didn't have trouble parking on the side of the road.
- The hiking guide claims 2.2mi and 500 ft-gain to the lake, but we measured only 1.8mi and 317 ft-gain to first contact with the lake (53 minutes at a leisurely pace). With the summer we've had, the lake is only half the size it appears to be on the map, and our total mileage was just over 4mi even doing a little exploring at the lake.
- Mt. Baring is impressive, and we saw paragliders touching down in the grassy field left behind by the retreating lake. The lake is a pleasant place to have lunch, and the approach through the forest offers shade from the sun 95% of the time.
- All in all, a pleasant, easy walk through the forest suitable for kids of all ages. The trail itself is in excellent condition. It's on our list to return with our 4-year-old.
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