Made a quick trip up to the ledge to enjoy the lovely sunshine. Arriving before nine meant easy parking and low crowds on the way up. I had forgotten how warm this trail can be. I bypassed the always busy ledge one and made for the third ledge, just a couple of other hikers there. Good place for a snack. The lake was that amazing blue color today and it's so full. I checked on ledge 2 on the way back down and spotted a few flowers (paintbrush, phlox etc), but really flowers were minimal and disappointing. Then it was back down playing hiker bingo - hiker in flip flops, music blaring, carrying a baby, carrying a dog, it's all good on this popular, fun trail. I was impressed with the number of small dogs I saw tackling the trail and every dog I met was being really chill, not often that happens. What was far from chill was that it looks like rock tagging is now a thing on this trail, infuriating.
Back at the bottom I collected lunch from my car and headed to the pic nic area. My lunch table was only steps from the water, the level is that high! Lots of good weather ahead to enjoy the lake.
Out-house was decent. Some work being done on the parking lot restricting size - come early for parking.
Comments